Decent backup software?

oceanclub

After trying to do an OS update and being unable to restore from my work machine, I was forced to do the update from my home PC. In the process, I've managed to lose all my contacts and photos, as none of these appear to be backed up on my work machine. When I check Preferences==>Devices, only 1 backup is shown - I had assumed it would keep all prior backups?

Anyway, to avoid this in future, is there any third-party app that allows you to periodically back up all your content and contacts?

P.

deep1

oceanclub wrote: »

After trying to do an OS update and being unable to restore from my work machine, I was forced to do the update from my home PC. In the process, I've managed to lose all my contacts and photos, as none of these appear to be backed up on my work machine. When I check Preferences==>Devices, only 1 backup is shown - I had assumed it would keep all prior backups?

Anyway, to avoid this in future, is there any third-party app that allows you to periodically back up all your content and contacts?

P.

You can copy the backup folder from work pc to your Home pc.
Location of backup folder is

C\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

drop it in same folder on home pc and that might work.

Mister Gooey

oceanclub wrote: »

After trying to do an OS update and being unable to restore from my work machine, I was forced to do the update from my home PC. In the process, I've managed to lose all my contacts and photos, as none of these appear to be backed up on my work machine. When I check Preferences==>Devices, only 1 backup is shown - I had assumed it would keep all prior backups?

Anyway, to avoid this in future, is there any third-party app that allows you to periodically back up all your content and contacts?

P.

try SOOCIAL.com - they have an app for the iphone and backup online!

oceanclub

deep1 wrote: »

You can copy the backup folder from work pc to your Home pc.
Location of backup folder is

C\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

drop it in same folder on home pc and that might work.

Yup, but when I look in that folder, it's a bunch of what look like encrypted files rather than the originals. I have absolutely no faith in iTunes working correctly so I was interested in a program that backs up the original files so I can access them directly.

P.

deep1

oceanclub wrote: »

Yup, but when I look in that folder, it's a bunch of what look like encrypted files rather than the originals. I have absolutely no faith in iTunes working correctly so I was interested in a program that backs up the original files so I can access them directly.

P.

Yeah all backup data is encrypted and stored in database format ( if i remember correctly), you need to copy the folder as it is and paste it in home pc.
You have nothing to loose to try this and you might have all contacts and then use the site above poster gave to do backup in future.

oceanclub

Yes, but there's only one backup on my work machine, and that's dated this morning - so it's the backup made when I plugged in my iPhone after restoring it from home. The dates on the encrypted files confirm this - all from 10am this morning.

I presume that normally, more than one backup is kept, so it looks like iTunes wiped previous backups when I tried to perform the restore on my work machine.

P.

deep1

oceanclub wrote: »

Yes, but there's only one backup on my work machine, and that's dated this morning - so it's the backup made when I plugged in my iPhone after restoring it from home. The dates on the encrypted files confirm this - all from 10am this morning.

I presume that normally, more than one backup is kept, so it looks like iTunes wiped previous backups when I tried to perform the restore on my work machine.

P.

Hard luck
The way i do it is every few weeks copy the backup folder to external hard drive or usb, so just in case if hard drive fails or something, i still have my latest backup.
Has saved my life before.

_Whimsical_

How does keeping a back up on your PC work?

Can you just copy and paste all files from an iphone explorer program and file them away on your pc until the worst happens and your iphone has a hissy fit and needs restoring ? Do you just copy and paste them back in then ?

Can you keep a back up of all jb apps like this ? Can you copy and paste them back into the phone without using an installer?

EDIT : ah you mean just for contacts. Sorry I didn't realise.