How to properly back up an iPad (iPhone) after computer format?

Hi all,

I have my i(everything) synced with my laptop. I recently had to format the laptop - and did not back up the iTunes library. Now when I sync the devices, all my apps show up as greyed out, and the checkbox to "sync apps" is NOT checked. If I try to check it, it tells me it will erase my current apps and replace them with the versions from this iTunes library.

I am concerned with losing my savegames for all the games that I have on it.

What is the correct procedure to back up all my files in case I need to hard-reset the iPad/iPhone so as to not lose any data? They are jailbroken, so if it involves ssh'ing into it and copying some files, that's OK too.

 

Bump. I can't be the only one wondering this Did I post in the wrong forum?