Saving iPhone info when re-formatting?

[Colin20]

What is the easiest way to ensure all my iphone info (contacts, pictures mainly) is backed up and re-installed on my re-formatted computer. I'm less concerned about MP3s and video since I have them backed up in a folder on my external HD. I'm planning to re-formatt my PC laptop soon and just want to know the easiest way or do I not have to worry about contacts and pictures?

Thanks in advance

 

[bytethese]

What is the easiest way to ensure all my iphone info (contacts, pictures mainly) is backed up and re-installed on my re-formatted computer. I'm less concerned about MP3s and video since I have them backed up in a folder on my external HD. I'm planning to re-formatt my PC laptop soon and just want to know the easiest way or do I not have to worry about contacts and pictures?

Thanks in advance

Do you have MobileMe? All your Contacts would be backed up automagically. As for Pics, when you sync your iPhone to your machine, does it import your pics somewhere? On my mac it imports to iPhoto and I can back up iPhoto to back up my pics, maybe something similar on a PC?

There may also be a way of manually backing up your last iPhone backup so that when you reformat your PC, should anything go wrong with you iPhone, you can restore. Unfortunately I don't have a PC with iTunes but maybe someone at an Apple store would be able to help?

 

[Colin20]

Do you have MobileMe? All your Contacts would be backed up automagically. As for Pics, when you sync your iPhone to your machine, does it import your pics somewhere? On my mac it imports to iPhoto and I can back up iPhoto to back up my pics, maybe something similar on a PC?

There may also be a way of manually backing up your last iPhone backup so that when you reformat your PC, should anything go wrong with you iPhone, you can restore. Unfortunately I don't have a PC with iTunes but maybe someone at an Apple store would be able to help?

No I don't have mobile me, I may when I get my MBP in a few months. I can import my pics to a folder on my PC if I choose. I guess I could just search around and save my concacts folder for when I reformat.

 

[Zyniker]

What is the easiest way to ensure all my iphone info (contacts, pictures mainly) is backed up and re-installed on my re-formatted computer. I'm less concerned about MP3s and video since I have them backed up in a folder on my external HD. I'm planning to re-formatt my PC laptop soon and just want to know the easiest way or do I not have to worry about contacts and pictures?

Thanks in advance

iTunes automatically creates backups of your iPhone when you sync. Copy these backups (or at least one of them) to a CD/DVD or USB flash drive. When you've finished reformatting your computer, you can simply sync the iPhone to the computer to restore the data...and the CD/DVD/USB flash drive serves as insurance against your iPhone dying or getting destroyed.
Of note: is there anything on the computer that is not currently on the phone? If so, you may need to do some additional backup. If everything is on the phone, a simple sync after the computer is reformatted should 'restore' everything to the computer from the phone.

 

[Moi un Mouton]

This thread tells you how to save your iphone backup information before reformatting:

http://www.modmyi.com/forums/windows-specific-modding-discussion/8365-location-iphone-backup-made-itunes.html