Need help backing up my iPhone
 

My 4S is being delivered this morning and I'm switching from AT&T too Verizon. I'm trying to back up my 3GS with iTunes now so I can transfer everything to the new 4S when it arrives. But after at least 30 min. of trying to back it up, the progress bar has been stuck at less than 1/4" progress and my computer is working like molasses. What's the trick here? I have more than half the capacity left in this thing, so it's not that full and, when I check the task manager, iTunes is running, not "not responding." What am I doing wrong?

Sounds like iTunes crashed or something is backgrounding it/taking priority.

You have anything else running?

Are you looking to transfer pics/videos and music?

You can mount the iPhone as an external volume and copy everything off that way as a precaution should something go awry.

Yes, I have other stuff running. I'm at work now. But there was no such message in my task manager. If I can't get it to back up in iTunes, how to mount is as an external volume? I can live without everything but my address book and can resynch my new device with iTunes to get those songs again.

Hmm, could be something work related blocking it. Enterprise AV protection could be seeing it as a possible malicious process but I doubt that.

If you are on a PC it should be as simple as plugging it in and it will show up same as a thumbdrive.

Not 100% sure about Windows but you may need to tell iTunes to not launch when it detects an iOS device. If iTunes launches it may prevent the device from showing as removable media. Again not 100% sure about that.

Now this is turning into a problem. I've spent well over an hour on this, three reboots, running no other programs and it doesn't work on either of my laptops. It just syncs indefinitely with no progress. I've synch'ed to iTunes plenty of times on both computers. How else can I back this thing up? Will the Verizon store folks do it for me?

The store will definitely do it. We even had a corrupted Samsung that they pulled the info from and entered it into the 4S. Call them first because their best techs are not always on staff.

upgrade to the latest version of iTunes.

Then upgrade your 3S to the latest iOS.

Upgrading to the latest iOS on your iPhone will either automatically update your phone, or at least ask if you wish to backup your iphone via itunes.

-Z

That just worked on my old laptop, but not previously on my newer one. FedEx guy just came. I'll see if I can sync the new one in a few.

Do this and you will probably lose all of your videos and pictures unless you save them in advance.

Sometimes backup takes a very long time - I have had it take more than an hour. Upgrade to latest itunes, hit backup and just leave it.

More than likely there is no issue.

Now as far as the 4S goes - I recommend starting from scratch - forget installing the backup unless you absolutely have to have your old pics, texts, etc. Most apps need to be upgraded anyway due to 5.0 and I'm sure you have plenty of apps you never use.

Many folks have better performance (especially battery life) by starting fresh.

Of course it all depends on how you manage your contacts and email. Many ways to do this and have it all back on the phone without restoring everything from backup.

Good point about photos. Just copy and paste them thru Windows Explorer (if on a PC).

Ok, how do I just transfer my address book? I can live with reinstalling everything else fresh and not from backup.

True - I should have mentioned that - but that aspect should be part of your whole backup process.

-Z

Ok, I got it all to work and am still downloading my songs from iTunes. Next project will be to wipe my old iPhone clean and sell it on Craigslist.

Cool, there is a factory reset/wipe built in.

So the new phone is up and running?

New phone service is not on yet, but email is working. A lot of apps didn't transfer over, but I don't mind reloading those and getting the updates. Main thing is email and songs. Maybe it's just the novelty effect, but I sure like the ergonomics of the 4S over the 3GS. Once phone service is up on the new one, I'll figure out how to wipe the old one clean and sell it.

Settings->general->reset->

Done. Thanks.

My old 3g is my new iPod touch

My iPod has twice the capacity as my old iPhone. I kind of wanted to sell off the old 3GS's to offset the cost of the new ones. I think Joeaksa wants my microcell. Gawd, I love leaving AT&T. Die, die, die, AT&T.