A Clean Restore...

Lets say you had problems with your device, and so you restored your iPhone... Once you reinstall the Operating System (use the Shift key when pressing restore to restore older firmware, or Option+Click for MAC), you can either setup the phone as a new phone and sync your contacts, or restore from backup. I recommend that you don't restore from backup if you had problems with your device. Why? If your restore from backup (for the differences in sync/backup see the previous post) you *might* restore your problems too... esp if those were caused by a rogue program or bad settings. Our recommendation is to not restore from backup for that very reason.

You will still have to resync media (such as movies and music) no matter which option you choose.

Advantages
- Much cleaner install, much like a computer after it has a fresh installation.
- While you might have to start from scratch downloading apps, you can select just the ones you want. The more apps you have, the slower it will run! (You can also sync apps to the phone from iTunes... see the applications tab for sync details).
- re-sync for your ringtones, movies, podcasts, more!
- Once you accumulate enough text messages in the database, it can slow down the phone.
Disadvantages
- You loose your text messages (vs restoring from backup)
- You loose any custom settings (such as email settings) (vs restoring from backup)

What's the difference between backups and syncs?

Backup
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A Backup performs (in the simplest terms) a file backup of your device. It should contain all your settings, contacts, MMSs and just about everything else... EXCEPT for jailbreak info and programs from Cydia. However, it will keep the settings for those programs (such as high scores, settings, etc if the program was built correctly in the first place). One thing it does not restore is media files such as video and audio. (It will restore pictures)

To Backup the device (if you phone does not do it automatically), connect to iTunes and right-click (Option+Click) on the iPhone, and select "Backup".

To restore the device's info (makes no changes to current jailbreaks, unlocks) to an iPhone, it should give you an option after a OS restore which asks you if you want to setup the phone as a new iPhone, or if you wish to restore from a backup. If you have a different phone you want to restore the backup to that has already been setup before, you won't get this option when you connect to iTunes. Instead, Connect the iPhone to iTunes and right-click (Option+Click) the iPhone name and get the option to "restore from backup..." Likely it will not give you the update times of the backups, but the top option will be the most recent. It helps if you BACKUP your old phone before doing this.




Sync
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The 'Sync' Option will do just that... Synchronize chosen info between the device and your computer (or otherwise set settings). Loosely, a sync will copy your contacts from your computer (usually from Outlook or your other favorite contact program) to the device. It will not restore photos, text messages, settings, or any other data than the info you select for that phone within iTunes. To change those settings, select the iPhone in the devices list in iTunes, and select the appropriate tabs.

To sync (if not setup automatically), press the sync button in the lower right of the iTunes window, or right-click (Option-click) the iPhone in 'devices' and select sync, or press the sync icon next to the iPhone in 'devices'.

Restore from update...

Lets say you have been using an iPhone for a while now, but you upgraded your phone to another used phone and want to put you data on the phone without 'restoring' the software... (many people do not want to update as they will loose the jailbreak... esp if you have a 3GS, you could really mess up and be stuck with a locked phone for a while).

Well it's easy... Connect the iPhone to iTunes and right-click (Option+Click) the iPhone name and get the option to "restore from backup..."

Likely it will not give you the update times of the backups, but the top option will be the most recent. It helps if you BACKUP your old phone before doing this.

There is hope... but maybe not for this guy...

CINCINNATI -- A frustrated customer at the Kenwood Towne Centre Apple store Thursday afternoon ended up going to jail after police say he showed an employee a gun.

According court records, Donald Goodrich, 38, of Westwood, was frustrated his iPhone was not working properly.

He told the employee he was, "So mad, I could pop a 9mm at it."

The employee allegedly told Goodrich there was no need for that, then Goodrich allegedly told the employee, "I'll do it right now. Look!"

Goodrich then allegedly opened the right side of his shirt, displaying a black, 9mm handgun.

Goodrich had a concealed weapon permit.

The employee told Goodrich she'd get his phone fixed and walked him over to a technician in the store, then told her manager, who called police.

Goodrich is charged with aggravated menacing, causing fear of harm to an Apple employee.

He also faces a carrying concealed weapons charge for not telling the deputy he had a gun.

Goodrich is scheduled for arraignment Friday morning.

Copyright 2009 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Reported by: Larry Shields
Email: larry.shields@wcpo.com
Web Produced By: Lance Barry
Last Update: 10/02/2009 7:39 am