Backing up iPhone to new iTunes

Peerzy

Peerzy

Peerzy

Soldato
Joined
9 Nov 2008
Posts
7,120
Afternoon guys,

Have someone who is visiting from overseas, his iPhone is synced to his laptop at home (not in the UK), while he is here he would like to be able to backup his iPhone to iTunes like he normally does.

I was going to install iTunes on a PC for him - if he connects his iPhone will it allow this?

He obviously doesn't want to wipe his iPhone, nor does he want the iPhone to sync with this computer, he just wants to be able to plug it in and click backup?

He's fine with authorising this computer as one of his 5 if needed as we can unauthorise it later.
 
Feek said:
Wouldn't it be easier to just enable iCloud backup?
Click to expand...

It would but his internet connection at home is very dodgy, he's happy to do local backups and just wants to know the best way to create a backup whilst he is here.

My idea is install iTunes, let him backup to that and take the backup with him on a memory stick.

His worry is that it'll either sync with this iTunes, wipe his phone or cause him problems when he gets home?
 
That won't work. If his iPhone is setup on his laptop at home to backup, connecting it to another computer to attempt a back it up will wipe it iirc.

Does he have iCloud setup? If so, and he has iCloud backup switched on then anytime he plugs his phone into charge and the phone is connected to the internet via WiFi then iCloud takes a backup automatically.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5262
 
Hmmm annoying. As previously mentioned iCloud is out of the picture.

Is there any other way to create an iTunes backup without wiping the phone?

Does authorising the computer not matter or is that simply to do with purchasing of stuff from iTunes?
 
I think iTunes has 2 files, one xml, that is essentially the library. Could he bring those 2 files on a USB and then you put those onto the laptop in the iTunes user folder, then it should be ok?
 
Is it a windows system? I believe the default location is something like C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes.
I only use Windows at work, so not sure what else is supposed to be there, but I've got 4 iTunes files in there.
I don't think you could create one if you knew the name of the iPhone - it's a little more complicated than that!
 
Maccy said:
Is it a windows system? I believe the default location is something like C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes.
I only use Windows at work, so not sure what else is supposed to be there, but I've got 4 iTunes files in there.
I don't think you could create one if you knew the name of the iPhone - it's a little more complicated than that!
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Ah right, that file. Hmmm we might be able to get it but doubtful as his PC is overseas and there is no one to access it and email it across.

Shame we can't create one.

Anybody got any other ideas?
 
It's a PITA unless they have their own iTunes instance preferably in a VM or something. otherwise they end up downloading apps you own and can't authenticate them as they're already registered to your ID.

If you can give them their own iTunes instance ie a VM or switching Library each time then you could use some software that can transfer all the songs and bits from the iPhone first. Otherwise just selective sync everything.
 
uniQ said:
It's a PITA unless they have their own iTunes instance preferably in a VM or something. otherwise they end up downloading apps you own and can't authenticate them as they're already registered to your ID.

If you can give them their own iTunes instance ie a VM or switching Library each time then you could use some software that can transfer all the songs and bits from the iPhone first. Otherwise just selective sync everything.
Click to expand...

That's all to do with syncing though which we want to avoid - I just want iTunes to create a backup of the phone and avoid everything else (syncing, downloading anything etc....).

The installation of iTunes on the PC will be totally fresh (ie - not linked to any account or iOS device).
 
In that case pretty sure you can just plug it in, let it connect right click and select backup then just click 'No' to syncing first.

I'll boot up a VM and find out :)
 
I was mostly right, except it just backs up as you wan't without any prompting to sync/restore. Tested on a Mac VM w/ another iPad already synced to it & a Windows VM w/ fresh iTunes installation and same result on both.
 
uniQ said:
I was mostly right, except it just backs up as you wan't without any prompting to sync/restore. Tested on a Mac VM w/ another iPad already synced to it & a Windows VM w/ fresh iTunes installation and same result on both.
Click to expand...

Brilliant, so all I need to do is find a PC with iTunes on it, plug in his iPhone and click backup and won't do anything to the actual contents of the phone (sync, restore, etc...)?
 
Yeah I connected it to the VM's right clicked the iPad in the sidebar and selected backup and it did w/ no other prompts or interventions. It then showed the last backup made to which I could right click in the sidebar and then choose 'restore from backup'.
 
uniQ said:
Yeah I connected it to the VM's right clicked the iPad in the sidebar and selected backup and it did w/ no other prompts or interventions. It then showed the last backup made to which I could right click in the sidebar and then choose 'restore from backup'.
Click to expand...

Brilliant that is exactly what I'm after!

Glad it's so simple :D
 
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