Backing up an Apple iPhone without using iCloud services

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dymatrixnz

40 posts

Geek

#102744 21-May-2012 21:00

Hey guys;

I have had a look through the forums and a few posts by cyryl etc and didnt come up with anything.

I found 2 posts, both seem to link into getting a macbook.\

http://www.apple.com/nz/macmini/server/specs.html
http://www.apple.com/nz/timecapsule/specs.html

I want to avoid spending too much money and would have liked to backup the device automatically if possible.

Thats looking less and less likely without a Mac however :(

Ventura

109 posts

Master Geek

#628604 21-May-2012 21:49

If you have your iTunes library open (whether mac or PC) you can set it up to WiFi sync whenever you plug your phone in to charge. It just has to be on the same WiFi network as your iTunes library, otherwise it will back up to iCloud if you set that up. I'm not sure that if you have a VPN whether it will sync if you are on another network.

dymatrixnz

40 posts

Geek

#628620 21-May-2012 22:11

Ah cool! I figured it would but I have a problem where it said "If you want to sync this device to itunes you will need to wipe all data from the device" or something similar. Ill grab a screenshot.

Ventura

109 posts

Master Geek

#628627 21-May-2012 22:28

Your iPhone will sync to your iTunes. So whatever you have in your iTunes will replace whatever is on your phone.
If you have an apple id on your phone, log into it in iTunes using the same id and password. You can then download whatever purchases from the store you have made into your iTunes including apps and music.
If you have any music which was not purchased from apple, get an program called SharePod and get it onto your PC. Import it into iTunes and then sync the phone.
Once you set up iTunes and have everything in it that you have on your phone then sync the phone and move the apps and music around from there.
The phone is then paired with that iTunes library and will sync via WiFi when it is running (when you turn it on in the phone) and your phone is plugged in.

NZtechfreak

4649 posts

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Trusted

#628633 21-May-2012 22:33

Any way to do this without iTunes at all?

Got an iPhone 4S last week and so far managed to sort out transfers to the device without needing iTunes (just regular drag n drop interface), but if there is an option to do complete backups without iTunes I'd use that also.

EDIT: Actually, scratch that, just looked and the program I'm using does that (DiskAid, doesn't do two way sync though). To use DiskAid without installing iTunes I installed CopyTrans, which downloads iTunes and rips the required drivers and installs only them).

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

Ventura

109 posts

Master Geek

#628644 21-May-2012 22:53

Why pay for full disk aid when iTunes is free? Set it up with outlook and it does the lot.
Once set up it does what you want including two way sync, you don't have to download apps twice if you sync and turn off automatic updates.

dymatrixnz

40 posts

Geek

#628645 21-May-2012 22:58

I'm having a problem backing up photos and videos to my computer. It only does the photo stream and I think that's my main issue. I want everything I do in photo stream.

NZtechfreak

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#628647 21-May-2012 23:03

Ventura: Why pay for full disk aid when iTunes is free? Set it up with outlook and it does the lot.
Once set up it does what you want including two way sync, you don't have to download apps twice if you sync and turn off automatic updates.

Because I don't want to install iTunes, enough said.

DiskAid is free to students, don't forget (doesn't apply to me but others might like to know).

In relation to two-way sync, I have that for contacts and calendar via Google Sync anyways, so I'm only using the free components of DiskAid right now.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

tdgeek

29755 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#628650 21-May-2012 23:07

After a mini hate relationship with iTunes, I took the time to learn what I want to do and how it needs to work for me. Now, its a one stop shop, it's great. Easily import, sync, backup. My music is not from iTunes, it imports straight. Drag it to Itunes, easy. Video is also home created or not from iTunes. iTunes fileshare function using VLC. Many PDF's using iTunes fileshare function with Goodreader.

The only thing was photos. It won't import photos past one folder depth. 11000 photos in Photos-2011-Month, sometimes another folder inside. PhotoSort covered that, but in the end I re categorised and ran with that limitation (which doen't exist on a MAC)

To change a device, easily duplicated onto the new device using a restore from backup. No doubt you can do all this on Android or Windows Phone, but for me its an integrated one stop solution

Ventura

109 posts

Master Geek

#628651 21-May-2012 23:09

When you connect via a cable you can access the phone like you a digital camera and access your photos and videos that way, through my computer.

JBO

16 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#635526 4-Jun-2012 16:38

Yeah, you can use Image Capture to pull the pics off. Then sync the phone with the folder that holds the library (if you don't want your ph filling up with duplicates, you can delete the Camera Roll.)