first and foremost, one must make sure to
deauthorize the old computer's itunes account before getting rid of it. this step is of the utmost importance. all info about how to get back your appstore apps are discussed there as well.
How to retain iphone PIM (contacts/cal/etc) data when syncing with a new or reformatted computer
when you suddenly have to reformat your computer, change the hard drive due to a hd crash, or buy another computer in exchange for your old one, your iphone will not be able to sync with the new itunes you install on it straight-up. itunes will not recognize your iphone. that's because your iphone is not paired-up with the new itunes whereby attempting to sync it will prompt a "this iphone is synced with another itunes library" pop-up and warning. continuing with the sync will erase the iphone's data in order to pair-up the device with the new itunes. the pairing info on the older computer/pre-formatted's itunes was already wiped away.
so how do we go about it? how do we transfer our old iphone's PIM data into the new/reformatted computer? there are quite a few ways to do so:
using 3rd-party desktop software
* this method is the only method for non-jailbroken/legit-carrier iphones
this by far is the easiest method to use:
- plug your iphone to your new/reformatted computer but do not sync it to itunes yet.
- download, install to the desktop, and use
Phoneview(for macs) or
Touchcopy (windows/mac) to export all your iphone's data to your new/reformatted computer. trial versions of the software are available. but for all it's features which answer to all of apple's shortcomings, it's a definite money-well-spent buy.
- now sync your iphone to your computer. the warning pop-up will appear so let itunes erase your iphone's data to continue the process of pairing-up the iphone with your computer. notice that your iphone's data will be wiped clean.
- use
Phoneview(for macs) or
Touchcopy (windows/mac) to put back/import all the data back into your iphone.
- re-sync your iphone using itunes to now transfer the restored data into your desktop's addressbook/calendar syncing software. that's it.
using the cydia-installed Chronus app (fw2.+up) or installer app-installed Timecapsule app (fw1.1.4/lower)
* this method is only for jailbroken iphones (not necessarily unlocked units)
this method does not require any 3rd-party desktop software but rather uses 3rd-party jailbreak apps instead. it is 100% free and no apps need to be bought but it goes through a longer process. this method is my weapon of choice due to the fact that you have full control over the iphone's data files and how it is managed.
- for firmware 2.+ iphones, launch cydia and install Chonus. for firmware 1.1.4 and lower iphones, launch installer and install the Timecapsule app.
* note that both of these apps were written by the same developer,
databinge. these are commercial apps but he was very gracious enough to release the free/trial versions as full-featured apps. we can all utilize the back-restore data functions perfectly fine using it. like the desktop software written on the other method, all it's features answer to all of apple's shortcomings so it's a definite money-well-spent buy.
- launch Chonus/Timecapsule and use it to create backups of your contacts/calendar/sms/notes/photos/safaribookmarks/etc. some items have large files so it might be a good idea to switch your iphone's autolock to "never". more details about how to utilize the Chronus/Timecapsule app on
this thread.
- after everything is backed-up on the iphone, go back to springboard. you have the option to transfer the Chronus/Timecapsule backup files to your desktop, read more about it on
this thread.
- plug your iphone to your new/reformatted computer and launch itunes.
- now sync your iphone to your computer. the warning pop-up will appear so let itunes erase your iphone's data to continue the process of pairing-up the iphone with your computer. notice that your iphone's data will be wiped clean.
- launch Chronus/Timecapsule and use it to restore the contacts/calendar/sms/notes/photos/safaribookmarks/etc back into your iphone then go back to springboard. note that your iphone may respring after exiting Chronus/Timecapsule depending on which app's data was restored.
- check all the apps if their data are back. if not, just redo the last step. it helps to patiently restore the app data 1 at a time for a cleaner process of putting back the data.
- once you have verified that everything is back, re-sync your iphone using itunes to now transfer the restored data into your desktop's addressbook/calendar syncing software. that's it.
using the manual method to back-up the db files
* note that in order for this to be successful, you must know the proper file permissions of each db file. not doing so will cause a non-writeable database.
- plug your iphone to your new/reformatted computer but do not sync it to itunes yet.
- use the desktop software
WinSCP+tutorial(windows) or
Cyberduck/
Fugu(macs) to manually extract the contacts/calendar/sms/notes/photos/safaribookmarks/etc plist/db/sqlite data files from the directory written below onto your desktop:
/var/mobile/library/(app's name)
* this step was also
discussed on this tutorial thread.
** you must have OpenSSH installed and running on your iphone (use Bossprefs app to toggle it ON). if not installed, use Cydia(fw2.+)/Installer(fw1.1.4lower) to install them. turn autolock off and use Bossprefs app to take note of the iphone's IP address. Cyberduck/Fugu tutorial discussed
on this thread.
- now sync your iphone to your computer. the warning pop-up will appear so let itunes erase your iphone's data to continue the process of pairing-up the iphone with your computer. notice that your iphone's data will be wiped clean.
- now manually transfer the plist/db/sqlite you backed-up on your desktop back into your iphone, overwriting the now empty one there.
* you need to change the file permissions of each file back to it's original one as well.
- check of all the data is back on the iphone.
- re-sync your iphone using itunes to now transfer the restored data into your desktop's addressbook/calendar syncing software. that's it.
transferring your media
if you had an unfortunate hard drive crash and all your media is gone, you can still retrieve the ones from your iphone. simply use the desktop software listed below to retrieve them and transfer the media to the desktop/laptop.
- for commercial desktop software:
Phoneview(mac)
Touchcopy (windows/mac)
Senuti(mac)
- for freeware:
Sharepod(windows)
alternative methods
method 1:
doing preps before the move
this mostly involve making backups of your desktop addressbook/calendar syncing software's data prior to moving to a new computer/reformatting the hard drive.
- export your desktop software's PIM data and transfer it to a flash drive/flash card. and import the data into the new computer/reformatted hard drive's PIM software.
- sync your iphone.
method 2:
using the method used in syncing an iPhone with two (or more) Computers
this works in such a way that you fool the iphone into thinking that it is still syncing into the old computer.
- method is discussed in detail on
this tutorial thread
*** if anyone knows of other ways to do so, please enlighten me so we can edit this article to add it.
Forums 
I presume the AppBackup is = IPranks Bacxkup... Is this correct? If so, IPranks Backup is supporting iPhone software versions up to 1.1.4
