Upgrading to 4.2.1 without losing app data?

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03-26-2011, 12:59 AM
j1e

Upgrading to 4.2.1 without losing app data?

I've had some problems upgrading my 3GS (new bootrom) from 4.0.1 to 4.2.1.

First I got error 3194 and then I solved that by starting TSS server in TinyUmbrella (I have pretty much all SHSHs saved since 3.1.2).

But after that I ran into a error 21 code and I had to create a new user account on my pc (yes it's a Windows PC btw) in order to get past this.

What I'm doing is that I'm shift+clicking on "Upgrade" and I choose my 4.2.1 IPSW, it verifies and then "iTunes it preparing your device for upgrade" appears. But now it stalls and error 1604 cancels the process. The phone gets stuck in recovery and I have to kick it out with TinyUmbrella.

Now, I know I'm pressing shift+Upgrade and not shift+Restore because I have so much application data that I don't want to lose and I imagine that will happen if I choose shift+Restore. Am I right with this thought or will it not delete all my apps and data even if I try shift+Restore?
03-26-2011, 01:50 AM
element

If you backup with iTunes (right-click in your device from devices list, backup) you can shift-restore and then when the restore is done, use the option "Restore from Backup", this way all your app data is saved.
03-28-2011, 05:25 PM
n1ckn4m3

Quote:

Originally Posted by element

If you backup with iTunes (right-click in your device from devices list, backup) you can shift-restore and then when the restore is done, use the option "Restore from Backup", this way all your app data is saved.

element is 100% correct. So long as the phone is booted you can pull a backup from the device in iTunes, and this will save all of the app data (high scores, documents, save games, account information, etc.) and store it in the backup. A shift-restore will wipe the device, but if you elect to set up from a restore of the backup you made, all of the data will transfer back.

Alternately, if you are going to set up as a 'new' device to troubleshoot other problems, you can manually use SSH or iPhoneBrowser to pull the Application directories from the phone and store them locally on your machine prior to the restore -- then restore the device, set up as new, sync the apps. Once that's done, you can drop the Application directories back on the phone and replace any files they replace -- this will bring just about all of the data back in most cases as well, though you may have to sign in to Game Center again, etc. This will also work for most productivity apps that store data locally, etc.

This is also the ONLY way presently to synchronize application data between the iPhone and the iPad beyond the initial restore of the device from your iPhone's backup. Here's hoping iOS 5 brings cloud saving to Game Center.