Just a little something – if you’re intending on upgrading your existing iPhone to the 3Gs then you’ll need to do a bit of housekeeping before you consign your old phone to the recycler.
STEP 1- Make a fresh back up of your iPhone
If you sync your phone regularly with your computer then you’ll have back ups in place already. However, if you want to be absolutely, doubly, sure that you have a fresh back up file – then do the following:
With your iPhone disconnected from the computer, find your back up library:
Mac: User/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Windows Vista: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Move the files inside the Backup folder to a different location (just somewhere out of the way – your desktop for example) so the Backup folder is empty – then simply re-connect your iPhone. You’ll notice that iTunes starts an iPhone back up but this time it takes a little longer than normal. This is because you’re making a new full back up rather than just the sync changes. Once iTunes has finished the back up process, nip off to your Backup folder again and just check that it now has a new file inside it. If it does then you can then disconnect your iPhone from the computer for the last time.
STEP 2 – Wipe your iPhone data
So, you’ve got yourself a fresh back up file safely tucked away where it should be on your computer? Now you’re ready to wipe your iPhone which is incredibly simple but vitally important. To securely remove data from your phone (oh, you have upgraded the phone software to 3.0 haven’t you?) on the phone itself go to: Settings / General / Reset and then tap the button “Erase All Content and Settings”. Make sure you tap this one (it’s the second one down) as opposed to the top one “Reset All Settings” because that will still leave vital data on your phone. Depending on the amount of data on your phone the wipe process takes a little while. If you’re planning on taking advantage of a phone retailer’s trade-in scheme make sure you’ve done the wipe first – don’t go trotting into Carphone Warehouse thinking you can nuke your phone whilst doing the paperwork for your new 3Gs because you’ll end up spending way more time in the shop than necessary if you do – several hours in some cases.
STEP 3 – Remove your sim card
You’ll almost certainly need your existing sim card for your 3Gs, so there shouldn’t be much chance of you missing this step. But, just in case, take your sim card out of your old iPhone once you’ve wiped it. To do this, grab a paper clip and bend out one end. Stick this end in the little hole at the top of the iPhone and push the paper clip slightly to the side to ensure it grips the sim drawer. Then gently pull the paper clip away from the phone and the draw should release exposing your sim card.
That’s it. You’ve backed up your iPhone afresh, securely wiped the data from it and removed your sim card. You are now ready to upgrade to your 3Gs. Upon your first sync of the 3Gs your data will get loaded onto the phone – once this is done you can then delete the back up files you moved to your desktop in Step 1 (note: I’m talking about the back up files that you moved out the way, NOT the new one in the Backup folder. The files – not the folder, yes – on the desktop, arrgh, you know the ones I mean).