After weeks of nagging I finally got Mrs wing nuts an iPad. Well she gets my old one and I get the new one. We both have iPhones, the TV link and a mac so it seemed sensible to make sure everything is properly updated and synced.
Knowing my limitations i got a man in to sort. This was a good move as the result is great. Everything is fast and clear. However the installing of the updates etc take time so yesterday after sorting three devices I’m asked if I can do the last one so that in the morning he can sort the links. I’ve watched three times and been given instructions.
Well I obviously miss something and this morning I have to admit to her and him that it looks like I didn’t back it up properly and so the Mrs’s phone is missing photos, messages and address book. My heart and stomach left the building of their own accord. My bollocks were told to stay put until every possible attempt had been made to retrieve said photos etc. We, sorry he, got phonebook back but nowt else. She had never backed anything up. Ever.
You can now run a sweepstake on how far my entrails will be stretched. Try light years as a starting point.

#firstworldproblems

#firstworldproblems

you post that in a forum reknowned for “What tyre threads”?

Let me knit you a hairshirt, with a rapha logo…

Are you certain the phone has never been synced? I had to go into the sync folder and delete and rename various bits in order to recover my data when putting ios5 on my phone. I realise you’ve been clear about her never having backed up, but just maybe… otherwise, twelve miles?

Never mind backing things up when you have to upgrade something, if you don’t make backups of any data that you couldn’t do without as a matter of course then you need to go stand in front of a mirror and give your self a damn good talking to.

Computers ( yes, even ones with a pretty logo ) fail.
hard drives fail.

Back up your data to at least one separate device that isn’t kept in the same place as your computer.

All avenues explored. All lessons learnt. been in front of mirror for hours. She’s been very tidy and my entrails are in a bin liner waiting for the cats to rip open later. Surfing handbags now.

tell her she should’ve backed up previously and also taken responsibility for her own device last night

😯

as above, and make sure she has iCloud backups enabled now! Bit of sellotape and you’ll be right as rain.

Stop surfing for handbags and buy a 2.5″ external usb drive.

How much are you willing to pay to get these photos back? I’m sure a data recovery specialist will manage it. You’ve got to stop using the phone so the data isn’t overwritten. I’ve used a company called CBL Data Recovery a couple of times (I’ve no connection to them) for work. They will check the drive/device, tell you what they can recover and give you a quote. You then decide if you want them to go ahead. If you decide not to go ahead there is no fee.

As others have said, you need to start backing up your data. If you don’t have your photos on at least 2 separate drives in 2 separate physical locations then you’re risking loosing them. Most data can be recreated but photos generally can’t. What if your wife had lost her phone or had it stolen?

Good luck.

External drive purchased. iCloud on. Lectures listened to. Alphabet, thanks I’ll give them a try. Pictures, as they say priceless. Knowing her from now on she’ll be backing up 15 times a day.

she’ll be backing up 15 times a day.

Picolax?

That’s a bloody good idea! Take her mind off things..

Might be a bit late to save your internal organs.

Had a similar problem with my wife’s iPhone. Downloaded and used the free software from here iPhone Backup Extractor and it worked flawlessly, recovered everything.

It does, obviously, rely on the fact that there is a backup to extract. If the phone has been connected to iTunes in the past I would be surprised if it isn’t backed up automatically.

Madness, there are so many easy ways to back-up and store everything. Prior to iOS5 my phone backed up everytime it connected to the computer (so thats photos, and iTunes), contacts and calendars are synched through google so they wont be lost either. I have to ask, why does she have an iPhone if your not even getting full use out of it?

STATO – you’re so right on so many levels.