iPhone taking a long time to Sync due to "backup"

Question

Level 1

8 points

iPhone taking a long time to Sync due to "backup"

So after installing 2.0 and some cool new apps, when I just try and sync to my PC it takes around 45 minutes because it runs a backup of everything.

Why is that?

Is it because I installed an app from the iPhone App store and then had to sync it with my iTunes ones that I installed? I've since removed the app that I downloaded from the iPhone app store and only have the ones I found through iTunes but it still takes a $*&# long time to sync becauase it's "backing up".

Any thoughts?

Is a Restore in order?

Thanks.

iPhone, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Jul 17, 2008 9:48 AM

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Answer 1

cmunic8r

Level 1

0 points

Jul 17, 2008 10:36 AM in response to namelocK

Do you happen to have Exchange admin tools installed?

If so, try it from a different computer.

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Answer 2

DrumWild

Level 1

0 points

Jul 17, 2008 10:40 AM in response to namelocK

Mine just started doing this last night.

Very odd.

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Answer 3

Jul 17, 2008 10:42 AM in response to namelocK

Mine runs a backup of everything and it takes about 2 minutes. Do you have USB 2 ports on your computer, and are you connected directly to the computer and not to a hub? If not that explains the time it is taking.

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Answer 4

NYCTexan

Level 1

0 points

Jul 17, 2008 10:46 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Both my husband's and my phones take a significant amount of time to sync, due to this backup issue. And no, I am not connected to a USB hub, but directly to the back of my iMac. I was wondering if it may be due to the amount of space left on the hard drive? I only have about 4g left, whereas, on my husband's iMac there's a ton of space left.

Any thoughts?

TIA,
Tina

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Answer 5

Jul 17, 2008 10:53 AM in response to namelocK

A "feature" of the new firmware + iTunes 7.7 is automatic full backups of the iPhone. I can't make out exactly what the timing scheme for it is or what triggers it, but it backs up fully several times a day if I sync....but sometimes it doesn't.

You can cancel the backup by clicking the little "x" to the right of the backup progress bar. Works like a charm.

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Answer 6

Jul 17, 2008 12:02 PM in response to Hickeroar

Thank you Hickeroar!

Hadn't noticed that "x". what a relief, syncs are back to normal speed - although i have to hit the x every time

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Answer 7

Jul 17, 2008 6:25 PM in response to erik graham

Anyone know of a way to disable the backup part, its really annoying... I like the idea of a backup, but once a day or maybe once a week would be fine, not every time I plug in the phone!

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Answer 8

Aug 1, 2008 9:57 AM in response to Hickeroar

Thanks sooo much for the "x" tip! I started having this same problem yesterday (except for me, I have yet to see a backup and sync complete successfully. After about an hour and a half I get fed up and eject it and leave without syncing. An hour and a half!)

It looks like this "x"-ing out is going to work for syncing, but occasionally I'd like to backup my phone...

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Answer 9

Aug 2, 2008 12:46 PM in response to compurhythm78

You can disable backups in terminal. The command is:

defaults write com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool YES

I think you can work out for yourself how to re-enable them.

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Answer 10

Maklord

Level 1

0 points

Aug 2, 2008 1:06 PM in response to Noiseboy2006

Noiseboy2006 wrote:
You can disable backups in terminal. The command is:

defaults write com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool YES

I think you can work out for yourself how to re-enable them.

how do you enter terminal?
also to re-enable: "com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsEnabled -bool YES"?
or just erase?

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Answer 11

Aug 2, 2008 1:54 PM in response to Maklord

how do you enter terminal?

The Terminal App is found in Applications/Utilities

also to re-enable: "com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsEnabled -bool YES"?
or just erase?

To enable backups again type:
"com.apple.itunes DeviceBackupsEnabled -bool NO"

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Answer 12

Shawnc2

Level 1

19 points

Sep 4, 2008 6:32 PM in response to namelocK

If anyone is having this problem, here are instructions to disable the backup:
http://www.eidac.de/?p=60

Or simply use this software to turn it off:
http://www.microseconds.com/backupswitch.html

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