back-up files gone forever?

iTunes does not overwrite backups; they are all saved. When you restore, there is a pulldown list of backups by date - choose the one you want.

Itunes overwrites my backup everytime, unless I change the name of the folder like tokatta suggested in this post. And it works. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1950351

The only time itunes made a new backup set was when I synced my replacement phone after I restored it from my backup. From that time on I had two backups in my list.

Hold on there - check your facts! iTunes keeps one and only one 'standard' backup of the iPhone. Every time you sync, that backup is overwritten by the new one. If you cancel a backup in progress, you'll find you have no backup, as the previous one will have been deleted, and the incomplete one will be corrupt.

In addition to the standard backup, a unique backup is created when you perform a Restore, or when you manually initiate a backup (by a secondary click on the iPhone in the devices list). These are not deleted, unless you manually delete them (in iTunes > Preferences > Devices tab, or directly in the MobileSync folder).

In addition to the standard backup, a unique backup is created when you perform a Restore, or when you manually initiate a backup (by a secondary click on the iPhone in the devices list). These are not deleted, unless you manually delete them (in iTunes > Preferences > Devices tab, or directly in the MobileSync folder).

I just tried to do this and got no extra backup, my last backup gets overwritten no matter if I sync or perform a manually backup.

Yes, I meant to say that a separate backup is saved each time you restore. The OP stated he had restored his phone and that backup was overwritten. I have multiple dated backups saved from restores.

%INSTALLDRIVE%/users/"YOURNAME"/AppData/Roaming/AppleComputer/MobileSync/Backup/ "AND SOME LONG CRAZY NUMER"

as far as i can tell there here... (someone correct me if i'm wrong)
I don't know why itunes is only showing 1 backup now, it used to show the last 8 for me... now only 1
I haven't had the privilage, (horor) of having to recover, so maybe when you do, it will give you the option to choose multiple backups from (i hope).
Apple seems to keep updating itunes.. wheather their really fixing things or breaking them more.. seems to be the question of the day..

In addition to the standard backup, a unique backup is created when you perform a Restore, or when you manually initiate a backup (by a secondary click on the iPhone in the devices list). These are not deleted,

The manual backups as above are not saved - they overwrite prior manual and synch backups. Backups made when updating firmware are not saved either. Restore backups are saved indefinitely. I have 8 going back to last July.

All saved backups are listed in iTune's Preferences > Device. The contents of the MobileSync/Backup folder are cryptic.

I manually backup my iPhone by right clicking the device in iTunes. It in my library/app suppt/mobl synch/backup folder I can see the incremental files (thousands) created by each backup date. Anyone know if I can delete the prior dates without impairing the latest backup?

In other words, is each manual backup stand alone and not some sort of incremental back up requiring the previous backups to build on?

Hi Aleks,

If you restore the iPhone and set it up as a new phone, iTunes will overwrite the previous backup for that device.

+"During the backup process, iTunes overwrites any previous backups on the computer. iTunes may show the error message If the existing backup file is locked, damaged, or unreadable."+ from: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2529

You can move or copy the backup file or folder to a different location. The article linked above will provides the location of the iPhone backup.

-Jason