I am about to do the new software update, however the last time I did the update I lost all of my apps, music, and videos. Before I do the update how can I back it up so that when I do the update everything I have will still be there? Can someone please walk me through it? Thanks.
No, that is not where it is. As a part of the sync process, the iPhone automatically does a backup. If you are concerned about apps, then make sure that you have transferred purchases and that the apps are listed in iTunes.
If you want to manually do a backup, you would have the iPhone plugged into iTunes and then select the iPhone in the device pane. From there, right click on it and select backup.
Make sure that you have also synced the contacts and calendar to the supported applications on your computer. You can see what is included in the backup here
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
If you encrypt the backup and forget the password, you will have to do a restore as a new phone to recover. I don't know enough about the encryption for iTunes to answer anything else about it, however I have read about the need to restore as new if you forget the password.
It did ask me for a password and it was my itunes password, it has been backing up my phone for almost two hours. I have 11 pages of apps plus ones that aren't on the screen, about 10 videos, and over 50 songs. So I think that it's doing a backup. The last time I did my update it said my last backup was two years ago.
Yes, it is doing a backup. iTunes does a backup as the first part of the sync process. So, every time that you sync the iPhone, it does a backup first, unless you cancel out of it. Those backups are overwritten each time you do the next sync. However, whenever you do a restore, there is a backup make that has a data and time stamp. Those stay there until the next time you do a restore. You'll just have to let it run its course now.
If you read through the article that I listed in an earlier post, you see that as far as apps are concerned, the only thing that is backed up is the data. The apps are saved in another folder in iTunes. Also, the music on your iPhone is from your music library and that is on your computer's hard drive in a folder named iTunes. Information about it is in the backup, as well as info about your calendar and contacts, but the actual information is on the computer, with calendar and contacts in the supported applications, and the apps in an app folder in iTunes, and the music and videos wherever you have the library at. Check out that article about backups I posted earlier. You should not have any trouble when you update, but you should understand where everything is. You can do a backup of iTunes, it is under "File>Library" in iTunes. You should also do a regular backup of your computer to save other data, such as the photos you sync (if you do).
Right now it is still backing up, it is almost 4 am and it has been backing up since 11:00 tonight. Is that normal or is it because I have so much stuff on it?
I had to leave my laptop on last night, it's still backing it up. Last night I began to back it up it said I had 6 or 7 minutes then the time increased. It says 2 hours now, the green loading part hasn't moved at all. Should I cancel it? I don't know what to do.
Back-up is automatic. However, you can sync the iPhone with MobileMe. ALternatively, you can also sync your iPhone with Address Book, and iTunes. This will make a record of your music etc. and contacts.