Solution for -1303 error when upgrading to iOS 5

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Solution for -1303 error when upgrading to iOS 5

Hello all,

I just wanted to share a potential solution to the -1303 error some people are getting when they try and install iOS 5 on their iPhone (in my case, it was an iPhone 4). The full error message is:

"An error occurred while backing up this iPhone (-1303). Would you like to continue to update this phone?

Continuing will result the loss of all contents on this phone."

For me, this error occurred because I had a junction point set up in Windows 7. This was used to store backups on another drive (as my OS drive is small). To resolve this, I copied the backups to another location and deleted the Backup folder/junction point in C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync.

I then started the update process again, as per normal, and it worked!

iPhone 4, Windows 7

Posted on Oct 14, 2011 1:43 AM

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Answer 1

kr-owe

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Oct 17, 2011 1:55 PM in response to TailsK

I too have a junction setup to point the backups to another partition drive. I cannot have my backups on my C: drive at all. My Syncing backups work just fine with the junction but maybe the junction is the cause of my -1303 error when updating to iOS5.

So can you be more specific as to what you did. Did you get rid of the junction completely or just make it point to somewhere else? Did you move the backup folder back to your OS drive?

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Answer 2

TailsK Author

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Oct 17, 2011 2:15 PM in response to kr-owe

Hi kr-owe,

I also cleared some space from my OS drive before running the backup (which was mildly difficult considered its a small drive). The biggest thing I did to free up space was to move my page file to my secondary drive (I haven't noticed any performance issue from doing this). Check out http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/6-ways-to-free-disk-space-in-windows-7 / for some tips.

To delete the junction point, I went to C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync and just deleted the backup folder (which appears as a shortcut). Obviously I moved my backups from in that folder before doing it. I haven't put the junction point back yet.

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Answer 3

Oct 17, 2011 9:24 PM in response to TailsK

Thank you

I can confirm its working for me, I tried the following

- rename the junction I'd created and allowed iTunes to create a new backup folder on c: at next sync

- disabled my av (microsoft security essentials - realtime protection)

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Answer 4

cmo44

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Nov 7, 2011 4:37 AM in response to TailsK

I had the same error, and also had a Junction point to an external disc to overcome Apple's insane inability to have backups anywhere other than C drive. I found another solution which worked for me (which didn't require finding enough space on C drive)

Make sure you have an up-to-date manual backup. (Connect and Sync as usual, make sure the backup worked. I do a Sync twice just to make sure).

Then (optionally) find and save a copy of your backup folder, to be on the safe side. On Windows XP it's here:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

(Of course with the junction point it's not really here, but this works fine)

This can take a long time (50,000 files, took and hour)

Now just do an iOS update and when it produces the 1303 error, just select Continue, ignoring the warning. It will now proceed to upgrade to iOS5, and at the end of the process will ask whether you want to restore from the manual backup you just made (yes you do.)

And finally do a new Sync (I had to do it several times to complete the process).

Now you have iOS5, and all your apps, settings, accounts and App data restored.

Charles

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Answer 5

ton-r

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Dec 28, 2011 4:25 PM in response to TailsK

Many thanks! That worked for me!

Strangely enough the junction point DID work with sync and regular backup. It just seems the automatic backup that's part of upgrading iOS can't handle the junction point.

Ton

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