Strider G7

Q: iOS 6 iCloud bookmarks sync stuck in limbo... any idea?

Hello,

this morning my iPad 2 with iOS 6 started preventing me from making any action on bookmarks in Safari. I noticed that my long reading list had all "downloads" pending.

 

Waited but nothing changed. Plugged in my power outlet and waited but nothing changed.

So I tried to disable bookmarks sync, iCloud altogether, delete sites data, history and cookies, disabled and re-enabled private browsing, I restored my iPad from an iCloud backup deleting data and settings from iPad itself (that took some time). I obtained always the same result: other services are disabled flawlessly (my contacts, notes and so on are deleted and reloaded without any negative effect) but bookmarks no, they are still there.

Still now that I restarted a few times also with home and power button pressed for those 15 seconds and I'm logged out of iCloud, those bookmarks are there looking at me with a distinct grin between the lines. Last thing I tried was to sync with iTunes enabling that checkbox used to replace iPad bookmarks with those on my iMac; my beloved iPad canceled the operation, every time I tried (just to be sure, you know).

 

Is there any way to hard reset just Safari? Something I didn't try? I'd really, really, really like to avoid a full restore "as new device".

 

How wonderful would be if I could turn a switch and initialize Safari just like on the desktop version... also a selective backup option wouldn't be bad or a way to export specific app backups through iTunes.

 

Thank you very much for your time and in advance for any hint you could give me.

iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iOS 6

Posted on Sep 22, 2012 9:06 AM

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Q: iOS 6 iCloud bookmarks sync stuck in limbo... any idea?

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  • by DanH,

    DanH DanH Oct 3, 2012 10:17 AM in response to newagemac
    Level 5 (4,370 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 10:17 AM in response to newagemac

    As I wrote above:

     

    For others trying this, be aware that iBackupBot uses the "import" function to replace the bookmark files. You then have to export the entire modified backup file and put it where iTunes can find it, in your user Library/Application Support/Mobile Sync/Backup folder. Take note of the exact time so you can find it later using iTunes' Restore function.

     

    Make sure the two files are in the same directory (I had them both on my desktop) and then import the info file. This will replace the db file (yes this is confusing). Save the whole backup and put it where iTunes can find it and restore your phone.

     

    -dan

  • by newagemac,

    newagemac newagemac Oct 3, 2012 10:47 AM in response to DanH
    Level 2 (240 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 10:47 AM in response to DanH

    Ok thanks.

     

    So just to be clear: 

     

    Step 1: While viewing the backup in iBackupBot, select the Library/Safari/Bookmarks.db file and then click File > Import and then choose the bookmarks.db.info file, correct?

     

    Step 2: Export the entire edited backup to the desktop and then move it into the folder where iTunes looks for backups so that I can restore using the edited backup.

     

    I think I understand how to do everything else, I'm just not clear on how to use iBackupBot to edit the backup file (Step 1).

  • by DanH,

    DanH DanH Oct 3, 2012 10:49 AM in response to newagemac
    Level 5 (4,370 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 10:49 AM in response to newagemac

    newagemac wrote:

     

    Ok thanks.

     

    So just to be clear:  While viewing the backup in iBackupBot, select the Library/Safari/Bookmarks.db file and then click File > Improt and then choose the bookmarks.db.info file, correct?

     

    I understand how to do everything else, I'm just not clear on how to use iBackupBot to edit the backup file.

     

    Yes, but of course be sure you have made a copy of the backup file before editing anything, just in case something goes wrong. I'm not sure you have to select the existing db file, but I did and it worked. It is a bit confusing  because you can't tell just by looking at the directory listing in iBackupBot whether the old db file has been replaced or not.

     

    My battery life is now better than it was before the whole fiasco began. It is now roughly 24 hours since I fixed this and with moderate use and the phone being on all but about 8 hours overnight, my battery is at 55%.

     

    -dan

  • by chitowngreeny,

    chitowngreeny chitowngreeny Oct 3, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Strider G7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Strider G7

    it might have been mentioned at some point on this thread, but just for clarification...are the two files on the Dropbox account just for iPhone 5 or can they be used for iPhone 4/4s fixes as well?

  • by Strider G7,

    Strider G7 Strider G7 Oct 3, 2012 11:33 AM in response to newagemac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 11:33 AM in response to newagemac

    Just a note, the simplest route is:

    1) find the folder containing the backup;

    2) make a zip of it;

    3) edit the backup in place with iBackupBot as already explained;

    4) restore the edited backup with iTunes;

    5) if everything's fine, delete del zip file.

     

    So there's really no need to export the edited backup with iBackupBot.

  • by Strider G7,

    Strider G7 Strider G7 Oct 3, 2012 11:36 AM in response to chitowngreeny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 11:36 AM in response to chitowngreeny

    They are fine for every device with iOS 6.

  • by DanH,

    DanH DanH Oct 3, 2012 11:49 AM in response to Strider G7
    Level 5 (4,370 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 11:49 AM in response to Strider G7

    @Strider G7:

     

    Excellent points. I started out unsure about several things, including the backup file structure and location, so opted to use iBackupBot to export and then moved the original. But your steps are clearer and easier.

     

    And for chitowngreeny, my phone is an i4.

     

    -dan

  • by FLdoc2011,

    FLdoc2011 FLdoc2011 Oct 3, 2012 2:41 PM in response to Strider G7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 2:41 PM in response to Strider G7

    This is what I did.  I just backed up the existing iTunes files but I used the existing backup in the iTunes folder, let ibackupbot do its thing and restored from iTunes.

     

    After several days everything still running great, no issues and battery MUCH improved.

  • by barakthecat,

    barakthecat barakthecat Oct 3, 2012 7:01 PM in response to Strider G7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2012 7:01 PM in response to Strider G7

    Here's a me too for this wonderful thread. Solved my problem, CPU usage is now back to 15-30%.

  • by newagemac,

    newagemac newagemac Oct 4, 2012 5:47 AM in response to FLdoc2011
    Level 2 (240 points)
    Oct 4, 2012 5:47 AM in response to FLdoc2011

    Well I'm happy to report that after following the instructions in this thread my iPhone is back to its great battery life.  Maybe even better than before.  The Reading List now works and syncs correctly.  Thanks everyone!

  • by kestrien,

    kestrien kestrien Oct 5, 2012 3:55 PM in response to Strider G7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2012 3:55 PM in response to Strider G7

    Hi all, I'd appreciate your help - not a tech expert by any means. Just installed ios6 & it completely shredded my reading list - very old items (once deleted) items brought back in, while newer items from the last two days are gone. My bookmark folders themselves, however, are fine.

     

    I backed it all up on my home computer yesterday - will my reading list be on that computer?

     

    Thank you!

  • by xny5,

    xny5 xny5 Oct 7, 2012 2:25 PM in response to inder19
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 7, 2012 2:25 PM in response to inder19

    Thank you so much for providing the clean file, inder19, and thanks to Shawn Lebbon for explaining about iBackupBot which I didn't know about.

     

    Both were essential to solve my problem, which was as per the original post plus I couldn't add or manually delete bookmarks on the iPhone.

     

    Worked on my iPhone 4 (running iOS 6). No more iCloud bookmark syncing for a while. I always had trouble in iOS 5 (all versions) but the "turn it off, delete, turn it on" usually worked, not this time!

     

    After I restored from iTunes; it didn't boot at first, but I was able to avoid restoring as a new phone by some combination of holding down the Home button and/or power on buttons for an extended period of time while USB connected and iTunes open on Mac, or not. Lots of trial and error. All settings preserved from a recent backup I did just before trying iBackupBot to edit the backup file.

     

    A very un-Apple experience.

  • by Piiiter,

    Piiiter Piiiter Oct 10, 2012 2:01 AM in response to Strider G7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2012 2:01 AM in response to Strider G7

    I'm having the same problem with my iPhone 4 with iOS6 and I try to figure out how to solve it simply, but the more I read the more i understand that there are no easy solution to it.

     

    So therefore I wonder when is Apple going to fix the things they obviously broke when shipping iOS 6.

     

    The reason I bought my first MAC in 1990 was that it was user friendly compared to Windows and DOS. But it looks like Apple is forgetting why they came in to the market, so therefore I will wait til Apple fix the problem with battery drainage. It is not my job to do this, im only the consumer, not the engineer it shall just run as supposed to

     

    The problem is that I am hooked to Apple by owning an iMac, Apple TV, iPhone4, 2 iPads and a Apple time capsule so if they can't fix it i'll have to re-think about my future it solutions........

     

    At this moment i would like all at the forum to post this issue at Facebook, twitter, and other places so Apple engineers speed it up a little!

     

    Thanx for helping me!

  • by simonfromoberkirch,

    simonfromoberkirch simonfromoberkirch Oct 13, 2012 6:08 AM in response to Piiiter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2012 6:08 AM in response to Piiiter

    I must agree with Piiiter, Apple neglected the qualtiy aspects of their software in the recent months.

     

    Things happen that were unthinkable under a CEO named Steve Jobs.

    Problems are handled too lax under Tim Cook.

     

    Wether it is iOS or OS X. Shipping software with so many bugs unacceptable.

    It's really incredible how Apple omits testing the simplest features of their Software.
    It's getting annoying with Apple.

  • by 5480,

    5480 5480 Oct 13, 2012 10:50 PM in response to Strider G7
    Level 1 (71 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 13, 2012 10:50 PM in response to Strider G7

    My iPad 2 with iOS 6 prevents me from making any action on bookmarks in Safari. I noticed that my long reading list had all "downloads" pending. This is consuming my battery at alarming rate.

     

    I installed Chrome to replace Safari but Chrome does not allow me to import bookmarks from Safari so Chrome is not a viable option.

     

    Strider G7 recommended the following fix:

     

    1) find the folder containing the backup;

    2) make a zip of it;

    3) edit the backup in place with iBackupBot as already explained;

    4) restore the edited backup with iTunes;

    5) if everything's fine, delete del zip file.

     

    This sounds like a foreign language for me. What actually Strinder G7 is doing here?

     

    In particular:

     

    1) Where to find the folder and why? Backup of what?

    2) What is zip? How to make a zip?

    3) How to edit the back-up? What is iBackupBot? Where is it?

    4) How to restore the edited backup with iTunes?

    5) How to delete del zip file?

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