Recovering PocketMoney data from iTunes backup files

[HardyMacia]

Here are some directions for making backup copies of your backups incase updates fail or backups fail

When running some updates on apps that come out I get this.  I have to restore from a backup.

http://www.modmyifone.com/forums/genera ... creen.html


What I did not realize is if you STOP a backup which takes 1-2 hours it corrupts it until you do the whole thing.  So I had to redo my iphone from scratch.

Here is the key.  When you finish the backup go to  the ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/mobilesync

Find the backup file in there

DUPLICATE it

Rename the folder like this

a64fa04c651da8ed650079ee25f47340a8fd832f-20080726-212121

Where the first long string is always the same (the id of your iphone).  The second part is the date where the above is 7/26/2008.  The third part is the time.  21 is 9pm.  The second 21 is the minutes an dhte third is the seconds.  So this was backed up on 7/26/2008 ay 9:21 and 21 seconds.

If you go to preferences in itunes and then syncing it will show the backup with the correct date and time.

I would store at least a few back of your backups or you will get in trouble like I did.

Jeff


P.S  If you control click (right click) on the ipod in itunes (on left side) it will give you a choice to back up now or restore from backup now.

[HardyMacia]

Saving this link to Erica's mdbackup utility which allows users to extract files from the iTunes backups located in ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/mobilesync.

http://blogs.oreilly.com/iphone/2008/05 ... art-1.html


1. Download mdhelper.
2. Open Terminal
3. Type "./mdhelper -C PocketMoneyDB.sql" into Terminal and press enter.
4. This will create a folder called "Recovered iPhone Files" and should have your database file in it.
5. You'll be able to install PocketMoneyDB.sql with version 1.3 of PocketMoney.

[HardyMacia]

Windows file backup location:

iTunes stores your iPhone backup in the following location:
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Under that Backup directory is a folder which looks like a UDID and in that is the files that iTunes uses to backup your iPhone and all the settings.


1. Download http://code.google.com/p/mobilesync-inspect/

2. Then in the windows command line (Start menu, Run, enter "cmd", and click OK). When the command line window opens, then you'll have to change the directory to where ever you downloaded the mobilesync-inspect application.

3. Then run

C:> mobilesync-inspect list "*pocketmoney*"

You'll see something like this...

C:> 48e6f157fad9542fa779d139b9fd802aaf2da555/6a12e07c4c99686551d294c0237b66692c11f0ab.mdbackup : Library/Preferences/com.catamount.pocketmoney.plist
C:> 48e6f157fad9542fa779d139b9fd802aaf2da555/ca134f5ceaf032a95df0a11ccbeba1376903bdd5.mdbackup : Documents/PocketMoneyDB.sql

4. Copy that file and send it to me.

Hardy

[HardyMacia]

While the above posts are still valid for making iTunes backups....


The best solution for backing up with the release of version 1.3 of PocketMoney is to use the built in backup feature with SyncDocs.

Here are the instructions for backup/restore using PocketMoney and SyncDocs

[papzadsl]

4. This will create a folder called "Recovered iPhone Files" and should have your database file in it.
5. You'll be able to install PocketMoneyDB.sql with version 1.3 of PocketMoney when it is released.

I've downloaded 1.3 from my iPhone's appstore over the air, and suddenly all my data disappeared.
I didn't reconnect my phone to my mac -- therefore, the backup on iTunes isn't corrupted or whatever. In other words, stuck in there should be all my data, isn't it?

So, I can perform these steps and ssh those files back into the phone BEFORE I let it sync with iTunes?

I hope to read from you ASAP, since I'm stuck until I hear back from you

[HardyMacia]

Yes, follow that 2nd post with the directions for pulling out your PocketMoneyDB.sql from your iTunes backup using mdhelper. Then you can use PocketMoney version 1.3's restore feature to restore the database (or you can ssh them in if you're jailbroken).

[HardyMacia]

Things have progressed from command lines to full applications:

The Mac OS X Backup Extractor is here:
http://supercrazyawesome.com/

The Windows Backup Extractor is here:
http://www.reincubate.com/labs/iphone-b ... p-windows/

[wonder777]

Hardy,

Steve Overton here. How are you? Hope all is well in NH.

I just got a replacement for my iPod Touch, restored it from backup,
downloaded mdhelper, followed your instructions in Terminal
and this is what I get:

Mac-Mini:~ steveoverton$ ./mdhelper -C PocketMoneyDB.sql
-bash: ./mdhelper: No such file or directory

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks,
Steve

[HardyMacia]

I just got a replacement for my iPod Touch, restored it from backup,
downloaded mdhelper, followed your instructions in Terminal
and this is what I get:

Mac-Mini:~ steveoverton$ ./mdhelper -C PocketMoneyDB.sql
-bash: ./mdhelper: No such file or directory

Hey Steve,

NH is good.

It sounds like you are in the same folder as the mdhelper application. So you'll need to change directories until you get to the folder where mdhelper is at.

(Although the iTunes Restore should have restored all of your PocketMoney data.)

- Hardy

[wonder777]

Hardy,

I thought that the data should have been restored too.
Both MPG and PocketMoney have no data.
Why do you think that happened?

re: mdhelper.....
When you say to change directories.....
this is the place I go completely south.
Me and command line....not so friendly.
I understand that ~steveoverton$ indicates the main directory
but I haven't the slightest idea how to find the right one.

I will eventually have to do the same thing with MPG too.

Thanks,

Steve

[HardyMacia]

Forget about mdhelper.

Use http://supercrazyawesome.com/ it's a real Mac App so you don't have to deal with command lines.

[numberlady]

Is there another extractor that you can recommend to get the backup file? I can't seem to get this one to launch on my Mac.

[HardyMacia]

numberlady,

The OS X app is very straight forward to use so it should work for you, unless you turned on encryption in your iTunes backups, then I'm not aware of any applications that can access encrypted backups.

-Hardy

[countryboy76]

Hardy,

I will be upgrading my iPhone to the 3GS this week due to a broken mute switch (yay for permanent mute for the past few weeks). Does iTunes backup back up the data sufficiently so that I can plug in the new phone and have all my account data filled in on the new phone, or is there an additional step you would recommend?

Thanks!

Jay

[romad]

I'm not Hardy, but I'd suggest that you backup your PM data from your current iPhone to your desktop using SyncDocs as a precaution.

When you get your new 3GS, do a last iTunes sync with your old iPhone to have the most current data backed up.
Next, transfer your SIM card from the old phone to the new one, and then connect it to iTunes.
iTunes will ask if it is a replacement or new phone. Choose replacement and start the sync.
Now iTunes will ask if you want to restore from a backup, so say yes. If iTunes then gives you a choice of backups, pick the one you did last.
After the new phone activation and restoration is done, check your data in all apps. If the PM data is wrong, then use SyncDocs to restore the PM data from the sql file that was created when you backed up PM before you changed phones.

The above is what i did last June when I moved to a 3GS.