Some problem about iPhone contacts backup to computer

[green7o7o]

Hi!
My computer crashed and I had to reformat the entire system. I've lost all data, including previous iTunes library.
I'm scared to plug in my iPhone into iTunes, coz I'm unsure what it might do to it!
Here are my problem questions that I'd appreciate any help on:
- Transferring all contacts from iPhone to the computer (outlook or windows address, anything is fine...so long as I have a back-up on my PC)
- I'm confused about the term sync. Does it work both ways in transferring / backing up data when you plug in the iPhone?
- When I do manage to transfer contacts from iPhone to PC, what happens to the rest of my iPhone data in the process - photos, music, videos,apps?
Please help!
Thanks!!

[DevouredDreams]

when you plug you iphone back up to you itunes itll back it up completly your pics your contacts your messages etc. it wont erase it because itll back it up first..

You may loose music though im not sure if it backs that up or not i cant remember that part

[iPhoneThereforeIAm]

Hi!
My computer crashed and I had to reformat the entire system. I've lost all data, including previous iTunes library.
I'm scared to plug in my iPhone into iTunes, coz I'm unsure what it might do to it!
Here are my problem questions that I'd appreciate any help on:
- Transferring all contacts from iPhone to the computer (outlook or windows address, anything is fine...so long as I have a back-up on my PC)
- I'm confused about the term sync. Does it work both ways in transferring / backing up data when you plug in the iPhone?
- When I do manage to transfer contacts from iPhone to PC, what happens to the rest of my iPhone data in the process - photos, music, videos,apps?
Please help!
Thanks!!

To avoid repetition, make regular backups of the MyDocuments/MyMusic/iTunes folder.

The default for info Syncing is to replace info in iTunes with that from the phone, so you'll be safe. These days, iTunes actually bothers to ask you if you want to replace the info held in iTunes.

For the rest (your media - photos/music/etc) you need to go to right-click your iphone (left-hand column) and 'transfer purchases'.
Your currently empty library will then consist of everything you transfer from your iphone.
Anything not on your iPhone is gone forever, unless you use a file recovery utility (good, even for reformatted partitions).

Unfortunately, iTunes syncing is extremely primitive and taciturn - and until recently, has lost gajillions of users unacquainted with it, everything stored on their phones.

Quite why Apple is so backward with syncing I have no idea - but many say it's because iTunes is for Apples benefit not the customer's.
They really need to get with the 21st century and start covering the sync basics like syncing profiles and configuration options.

[sinayi]

when you plug you iphone back up to you itunes itll back it up completly your pics your contacts your messages etc. it wont erase it because itll back it up first..
You may loose music though im not sure if it backs that up or not i cant remember that part
Besides i share you a article about how to transfer contacts from iPhone to computer, which can help you backup all iPhone contacts and contact photos from iPhone to your computer and keep them safe on the computer.
Hopefully this works for all of you like it just worked for me!

[kellymartin]

You can contact Apple here and explain the situation. They will then make everything you have ever bought on iTunes available to redownload for free.

Photos are synced on backup (although I'd email them to myself before I connected to iTunes just in case)