"Backing up" iPhone within iTunes??

[EWyatt]

I've been told I'm nuts for not "backing up" my phone in iTunes! Being quite new to this, I didn't know!! Question: when I hook up my iPhone to my PC (with iTunes installed) I understand that it will check for updates, etc., prior to the back-up procedure. Does this mean that I will have to update my iPhone 4 OS to the latest version (4.2??) in order to proceed? Hope not! If not, is the back-up procedure pretty simple after the intial hook-up? Any comments will help. Thanks!
EW

 

[EWyatt]

Additionally........ does my first "back-up" procedure take much time (hours vs minutes) or not? I'm thinking the process may backup the entire OS in addition to settings... Thanks.

 

[Pocobear]

When you attach your iPhone to iTunes it will tell you an update is available do you want to download now. Say NO. Then proceed to backup/sync your iPhone. The first time it may take up to 5min to an hour, if you have downloaded a lot of music and videos, after that it will be quicker. I am assuming you have already authorized iTunes with your Apple log in info. Yes the first time it backs up everything including the iOS and all settings.

 

[EWyatt]

Thanks Pocobear. I see that I can rely on you for great info! Yes, I do have an iTunes account (which I "think" answers your questions about "authorizing iTunes with Apple log-in info", right?). I'm doing this backup tomorrow on a 64 bit Windows 7 system, so the process should be pretty quick.
Thanks again.
EW

 

[Pocobear]

The speed is more dependent on the speed of the iPhone than the speed of the computer, unless you have a really slow computer. I have a 3.6gb quad core intel with16gb of mem, win7 64bit and it still takes it's sweet time.