"An iPhone has previously been synced with this computer ..."

Hi
I synced my iPhone 3GS on my PC (running Vista) yesterday, and it dropped a couple of error messages (-46 being one). No problems, I thought, I'll try again. Still failed. Unplugged everything, try again - now says "An iPhone has previously been synced with this computer, set up as new iPhone or Restore from backup".
This is a huge problem - my PC and IPhone combo don't like each other, and the last time I tried to upgrade the firmware it failed and forced me to restore which also failed. The only way I could get my iPhone back was to use another PC which was running XP. Consequently there is no way I am restoring my phone off my main PC (as it won't work), and I don't want to set up as new phone, as I'll presumably lose all my data (messages, notes, voice memos, etc). I plan to back up the phone on my laptop, just in case, and I've made copies of the backups on my main PC, but any ideas how I can make my PC realise that it actually already knows my phone?
We do have two iphones which we sync on this PC, and it's never played up like this before. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
---

Hi Allan, thanks for your reply! Thanks also for the link.
I did look to do what you suggested, but unfortunately the only option it gives me now on right-click is "eject" (both on PC, which is what I sync with and also my laptop, which has met this phone once before). My phone seems to be telling the computers that it's a virgin new phone, rather than one I've been using for several months.
I'm just hoping that the last backup on iTunes for my phone is complete - ie not corrupted during the last sync that appears to have corrupted my phone. At some point I will have to bite the bullet and let it restore from backup. Can I copy the backup files from my PC to my laptop ?
Cheers,
Bernie

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    praxxis wrote:
    Thank you for your response will2b but I am looking for a solution for the problem that I cannot sync the same phone with the same computer I have been for a couple of months now. It shouldn't matter that I did not sync my phone for a couple of weeks. I should still be able to sync the same phone to the same computer. This is obviously some kind of software glitch and I am looking for a solution.
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    Thank you for your response will2b but I am looking for a solution for the problem that I cannot sync the same phone with the same computer I have been for a couple of months now. It shouldn't matter that I did not sync my phone for a couple of weeks. I should still be able to sync the same phone to the same computer. This is obviously some kind of software glitch and I am looking for a solution.
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