Corrupt backup - help restoring without losing all my SMS'

Question

Hi all,
(not sure if i've posted this in the most appropriate place - wasn't too sure where it should go...)
I have been having issues with icloud since installing iOS 5 on my 3GS. I took the phone to the Apple Store and after much deliberation, they suggested that the only solution would be to erase the iPhone completely and restore as if it were new as there is most probably an issue with a corrupt backup (previously i had been restoring from backup as i didn't want to lose photos, data etc.).
So, i went away and did this, but obviously lost everything that wasn't held in iCloud. However, this process did fix the iCloud issues  - so, we have established that the backups that were being taken were corrupt somehow.
Now, given that i don't want to lose all my photos, sms' etc. I reverted back to the original backup (i.e. to the broken version) as it's still usable i just can't use the calendars.
It seems like i have to make a choice - have a fully functioning, working phone but lose my SMS history (unacceptable as i have SMS conversations from a close friend who sadly died) or have a phone that is semi-functioning but retains the text messages (not ideal as i use calendars on my mac to set up meetings etc. would be helpful to have this on my phone too!) .
I have searched and searched and searched the web for methods of exporting sms' onto my computer or back onto the phone but so far have been unsuccessful in all attempts. Ideally i would like the texts back on the phone, but if this isn't possible then at a minimum i want them to be on my computer (i am currently attempting to use the iphonebackupextractor but having issues with this too).
Does anyone know of a successful method of getting SMS' off iOS5?
Given that iCloud backups take the SMS' it's very frustrating that i can't save these somewhere on the cloud and have them download separately like i can with emails, calendars, contacts.

Answer 1

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.  I do not believe there is anyway to save your SMS. At some point, you are going to loose them either as part of a phone upgrade or change, software crash, whatever.  One thing you could do is take screen captures of the SMS messages you want to save.  To do this, position the message on the screen and then hold down the Home and On/Off Button for a second or so.  You should see the screen go white for a brief moment simulating a camera flash.  Now your screen is captured in your photo library.  You could keep doing that until you've captured all of them.  Not necessarily ideal, but it's at least a way to make a backup of the conversations.
Good luck.