Help transferring everything from old 3gs to new 4s

Question

My girlfriend has just got a new 4s to replace her old 3gs.  Unfortunately, the (windows) desktop we used to sync the 3gs has recently pretty much died.  Is there any way to get all the data from the old phone to the new one easily?  I've got a macbook I can use to sync the new phone, but not sure I can get everything off the old phone this way...
If I lose the music that's not too much of a problem, but don't want to lose contacts, texts, apps, saves, settings etc.
Thanks

Answer 1

You've got your work cut out for you, but here's what you need to do. First create a separate login on your computer for your GF. Then do the following...DO NOT UPDATE the software on the 3GS or connect the 4S until you've first done the following:
By design, the iphone will sync itunes content with one computer at a time. Any attempt to sync such content with a second computer will result in ALL itunes content being first erased from her phone & then replaced with the content from the second computer. This is a design feature and cannot be overridden. Because you are replacing your GF's computer, her phone will see this computer as a "new" computer. The itunes content sync is one way: computer to phone. If you have photos that were synced to her phone or music ripped on her own that were not backed up, you will first have to extract them from her phone using third party software, before you do anything else, as Apple makes no provision to do so:
http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/index.php
Once you've done that, do the following in the order specified:
1. Disable auto sync when an iPod/iPhone is connected under Preferences>Devices in itunes(under the edit menu if using Windows).
2. Make sure you have one contact & one event in the supported applications(Address Book, iCal) on your computer. These entries can be fake, doesn't matter, the important point is that these programs not be empty.
3. Connect her phone, iTunes running, do not sync at this point.
4. Store>Authorize this computer.
5. File>Transfer Purchases(To make sure all purchased content on her phone will be in her itunes library).
6. Right click in the device pane & select reset warnings.
7. Right click again and select backup.
8. Right click again & select restore from backup, select the backup you just made. When prompted to create another backup, decline.
9. This MUST be followed by a sync to restore her itunes content, which you select from the various tabs, You'll get a popup regarding her contacts & calendars asking to merge or replace, select merge.
Now that you've done the above, you can connect the 4S & follow these instructions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2109
You should be good to go.