I would like to update my contacts, but sync'd two iphone contacts to one

Question

I have two iphones on my computer. When I recently updated, itunes synce'd both of our contacts together. HOw do I remove the other phones contacts from mine? Do I have to delete individually, because then the next time I update/sync...it will restore from the last backup which will include the contacts from the second phone. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

if you have them separate 'somewhere' it's not too difficult.. if you use mac.
i think there may be a fundamental error in how you tried to sync... separate iPhone requires separate USER if you want different contacts, OR you can make groups in addressbook (phoneone, phonetwo) and check that group to sync in iTunes.
if you have unmolsted (non merged) contacts somewhere, you can merge that into the SAME doubled addressbook but as soon as you do, grab the contacts in 'last import' and make a new group (i.e. phoneone). you can then go to the 'phone one' group, select all and delete.. that will leave only the contacts NOT in 'phone one'.
if there are over-laps than it gets tricker but if you can figure out what those are you can make add'l groups like 'common'... and you can select all the contacts NOT in common and also in phone one to leave only phone two alone.
if you have a good backup than it's even easier.. the likely goof is that you WERE using 'only sync groupone with phone one, grouptwo with phone two, but the setting got changed to sync all contacts.
there is a very helpful option in the info pane of iTUnes... 'replace contacts on next sync'..
if you restore addressbook to have the split groups, than pick the group you want to sync, then check the 'replace contacts on next sync' it will erase the ones you don't want from each phone as you do the next sync.
-awr