Please help!! I lost all my contacts on iphone after I sync'd

Question

hey guys,
This afternoon I sync'd my phone to move some new downloaded songs, I pulled my phone off the docking station and I lost all my contacts.
please tell me they are somewhere in itunes. I have no idea how to move them back.
anyone have any ideas.

Answer 1

Hello miwung,
roaminggnome is correct in that you should be syncing your contacts with whatever contact management software you are using on your computer.
You can sync contacts with Windows Contacts, which comes pre-installed with Vista.
To sync both contacts and calendars you'll need either Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007. All of these programs need to be opened and setup (at least create one contact) prior to syncing per:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1347
If the contact information is in one of those programs, the content should be synced back to the iPhone the next time you sync.
If you weren't syncing to one of those programs. It is possible that the contacts may be in your iTunes backup.
If you haven't tried another sync since you noticed the issue, leave the iPhone disconnected from the PC for now.
Open iTunes.
Open Preferences from the Edit Menu.
Click on the Devices tab.
Check the list of backups. If there is one there that corresponds to the time when you last synced with your contacts on the iPhone, and the sync was not interrupted in progress, it may contain the contacts.
If you tried reconnecting and re-syncing after you noticed the contacts issue, the backup may not contain any recoverable data.
While you're in the Preferences, put a check in the "Disable Automatic syncing for iPods and iPhones."
Connect the iPhone.
Right-click on the iPhone under Devices and choose "Restore from Backup."
If the contacts are restored, make sure you sync them to a contact management program from now on -- and you may want to check with that program's website on how to backup the data in the program as well.
Good Luck,
Charles H.