Software update wiped my phone - how do I restore photos contacts etc?

Question

I connected my phone to my laptop, uploaded some software but it seemed to get stuck / kept dropping out of link with the phone so after about an hour I disconnected the phone (unplugged the wire) and now my phone seems to be back to factory settings. I've lost all my photos etc. I could weep.
Is there anything I can do to get them back? All my contacts? All my reminders, diary appts, emails, texts etc?
Bereft.
All help gratefully received as am in shock
S

Answer 1

The backup created when syncing overwrites prior backups, so there may not be any older ones and the contacts are gone.  The only exceptions are backups made when restoring, which are saved and dated:
1. Disable automatic syncing on connection in iTunes prefs > devices > disable....
2. Connect phone.
3. Right-click device tab on left border of iTunes window and select "Restore from backup."  This will pull down a list of saved backups, and select the appropriate one, if any earlier backups exist.
You really should sync your contacts with an app on your computer or cloud service.  If you did, then you could still sync your contacts back without any backup.  The contacts stored in the backup are meant for limited purposes - maintaining the phone recent call list and Favorites, and are unreliable to retain full data.