Thanks,

 Bigben

please have a look into the usecases within the documentation here.

Basically it's the following:
- Do an individual backup with all options checked
- Do the upgrade to 2.1 (you should have cydia and ssh (and maybe
winterboard) already in the image)
- Then do TWO restore rounds from your individual backup archive:
  1) restore of Applications ONLY with "update mode" checked (so the
new 2.1 versions won't get overwritten by your old firmware apps)
  2) restore of user and mobile data WITHOUT update mode, so you get
back all your data.

There's only one littel hickup to it that I couldn't resolve yet: all
your apps are back and working, BUT they don't show in cydia as
installed (because I don't know where to backup/restore the apt
database); but in fact this is only cosmetic w/o restriction in
functionality.

Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Kerry.

On Sep 21, 6:36 am, bigben <b...@comcast.net> wrote:

But when you do the "upgrade to 2.1" can you elaborate?  I am still
very confused about whether to use quickpwn or pwnage tool, and
whether to use upgrade or restore in iTunes, etc.  so much conflicting
information around.

I'm in exactly this situation : I have FW 2.0.1 and want to upgrade to
2.1, and I have lots of Cydia installed apps and also am using
Categories.

FYI, BigBoss has a tutorial, but it does not integrate using iBaRes:

http://sleepers.net/news/2008/09/19/how-to-upgrade-in-itunes/

and for what it's worth, he recommends using the application
"AptBackup" to backup the list of Cydia installed apps.  Maybe that
resolves your one issue -- but I'd like to see that integrated into
the instructions.

On Sep 21, 8:26 am, Kerry <ke...@kerry.de> wrote:

I'm in the process of an iBares restore and I'll let you know how it goes.
Unfortunately, I didn't read all the info here ahead of time and neglected
the "update" restore step. However, that should work out, should it not?
I'll just restore any 2.1 apps via Itunes. I am hoping all my Cydia apps do
come back because AptBackup did not work at all.
Supposedly, AptBackup makes a list of what 3rd party apps you have installed
and you can reinstall via Cydia in one fell swoop. However, you have to
restore through ITunes first to get the list that AptBackup made. I was
unable to do a restore via ITunes with my freshly broken 2.1 firmware. Said
it was corrupt. So much for AptBackup.

At least I WAS able to make a full backup via the wonderful iBares first.
Saved the day, at least I hope so. :)

QuickPwn is the way to go. Effortless...be sure to install OpenSSH
afterwards so you can connect with iBares.

Steve

However, in following Kerry's instructions above, what I got was a
nicely restored iPhone that was no longer recognized in iTunes 8.

I tried 2-3 times, and tried reinstalling iTunes 8 several times, to
no avail.

Finally, I just started from scratch with fresh installs of all apps.
Hopefully at least I will be able to copy the preferences and
documents files (backed up with standard backup) from applications
using SFTP.

Kerry, it seems that indexing and mapping of applications is just not
going to necessarily work, and should be tested.

In the meantime, what would be super useful is if you could develop a
way to restore non-app store apps, but with app store apps (cracked or
otherwise), let iTunes reinstall and restore only the documents
folders.  Basically this needs to be rethought, by someone who
understands this much better than I do.