Quick iPhone update question

[fearless]

Right quick yes/no question from an apple idiot.

Gf's 3gs is running something like iOS 3.1 or something similarly prehistoric. Hook it up to iTunes and it wants to update to 5.0.1, wonderful stuff.

Problem is it keeps aborting the download, internal error or network timing out or something. Head for trusty CS and the original iOS 5 thread and everyone is going on about direct downloads, winner.

So simple question, I've downloaded an .ipsw file for iOs 5 for a 3gs on my laptop. If it transfer it to her laptop, and crack on with that shift restore job and load that, will it essentially be the same as just updating if I restore everything from a backup?

Many thanks

 

[Tom]

Yup.

 

[fearless]

Sweet, cheers Tom.

 

[Tom]

Just make sure you back it up first.

 

[fearless]

Just plugging it into iTunes and letting it sync creates a backup, right?

Or is there a way to force it to create a backup?

 

[Adam]

Yes, it should do but right clicking on the device in the menu gives you the option to complete a manual back up.