iPhone 4 issues

[KeyboardDemon]

Some time ago my iPhone developed an issue where I couldn't update apps from the phone, when I tried it would first ask me to accept changes to T's & C's on iTunes and then kept telling me I needed to enable cookies. I had to update apps using iTunes and connecting the phone to my PC, now I can't even install new apps and when I connect it to my PC iTunes crashes and it's getting really annoying now.

So far I have tried resetting and restoring the iPhone but that hasn't worked. What I was thinking about doing was a full on factory reset and then setting it up as a new phone, authorising it with my iTunes account and then instead of restoring my previous settings just simply transferring my apps, podcasts and pictures etc... What I'm concerned about though is losing all my contacts and other important data.

Does anyone know if any of that data will be safe if I follow my instinct and do this?

Or how to save it if it won't be?

Can anyone suggest a better option?

[Rob_B]

Use iCloud backup for your contacts. Or you can sync contacts with windows contacts (option in iTunes) they save as csv I think. Then just sync back afterwards.

What is your 'important data' ? Photos you can copy off via windows explorer, you will lose app settings though.

[KeyboardDemon]

I can live with losing app settings, but really must hold on to my contacts, photos, notes and possibly some the progress I've made in games but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I lost some of the games related stuff.

[Rob_B]

Well it'll mostly sync with iCloud so should be ok*
I think you'll lose app/game progress though

*no responsibility accepted!

[KeyboardDemon]

*no responsibility accepted!

If it goes wrong I won't be coming after you, so don't worry and thanks for the replies. I'm backing up my contacts and anything else I can backup to the cloud right now, so hopefully all that will be safe.