Disable iPhone Backup on iTunes for Windows

Ah... the dreaded moment to connect you brand new iPhone 3G to your computer...

iTunes kicks in and... here it comes... the lengthy backup operation begins taking more and more time each and every time you do it - the more stuff you have in there, the more time it takes, until it becomes unbearable.

... until now.

Now you can easily disable this annoying backup process on iTunes and just re-enable it once every week (or whenever you feel like.)

You just need to:

1. Locate your iTunesPrefs.xml file. Usually located in:
   C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes
   or
   C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes
   or (in Vista)
   C:\Users\username\AppData\Apple Computer\iTunes\
   
   Hint: If the folder Application Data does not show up, make sure that hidden files are visible in the Windows Explorer
   
   
2. Backup your iTunesPrefs.xml file
   
   
3. Open iTunesPrefs.xml using a capable text-editor (e.g. Notepad++, Ultraedit, but not MS Notepad)
   
   
4. Search for a section called User Preferences and paste the following snipped into the User Preferences Section after the first <dict>: 

<key>DeviceBackupsDisabled</key>
<data>
dHJ1ZQ==
</data>


5. Save the file and restart iTunes. Backups should now be disabled. To enable backups again delete the XML Snippet from iTunesPrefs.xml file.

(For Mac users, you can find a similar procedure here.)

via [iPhonefreakz]