ROMS and updates without factory reset

[DexTyler]

Is it possible to install new ROMs and updates (like ICS when it comes out) without having to lose all my data? I'm not very tech savvy, so I'm not sure I'd be able to reinstall everything and re do all my settings. Wifi for one was a problem since I had no idea about the password and had to hunt for the papers.

And how safe is installing a new ROM anyway? I quite like the look of Sense but I'd rather not risk bricking my phone just for it to look nice.

 

[lunatic59]

If the update is an official OTA update, then you shouldn't lose any apps or data, but backups are always prudent. If you flash a ROM, yuo are basically removing the existing OS and replacing it with a different version, so you won't retain anything other than user data that may be saved on the SD card partition. Again, backups are always indicated when performing any changes to the phone's system.