Best way to restore iTunes contents on new computer.

The computer gods conspired to get me. My Windows XP desktop failed beyond repair and I am getting a new Windows 7 desktop. But also by some coincidence, my new external hard drive that I backup my system on weekly also failed. I still have my previous external hard drive, however. The last backup from that was the beginning of June.
So I am looking for the best way to get whole again. I have NO downloaded music on the iPod (some music from CDs that I can reload). I do have a number of apps however, some with a lot of data that would be difficult to replace (although updating from June would be doable).
If after installing iTunes on the new computer,I just synced to the iPod what would I lose? Would it keep the apps data on the iPod?
Or should I install iTunes, copy my backup from my External drive to the new computer and restore from the backup?
Thanks

- Transfer iTunes purchases by:
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer
- Transfer other music by using a third-party program lke those discussed here:
Best iPod to PC
- Making a backup of the iPod by connecting the iPod to the computer and right clicking on the iPod under Devices in iTunes and selecing Backup
- Restore the iPod from backup and sync as necessary.

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Restore iTunes on a New Computer

I apologize if this has been asked before, but I don't have time to search all the questions.
I just found out my office was getting me a new PC (good thing, but bad for the idiot that downloads all their music at work!!!) and that my software would not be transferrable.
Can someone tell me how I can move my music both from CD's & purchased from my iPod onto a new & blank iTunes, that I'm gonna have to download onto the new computer?
Or -- is this even necessary? Will my music files be able to be uploaded from the hard drive to the new iTunes provided the files are transferred over?
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For all out in cyber world that my post may have offended, I did not mean to imply my time was more valuable than any of yours... I was "over concerned" and freaking JUST a little, as I thought my new PC would be in any moment now and the IT guy would delete all of the songs that I paid all that money for. I hadn't even started researching the subject yet & it seemed a complicated process for someone like me, whose not too IT savvy.... it was a momentary lapse of reason that in my haste, I forgot about posting etiquette. Please all accept my most sincere apology.
And fellow poster -- a big "thank you" for setting someone like me straight & teaching me a thing or two about cyber manners!
Done with this now -- c-ya!
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Best ways to restore iTunes?

I admit, I don't spend much times using iTunes. I have about 300 songs I really like, they're on my iPod and IPhone. However, I recently had need to use djay, and realized that after many, many upgrades my iTunes was showing both 9,800+ songs and several thousand "dead" tracks. Deep (and painful) examination showed that since before 2006, songs have been shuffled (and then vanished), renamed (both with numerical prefixes and post fixes), most of the purchased "Amotion" album has been reduced to zero kb, except for the tracks on my iPod/iPhone; several podcasts vanished, only to reappear with slightly different names and some had even been doubled and then acquired new advertisements that are not there in the originals; anyway...
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I have a new computer and two Iphones and one Itouch. One Itunes account.
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If possible, if there is a solution can you really dumb down (simplify) the solution.
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Probably the most straightforward way to get iTunes onto your new computer is to network the two over ethernet and copy your iTunes folder across. This works fine if you have been using iTunes to completely manage your music and all your songs are in iTunes Music not in different folders. If the songs in your library are not all in the iTunes Music folder you can consolidate them. When you consolidate, any songs in the iTunes Library that are not in the iTunes Music Folder are copied to the Music Folder and the Library is updated to point to those new files. Files already in the iTunes Music Folder have no changes made to them:
Copying all your iTunes files to one location - Mac
OS X 10.5 - Connecting two Mac computers using Ethernet
Another way is to put your original computer into target disk mode and copy the data over Firewire: How to use FireWire target disk mode
Copying the whole folder brings with it the iTunes Music folder and also the iTunes Library (iTunes Library.itl in Windows) database file which holds all the information about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). You'll get more information including the Folder/File structure in this article: What are the iTunes library files?
When you copy the iTunes folder make sure you put it into the same location on the new computer. This has to be the exact same place, on a Mac this would be in Username/Music/. Everything has to be exactly the same on the new computer including the Mac user account name. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will be the same as on the original one Songs, Playlists, Play Counts, Ratings etc. You should also use the same version of iTunes on both computers.
If you have any iTunes purchases in your library don't forget that you'll need to authorise your new computer to play them: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation

My iTunes got deleted off a (no longer working) computer. Is there a way I can transfer all content from my iPhone onto iTunes on a new computer? I want to update my phone, but do not want to lose any music off it when syncing it.

My iTunes got deleted off a (no longer working) computer. I have lost all music & data that was on this original itunes. Is there a way I can transfer all content from my iPhone (music & photos) onto iTunes on a new computer? I want to update my iphone (3GS), but do not want to lose any music off it when syncing it. Help please!!

By design, the iphone will sync itunes content with one computer at a time. Any attempt to sync such content with a second computer will result in ALL itunes content being first erased from your phone & then replaced with the content from the second computer. This is a design feature and cannot be overridden. Because you are using a new computer, your phone will see this computer as a "new" computer. The itunes content sync is one way: computer to phone. If you have photos that were synced to your phone or music ripped on your own that were not backed up, you will first have to extract them from your phone using third party software, before you do anything else, as Apple makes no provision to do so:
http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/index.php
Once you've done that, do the following in the order specified:
1. Disable auto sync when an iPod/iPhone is connected under iTunes>Preferences(under the edit menu if using Windows)>Devices in itunes.
2. Make sure you have one contact & one event in the supported applications(Address Book & iCal or Outlook, Windows Address Book) on your computer. These entries can be fake, doesn't matter, the important point is that these programs not be empty.
3. Connect your phone, iTunes running, DO NOT SYNC at this point.
4. Store>Authorize this computer.
5. File>Transfer Purchases(To make sure all purchased content on your phone will be in your itunes library).
6. Right click in the device pane & select reset warnings.
7. Right click again and select backup.
8. Right click again & select restore from backup, select the backup you just made. When prompted to create another backup, decline.
9. This MUST be followed by a sync to restore your itunes content, which you select from the various tabs, You'll get a popup regarding your contacts & calendars asking to merge or replace, select merge.
You should be good to go.

What is the best way to transfer iTunes from iBook G4 to new MacBook Pro?

What is the best way to transfer iTunes from iBook G4 to new MacBook Pro?

Copy the entire itunes folder.

My laptop recently crashed and is unsalvagable with my itunes library on it. My ipod touch has all of my music still on it. Is there a way that I can put the songs on my ipod onto itunes on my new computer??

My laptop recently crashed and is unsalvageable with my itunes library on it. My ipod still has all of my music still on it.
Is there a way that I can put the songs on my ipod onto itunes on my new computer without loosing them or having to buy them all over again?

Syncing to a new iTunes library or computer will erase your ipod. Only if you back up your iPod manually before syncing, you can restore your device from that backup again. A manual backup does not include the sync process.
Disable autosync in iTunes, connect your iPod to your new computer and right click on it in the device list and choose backup. iTunes will backup your ipod without syncing.
Transfer your purchases the same way, choosing "transfer purchases" this time.
When you connect your iPod for the first time, all media content will be erased. But you can restore your settings and app data from your manual backup afterwards.
Don't forget to set up at least one contact and event on your new computer to be able to merge calendars and contacts when you sync the ipod for the first time.
Music is one way only, from the computer to your device, unless you bought the songs in itunes and transferred your purchases.
There is 3rd party software out there, but not supported by Apple, see this thread:http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2013615&tstart=0
About backups and what's saved: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946
How to back up and restore:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414
How to download apps for free again:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
Saving other data is also described here. How to back up your data and set up as a new device

Best way to restore iTunes contents on new computer.

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