Downloading Itunes again onto new computer, protecting current library
Hi, first of all my apologies if I'm posting in the wrong forum. Please let me know if I am, and where I should post my question/problem.
First of all I'm quite new to Itunes and the Ipod. I received an Ipod Nano 3rd generation as a gift several months ago. On my old computer (Dell Desktop, Windows XP), I had downloaded Itunes, had no trouble keeping my library and syncing the Ipod each time I needed to, or whenever I charged my Ipod. I also had my Ipod registered on my Itunes. My problem is I don't have access to my old computer any longer. I recently had to abruptly change computers. I'm currently using Toshiba laptop and Windows XP. Can I download Itunes again onto this new computer and register my Ipod again? If I do this, how can I ensure I don't lose my current library. I have less than 500 songs at present, but I don't want to lose all the music I paid for. But I don't want to mess anything up by registering my Ipod again. Am I making sense? I'm going to need to charge my Ipod soon, so if anyone has any ideas to help me, I'd appreciate it. Also, I didn't have any way to backup my Itunes library by burning to disc. Eventually, I'll be acquiring another laptop, a Dell laptop that will be using Windows Xp also. Sorry if this is confusing. I'm confused myself, lol!
*Can I download Itunes again onto this new computer and register my Ipod again*
Yes you can download the iTunes program onto your new computer, you don't need to register the iPod over again to use it on another computer.
*how can I ensure I don't lose my current library*
If your iPod is set to sync automatically you'll get a message that it is linked to a different library and asking if you want to link to this one and replace all your songs etc, press "Cancel". Pressing "Erase and Sync" will irretrievably remove all the songs from your iPod. When your iPod appears in the iTunes source list change the update setting to manual, that will let you use our iPod without the risk of accidentally erasing it: Managing content manually on iPod and iPhone
*Also, I didn't have any way to backup my Itunes library by burning to disc.*
Once you are safely connected there are a few things you can do to restore your iTunes from the iPod. If you have any iTunes Music Store purchases the transfer of purchased content from the iPod to authorised computers was introduced with iTunes 7. You'll find details in this article: Copying iTunes Store purchases from your iPod or iPhone to a computer
The transfer of content from sources such as songs imported from CD is designed by default to be one way from iTunes to iPod. However there are a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve the music files and playlists from your iPod. You'll find that they have varying degrees of functionality and some will transfer movies, videos, photos, podcasts and games as well. Have a look at the web pages and documentation, this is just a small selection of what's available, they are generally quite straightforward. You can read reviews and comparisons of some of them here:
Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
Comparison of iPod managers
TuneJack Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod2PC Windows Only
iDump Windows Only
SharePod Windows Only
iPodRip Mac & Windows
YamiPod Mac and Windows
Music Rescue Mac & Windows
Floola Mac & Windows
iGadget Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iRepo Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Access Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
TouchCopy Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible - Windows version only)
There's also a manual method of copying songs from your iPod to a Mac or PC. The procedure is a bit involved and won't recover playlists but if you're interested it's available on page 2 at this link: Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide
Whichever of these retrieval methods you choose, keep your iPod in manual mode until you have reloaded your iTunes and you are happy with your playlists etc then it will be safe to return it auto-sync. I would also advise that you get yourself an external hard drive and back your stuff up, relying on an iPod as your sole backup is not a good idea and external drives are comparatively inexpensive these days, you can get loads of storage for a reasonable outlay.
Similar Messages
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I downloaded itunes on a new computer and signed in, how can i get the existing music, etc from my ipod to my library without losing it? HELP!
Copy everything from your old computer, or your backup copy of your old computer, to your new one.
The ipod is not a backup/storage device. -
I just downloaded iTunes to a new computer. It's been a while since I used iTunes on my old computer, so the new one has a totally different user interface. I signed on to my account and saw my music but I have no playlists on the new computer. What's the easiest way to replicate or restore my playlists as I had them in the old computer and in my iPod?
OK, thanks for the response. I'm copying it onto a memory stick to transfer it to the new computer. Still have two questions:
1. Since there is already an iTunes folder on the new computer, created when iTunes was downloaded, where exactly do I copy the old folder onto the computer so that iTunes can find it? In the old interface, there used to be a field where one could designate the path to find music and I don't see that in the new interface.
Assuming the above takes care of putting my playlists onto the new computer...
2. How do I add music that is currently stored in a back up file but was not on my old computer's drive? I'm worried that I would have to add these one by one somehow, and there are a lot of songs.
Thanks again. -
I have another computer that a virus may have taken over and I cannot log into it anymore. I just downloaded Itunes on a new computer but most of my songs are not on there. Is there a way to still access or find those songs? Remotely or another way? Or do I need to take it to a tech to get my files off of my hard drive?
Edit > Preferences > Store check Music under Automatic Downloads.
Open the iTunes Store from left hand column, then select Purchasedfrom the column on the right, click the Not In My Library button and select the tunes you want to download again.
That said, you seem to be under a misapprehension as to how iTunes works, or at least how it has worked in the past. It has, until recently, been up to you take care of your purchases once they have been downloaded. You had a one-time download which you were reminded to back up. With the recent change to this policy you can at least download your store purchases again, but having a personal backup of your iTunes store purchases, stuff purchased elsewhere and files ripped from your CDs will still be preferable to gathering all the stuff together again in the event of a disaster.
For a backup strategy see this User Tip.
tt2 -
I downloaded itunes on a new computer a while ago but was too afraid to syn. I did sync just now and lost 3.5 days of music, have checked my itunes music file and they arent there either. Im sure the music is all still on my old computer but it is broken and i cant access it. Are they all really gone forever?
Not without your old computer, no you can't. You could use Home Sharing to get content to your new one, but again, you would need access to the old one. My question is... before syncing to the new one... a message pops up warning you that syncing will erase the content from the iPod and replace it with the content in the new library. Did you ignore this warning?
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I downloaded iTunes on my new computer, but when I try to download my already purchased songs a message pops up saying, "Your computer is not authorized." How can I fix this?
Launch iTunes and click on the click on the store menu item the select authorized this computer.
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TS3297 every time I try to download iTunes in my new computer it shows me an error message
Every time I try to download iTunes in my new computer it shows me an error message that says The installer has insuffucuent privileges to acces this directory C:/program files (x86)/iTunes. The installation cannot continue. log on as administrator or contact your system administrator.. retry or cancel and it doesn't le me go forward than this I have already contact HP and we fixed it I mean we installed iTunes 64 bit, but the minute I put my iPhone to sink it it says that I dont have the new version of iTunes whici I've just already installed..this problem has been like this for more that 3 months I need an assitance because my phone really needs to be sink because it is acting weard and slow... Other than that my husband and I are thinking seriously change our iPHONE 4S for samsung phones with less probles instead of buying the new iPhone 5 because of this dull reason...Thank you for your help!
That one's consistent with disk/file damage. The first thing I'd try with that is running a disk check (chkdsk) over your C drive.
XP instructions in the following document: How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP
Vista instructions in the following document: Check your hard disk for errors
Windows 7 instructions in the following document: How to use CHKDSK (Check Disk)
Select both Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors, or use chkdsk /r (depending on which way you decide to go about doing this). You'll almost certainly have to schedule the chkdsk to run on startup. The scan should take quite a while ... if it quits after a few minutes or seconds, something's interfering with the scan.
Does the chkdsk find/repair any damage? If so, can you get an install to go through properly afterwards? -
I have an Ipod that is about a year old which was connected to an old computer that has crashed. I just downloaded itunes on a new computer, hoping to download my music from my ipod, but it won't let me. Any ideas how to sync them?
Engadget has a guide for this.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/how-to-get-music-videos-and-photos-off-your-i pod-iphone/ -
My motherboard "fried" on my computer when the fan quit working. I cannot access my hard drive on my old computer. I just downloaded ITunes on my new computer; assumed it would pull all my playlists in under my Apple ID and password-no such luck. Help Please?
If your external drive does not have an independent power supply, you may wish to consider a couple of lower-cost options before tossing the drive. Bus-powered drives have no external power source and must get all their power from the computer. They can exceed the computer's USB energy budget.
Cheapest option:
1 Meter USB 2.0 A to 5 Pin Mini B Cable - Auxiliary USB "Y" Power Design for external hard drives.
This gets power from two of the computers USB porst sna can provide enough power to wake up an under-performaing bus-powered drive.
If you don't have enough ports to use this, try the next cheapest option:
Newer Technology 7 Port Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Hub with Power Adapter for Mac & PC
Such a hub has a an independent power supply to make up for wahat the comptuer fails to provide. -
I downloaded itunes to a new computer. music is visible, but wont play due to no file source found. What do I do?
I downloaded itunes to a new computer. music is visible, but wont play due to no file source found. What do I do?
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My computer crashed and I downloaded Itunes on a new computer and I'm trying to get new music and it says my Ipod is synced with another itunes library {my dead computer} and I can either erase and sync or transfer itunes purchases. Is there any way possible I dont have to erase my music? So frustrating.
Yes. I have no personal experience with this, but it is possible to recover your music from an iPod. See this link: http://guides.macrumors.com/Recovering_Songs_from_an_iPod
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My computer crashed and I downloaded Itunes on a new computer and I'm trying to download new music to my ipod and a message comes up thatsays 'my ipod is synced with another Itunes library' {obviously my dead computer} and I can either 'Erase and Sync or Transfer Itunes purchases'. Is there ANY way possible I don't have to erase my music and can download some new stuff? Please help. Thanks- so frustrated.
Yes. I have no personal experience with this, but it is possible to recover your music from an iPod. See this link: http://guides.macrumors.com/Recovering_Songs_from_an_iPod
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After downloading itunes on my new computer all of my songs have an exclamation point in front of them and it says the song could not be used because the orginal file could not be found. How do I fix this?
Hey waltee911,
It sounds like you're seeing something similar to this picture:
If that's the case, the following article has troubleshooting steps to solve the issue:
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
Welcome to Apple Support Communities!
Sincerely,
Delgadoh -
I just downloaded Itunes to my new computer, and when I tried to go to the Store, it says the info I requested isn't available in the US. What gives?
Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes, which is available here -> http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
Then try following the steps in this Apple article to create an account without a credit card -> Creating an iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store account without a credit card -
HT4527 do i download itunes on my new computer before I transfer music from home sharing?
Do I download itunes on my new computer before trying to home share with my old itunes account from my old computer?
Install iTunes.
Copy the ENTIRE iTunes folder from the old computer to the new computer.
Using Home Sharing will only cause problems. Search the forums, people regularly post here regarding problems with moving media using Home Sharing, it simply is not reliable.
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