Losing an iTunes Library...

My parents can't remember their Apple ID or the e-mail address attached to it, so I want to just create new account for them on the same iMac where their iTunes Library is currently.
Will they lose all their songs when starting anew?
I know that they will have to authorize their purchased songs when accessing them on a new account, but what about all the CDs they imported manually?
Any help?

Did they use your e-mail address?
I don't have an iTunes account so I don't know the details of authorizing music. I know you can authorize it on multiple machines. Maybe the link below has an answer, or somebody else does.
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
You could try contacting Apple and itunes Store via the contact link at the bottom of the page. I'm sure at some point they have to have some kind of solid identification of ownership on an account because otherwise just about anybody could contact them saying they were your parents and would Apple please give them access to the account. My concern is if you make a new acount you won't be able to play anything you bought that has DRM protection (anything that requires authorization).
Music from CDs should play fine.

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I upgraded my computer from vista to windows 7, losing my itunes library in the process - how can I sync my current itunes with my ipod?

I upgraded my computer system from vista to windows 7 losing my authorized itunes in the process - I cannot sync my ipod now without losing everything on it. Is there a solution for this?

At a guess you followed the process in HT1364 - iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder which would have moved the media folder to a new path of your choice. This process leaves the library database files back in the original location of <User's Music>\iTunes. Often people assume that all they need is now on the external drive and wipe the internal drive, or discard their old computer, before backing up the all important iTunes folder. If you have a backup of your user's profile folder from before the upgrade the iTunes library folder should be in there somewhere. Restore it to <User's Music> and your original library should pop back into existence. The external drive would need to have the same drive letter that it had previously.
A more effective way to relocate the library is to move the entire iTunes folder to the external drive, then hold down shift when starting iTunes and keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. You would then choose the file iTunes Library.itl in the iTunes folder on the external drive. If this is the way you moved the library before then that is how you should now reconnect to it. Changing the media folder in preferences doesn't change which .itl database file is opened, nor does double-clicking on an .itl file directly.
If you no longer have the original .itl file then you will have to build a new library and import the media to it. If you need to do this I would recommend you create a new library at F:\iTunes, then move your existing media folders inside F:\iTunes\iTunes Media before importing. This will avoid the creation of duplicates and make sure the library is in the correct shape going forwards.
If you have an iPod or iOS device my scripts ImportDevicePlaylists and SyncStats may well let you recover ratings, play counts & playlists from the device.
When you've fixed up your libray you should consider getting a second external drive to backup to.
tt2

Laptop keeps losing entire itunes library

please help...moved entire library from xp desktop to an external hard drive, downloaded latest version of itunes from apple then copied library on to new vista laptop. all loads okay, ipod syncs okish but after syncing it then loses all my music,playlists etc... what have i done wrong? please reply in non techo speak as you can gather im not clued up with computers!!! allo advice welcome!!!

I use Windows XP, which is a little different to your Vista, but on your computer, if you look in *My Computer* you should see the "local disk: (C:)", and some other Disks, maybe D and E. When the iPod is plugged in, even if iTunes is handling it, it should appear as another "device with removable storage". It was that letter I meant. However...
I've just re-read your first post and I think I may have misunderstood you, so let's start again. In that post, you say
all loads okay, ipod syncs okish but after syncing it then loses all my music,playlists etc...
If it lost all the music after syncing, I would not call that an okay load or even an okayish sync.
Connect the iPod to your computer; let iTunes see it and perform a Sync. Do not disconnect it.
At the top of the iTunes Window, in the pale coloured box it should say *iPod sync is complete - OK to disconnect.* Don't! On the left hand side of your iTunes, click on the "iPod name" under Devices. Do you see the Summary screen? At the bottom of the Summary screen is the Capacity bar. How much audio is listed in GB and how much Other is listed?
Also, look in the iTunes Library, under Music. Do any (or all) of the songs have an exclamation mark to the left of the title?
So, Heathrow eh? Are you doing a Tom Hanks, living in the airport? I hope not, for your sake.

Apple TV keeps losing my Itunes library

I go to watch Apple TV and it says there is no library available when I try to access it. The only solution is to unplug the Apple TV. After that, works fine, but this keeps happending. Clearly there's no network issue as I don't need to do anything to do with my router or my Imac. I have the Apple TV hooked up by ethernet cable as well. Any idea what's going on?

I have the exact same problem.
Can't figure out why, it will work fine with all other functions... but when I go to my library it says there is not one available.
Need help here too.
MV

HT1926 I'm getting the message "This copy of itunes is corrupted or not stalled correctly. Please reinstall itunes" How do i do this without losing my music library?

I'm getting the message "This copy of itunes is corrupted or not installed correctly. Please restall itunes" How do I do this without losing my itunes library? (I use Windows vista). Do I delete my existing itunes?

Try this discussion...
https://discussions.apple.com/message/20664047#20664047
From the More Like This section on the right

SW upgrade wiped out my iTunes library and also now iTunes will not launch

I just completed the recommended Sw upgrade for iTunes and now iTunes will not launch and my iTunes library is TOTALLY EMPTY.
Clearly, I am NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. I have lost a substantial investment of $$ and time in losing my iTunes library - so Apple should be paying me for my loss.
I need help, can you, will you help me? I want my iTunes library back and I'd like to reinstall the previous version of iTunes, because it worked fine.
Barbara Bowen
Apple, 1983-1993

You don't say which versions so we don't know to which version you wish to revert. Reverting won't get back your library anyway, if it is truly gone.
Have you checked if your library is truly gone? Have you looked in the iTunes folder and the media folder inside of it? The library has two main components, all the media files for the individual tracks and the iTunes Library.itl file which give them the structure you see in iTunes. Sometimes iTunes just loses track of the library file which can be re-linked, and what's really important anyway are the media files.
If the library is truly gone you can restore it from the backups you make of your computer. Backups are a responsibility of any computer owner ever since computers were invented. If you don't have backups then it may be possible to redownload items purchased from the iTunes Store.
I know I have glossed over some of this but it's not worth going into details on how to do all the different things until we know precisely what it is that needs doing.

The file "iTunes Library" could not be opened because it was created ...

Hi, I get this error message when starting iTunes: The file "iTunes Library" could not be opened because it was created by a newer version of iTunes.
I get this message after running a software update when iTunes announces a newer version is available.
I have ver 7.4.2 (4)
Am I doing something wrong? or is there a fix?
Thanks.

The update should've done this for you. But if, for whatever reason, you have an icon in your dock that's launching an old version of iTunes you should do a little investigating. Try this...
- open your Applications folder and see if you have one version of iTunes in there (one icon).
- highlight the icon and "GET INFO" to see what version it is.
- if it's the updated version, replace the icon in your dock with the icon for the newest version
Tossing out or swapping icons in the dock doesn't do any harm. But having an old icon will most definitely launch the old version it was associated with. Like I mentioned though, the update should have done this automatically. I would think back about how you updated just to make sure something else didn't go awry. Losing an iTunes library can be a drag.

My iTunes library is on a 2T ex. hard drive. I want to install on new PC w/o losing playlists,

My current iTunes library is on a 2T external hard drive, using a PC with Vista. I am wanting to move the entire library HD to a new PC running Windows 8 without losing my playlists, date added, last played, # of plays, etc. However, when connected to the new PC, only the purchased tunes from Apple show accurate data of date added, etc. 99% of my library is self-added/burned. I would like my new set-up to mirror my old set-up exactly but now I have double and even triple downloads of songs and albums in my iTunes library display and my computer files, and only one of 4 library files on the hard drive. What am I doing wrong or forgetting to do?

Gordon,
There's a solution to your problem but first it's time for a little lecture. (If it makes you feel any better, I don't like this any more than you do.)
I hope you take this as an opportunity to learn a very important lesson: Back up your iTunes library as soon as you can after resolving this situation because right now you are only one glitch of your iPod away from losing your music entirely.
Many people come to the Discussions having lost their music in just such situations and, believe me, it's not a happy time for anyone.
If you place any importance on your playlists and the data they depend on, you will want to include your iTunes Library files in your back-up regimen as well.
Anyways, that's the lecture. The answer to your problem should be found in this post:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=797432#797432
Good Luck! But once your music is back on your computer, remember:
Your music is valuable - please back it up!

My itunes library is empty but i want to upgrade my ipod without losing my music. how can i do this? please someone HELP!!!

i recently got a new laptop so my itunes library is empty but i want to upgrade my ipod without losing my music. how can i do this? please someone HELP!!!

but i got music from my old laptop and my little brothers laptop so basically its no way i can take whats already on my ipod and put it on my computer and drag and drop it to my new itunes library

I have all my music on an external hard drive. I just transferred all my files to a new hard drive . How do I sync all my files with my itunes library without losing all my playlists etc and keep everything intact?

I have all my music on an external hard drive. I just transferred all my files to a new hard drive . How do I sync all my files with my itunes library without losing all my playlists etc and keep everything intact?

Launch iTunes with the Option key held down, click on Choose Library, and specify it. If the external drive doesn't contain the iTunes database files, create a new library there and import that music.
If the library contains any rented movies, they won't play on a different computer.
(109334)

How can I transfer my whole iTunes library from a PC to another without losing any information?

Hi, I have a very large iTunes library which is the result of so many years of listening to music. Although my computer is pretty old and slow and I would like to buy me another one. However, I cannot risk losing all the playcounts, ratings and information that I've been adding through all these years and the "Home Sharing" feature doesn't keep it (more specifically, erases all the ratings and playcounts). So, I would appreciate any advice on how could you do it.
I've read that if you click on "Export library" and then modify it with a text editor changing the location of the main folders it would be a way, but as I said my computer is pretty old and ran out of memory a couple of years ago, and I have like thousands of songs that with this system I should change it manually one by one, and that would take me weeks to do it. There has to be an easier way!
Thank you in advance!

See this migrate iTunes library post.
tt2

Can I move my old music from my Nano to my iTunes library without losing it?

in 10 years 3 computers crashed and I'm the 4th-How do I transfer OLD music from my old Ipod Nano to my iTunes library without losing it. My nano is filled to the brim but I don't want to lose music from CDs I no longer have and the thought of re-purchasing seems crazy.
Thanks

The file structure is a little complex. I will use inbox as an example.
Inbox (a large file with no file extension)
Inbox.msf ( An index of inbox with tags etc. Can be deleted with only loss of tags)
Inbox.sdb (a folder, indicating that the folder within Thunderbird has a sub folder.
POP mail is stored in
Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/*.default/Mail/[Server name]/
Local folder is stored in
Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/*.default/Mail/Local Folders/
As long as you do not overwrite, you can copy and paste whole folder trees into local folders (stuff on your old computer under a mail account is best relocated to local folder and then sorted as necessary afterwards.
Note that you should delete foldertree.json after making those sorts of copies (it forces a full refresh of the folder tree, no cache) and under no circumstances copy data with Thunderbird running. It can irrevocably corrupt things

How do I sync my iPhone 4S with a new iTunes library without losing data?

Hi,
I have been using an iPhone 4S for a few months now. Yesterday my PC crashed and I had to reboot the whole system.
So, obviously I had to reinstall iTunes.
Now, when I am connecting my phone with iTunes, it is informing me that my phone was synced with another iTunes library and if I sync it with this one, it will erase all data and do a fresh sync with the current library.
I have alot of important data, photos, contacts, messages, music on my phone now. I can't do without that.
How do I sync without losing my data? ? Help!
Tarun

can't if you do not have access to the old library (the usual workaround is to backup the old library and import it to the new itunes)
for important data...
sync your existing contacts with icloud, your text messages will not be disrupted, music will sync with whatever music you have on your new itunes, photos shoud still be in the camera roll (I would sync them to photostream before you sync, just in case). Any photos on your phone that are not in camera roll or photostream... if you lost those pictures with the computer crash I would take screen shots (lock button + home button at the same time) of each photo so they show up in the camera roll. App data may or may not be lost. In my experience, it depends on the app. Some of the apps recognize your apple ID and sync data over the internet with servers, some do not. I would take note of important data (such as passwords in a password keeper if you have such an app) just in case if you lose that data.

How do I sync my old ipod to my "new" iTunes library without losing the music I already have loaded onto my iPod?

Hi, so I got my new computer loaded up with iTunes and I want to be able to move my music from my old iPod to my new iTunes library without losing any of the music I already have placed on the iPod. How would I do this? And please I'm not too savvy with the new iTunes layout and such so if you could make this easy in layman's terms that would be great.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
If you purchased all songs in the iTunes Store, plug your iPod to your Mac or PC and iTunes will ask you to transfer purchases.
If you didn't purchase any song or you have non-purchased songs from the iTunes Store, you have to use an application to transfer the songs to iTunes. Here is a list of applications you can use for that > https://discussions.apple.com/message/11319208#11319208

How can i sync my ipod touch to a different itunes library without losing everything on it?

Please help!!
Can someone tell me how I can sync my ipod touch to a different itunes library without losing everything on it?

Transfer iTunes purchases by:
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer
Transfer your music fom the old computer
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
You can alsouse a third-party program likeoneof thise discussed here to transfer music from iPod to computr.
Copy music from Ipod to new computer...: Apple Support Communities
Connect the iPod to the comuter and make a backup by rignt clickingon the iPOd under Devices in iTunes a nd select Back Up. Then restore the iPod from that backup.

Losing an iTunes Library...

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