Reinstall iTunes and use backed-up music files?

Hi -
I tried to create two libraries using an apple support page that instructs you to hold down the SHIFT key to select a library to use. From that point, all of my music and libraries were seemingly over-written and I could not find any trace of my original music or library files. This was really weird and I tried everything to find those music files on my system. No luck...
But, I do backup regularly on a separate hard drive. So, can I uninstall iTunes, reinstall iTunes, and then use the back up files to get everything working again? I'm not sure how to go about getting the backed-up files to work with iTunes...what's the best thing to do?
Thanks!
iTunes 8
Vista Home Premium SP1
HP Pavilion notebook
------------------------

No, your files will be safe.
Since you're only removing the programs themselves from your computer, all of your files will stay saved in a folder called "iTunes" on your computer, which contains all of your library's files.
I hope that answers the question.
-Kylene

Similar Messages

Reinstalled iTunes and need to get music files back on

Hi Everybody.
Basically, I had to reinstall my iTunes software after my ipod broke and they gave me a new one. I am running iTunes 4 I think, because for some reason it is the only on that wants to work on our computer.
The new iPod is working fine, and so is iTunes, but our music files didn't come back up automatically and I need some advice for getting them back on itunes. I've played with it a bit, but I didn't want to go clicking and dragging a bunch of folders to where they might not belong.
Thanks, if you can offer me any help it will be much appreciated. Sean

However, all signs point to "I erased all my itunes music files."
Bummer
is there anything else to try or is my music gone?
Do you still have all or most or some of your music on the iPod? If so:
These links will give you several methods of recovering whatever songs remain on your iPod; some free, some third-party software, some more comprehensive for restoring Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, etc. Read them and their associated links before deciding on a strategy that works for you. There are many various third-party software programs that will offer a more robust process, or an easier GUI. Do a Google search for them if the links below leave you wanting…
Don King Resurrected: Deleted files from hard drive (free user steps – music recovery only)
MacMuse: Computer Crashed (free user steps – music recovery only)
Copying music from iPod to computer (a primer on various methods and software)
Copying Songs from Your iPod to a Mac or PC (resource for 3rd party software)
iPodRip Software (Free trial: Mac & Windows)
PodUtil Software (Mac & Windows)
YamiPod Software (Free: Mac & Windows)
PodPlus Software (Windows)
TuneJack Software (Windows)
Senuti (Mac OS X v10.3 or higher Recovery Utility)
XPlay (Windows software For Music Recovery &/or Cross-Platform Functionality)
XPlay Photo Browser (For recovering Photos)
Extremely Simple & Free Method: (just to recover the song files – may not work on a Mac)
1 - Open iTunes
2 - Edit=>Preferences=>’Advanced/General’ tab
2a --- Select ‘Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library’: checked
2b --- Select ‘Keep iTunes Music folder organized’: checked
2c --- Click OK to store changes
3 - Attach your iPod to the PC and hold down the ‘Shift+Ctrl’ keys until the iPod is fully recognized (this will defeat the auto-sync process)
4 - If you get a dialog box to link the Library, decline this option
5 - Within iTunes: Edit=>Preferences=>’iPod’ tab: switch iPod to manual transfer – click ‘OK’
6 – Eject iPod
7 – Close iTunes, then reopen iTunes and attach the iPod (it’s in manual sync now)
8 – File=>Add Folder
9 - Browse to and open ‘My Computer’ (click on the ‘+’) and select the iPod (or the lower ‘\iPod_Control’ sub-folder)
10 - Click OK
-- The music files should start to transfer back into iTunes with its correct information
–-- This will take some time depending on your PC’s speed and the amount of songs on the iPod
No Playlists, or Ratings, Last Played, & Play Count attributes will be transferred from the iPod to iTunes using this method.
If you have problems with seeing the iPod within 'My Computer', try again switching your update method to 'manual', detach the iPod, then reconnect the iPod to the PC.
After recovering your Library, strongly consider developing a thorough and frequent backup strategy for just this type of situation (and many other potential disasters).
You need at least two full sets of your music, not including what is on the iPod:
-- One full set on the PC within iTunes (on internal HD or ExHD)
-- One full set on an separate external backup medium (CD/DVD/ExHD/other)
-- One (full or partial) set on the iPod
Music files on just the iPod and only one other medium is not considered having any backup.
If you cannot store your complete music files on the computer’s internal HD, then create and maintain at least two external sets (any multiple combinations of ExHDs, DVDs, CDs).
Backup both the music files and the Library database file (iTunes Library.itl). What are the iTunes Library files?
Here is a post on developing a thorough backup strategy:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1822938#1822938

My computer's hardrive went bad an I had to get a new one. Now my computer has nothing on it and I had to reinstall itunes and i have no music or anything. So now I cannot sync my ipod or anything. Is there anything i can do to get all of my stuff back?

My computer's hardrive went bad an I had to get a new one. Now my computer has nothing on it and I had to reinstall itunes and i have no music or anything. So now I cannot sync my ipod or anything. Is there anything i can do to get all of my stuff back?

It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer for just such an occasion.
Use your backup copy to put everything back.

Uninstalled and reinstalled itunes and I my backup music is missing

Reciently I uninstalled and reinstalled itunes and my ipod software because my ipod in now no longer recognized by my computer(a topic for another forum). My previously downloaded music is missing. There seems to be a wordpad document with the song titles but thats all. I am going crazy looking for this music. Is it gone? If its not then how do I get it back to I tunes. Please Help!! Thank You
Dell Windows XP

Bootlace, That is exactly what I did. I could have just burned my tunes onto a disc before I uninstalled but I believe my children have stolen my brain cells. I have to figure out a way to restore my ipod but my computer is not recognizing it. I am obviously going to lose everything on it when I do and I was hoping to recoup my downloaded music. I am at my wits end and am ready to throw it against the wall. Any sugestions on that topic would be appreciated. I feel like I have tried everything. Thanks.
Dell Windows XP
Dell Windows XP

Had to uninstall iTunes and download again because music file for ipod was not showing, then got this message after download "the file iTunes library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a new version of iTunes..help!!!

I had to uninstall iTunes because when I connected my ipod and was in that file and clicked on music to add songs that file was empty. Once I downloaded iTunes again a box appeared that said The file iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes..............so then I unistalled iTunes and downloaded again 4 different times and got the same message each time. I am using a laptop Windows Vista 64 bit system...please help

I don't know how you received an upgrade for iTunes. You make it sound like it was sent to you. At most your computer will tell you of a new version and you tell it to download it and install it. However, a computer will not do this for a version which is incompatible. iTunes 10.7 came out a few weeks ago but your computer would not notify you and even if it did, 10.7 would refuse to install on your computer. So this part isn't making a lot of sense.
Two ways to get the 'newer version' message. One is to open your library on a computer running a newer version, and then try to open it with an older version. Usually happens when the library is on an external and used with multiple computers. The second way is if you have multiple versions of itunes installed on your computer.
The newest (and likely the last) iTunes for OSX 10.5.8 is iTunes 10.6.3 which has been out for quite a while.
iTunes 10.6.3.25 - http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1575

Trying to reinstall iTunes and get my music back...

Hello, everyone... my username is "quillian86" and I'm new to these parts.
So, down to business...
Recently, I got my computer back after it crashed and had to be restored, so now I have to reinstall iTunes and put all my music back on my computer.
I'm already signed up to Apple using this particular email address (from the first time I installed iTunes on this particular laptop); do I have to sign up for it when I have to download it all over again? I already have an account there.
Also, even though all the music was wiped clean off my computer itself, I still have all the music on my iPod. I've heard that there are programs to make it work in reverse, and have the music on the iPod be loaded onto iTunes. What programs are these? It would REALLY save me the trouble of burning everything to my computer all over again!
Sincerely,
Quillian

Just use your backup copy to put the music back on the computer. This is why backups are a basic.
You do not need another account. You can continue to use your same itunes account.
You can do a forum search for software/methods to move music from a ipod. This is addressed every day here.
Zevoneer does a great job explaining the options.
The forum search bar is on the right side of this page.
Hope everything works out.

I had to restore all the files on my pc using carbonite. I reinstalled iTunes and was able to find my music with the help of Apple support. How do I find my podcasts?

I had to restore all the files on my pc using carbonite. I reinstalled iTunes and was able to find my music with the help of Apple support. How do I find my podcasts?

This helped, I restored them, but when I go to iTunes they are not there. Is there another step?

I have Itunes on my PC using Vista. I had some issues. If I end up removing and reinstalling ITunes will I lose my music? Its like 6000 songs.

I have Itunes on my PC using Vista. I had some issues. If I end up removing and reinstalling ITunes will I lose my music? Its like 6000 songs.

See Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates.
Your library should be fine, but you ought to backup routinely anyway.
tt2

I had to restore my computer. After reinstalling itunes and sincronizing with my ipod, the music files were not organized in itunes as in the ipod: some songs were missing, some albums has no cover? Why is the sincronization not working properly?

I had to restore my computer. After reinstalling itunes and sincronizing with my ipod, the music files were not organized in itunes as in the ipod: some songs were missing, some albums has no cover? Why is the sincronization not working properly?

See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

Reinstalled Itunes and how have 4 to 8 copies of all music (7,500). This has happened before, called apple, sorry you will need to delete each. question why does it happen and can it corrected without one song at a time

reinstalled itunes and have 4 to 8 copies of each song. This is the third time has happened over last 3 years. Called Apple, they state must delete extra songs manually, is there a quicker way and why does this happen. I have Iphone, can I delete all music and copy from phone?

Man I hear your pain, same happened to me. I never worked out a way of deleting all the duplicates and I'm guessing it occured as you imported your library more than once.
However it is possible to delete everything and copy from an ipod using different utilities out there on the net, try googling ipodutil as an expample, although I don't know if this works from an iphone but it worked for me copying everything back from an ipod into itunes.

I need to uninstall and reinstall itunes but cannot find my music anywhere so will i lose what is on my ipod when i re connect it later

Since having a virus on my laptop I am unable to access my itunes. It is asking that I uninstall and reinstall. I am worried that as I cannot find my music already in the itunes library that if i do this reinstalling then connect my ipod that I will loose all the music on there already. I am not necessarily worried about it not being in the library. ANy ideas.

Hello Jenney Watts,
It sounds like you are wanting to re install iTunes but want to be sure of the location of your files before you do so. The following article will walk you through checking where the library is being stored:
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
I would also recommend using the following article to consolidate your media to the iTunes library to keep them all in the same place.
iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1364
Then you can use this article to uninstall and then re install iTunes:
Removing and reinstalling iTunes and other software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1923
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
Sterling

HT203175 I had to reinstall Itunes and my library and ipods did not reinstall how do i get these back?

I had to reinstall Itunes and my library and ipods did not reinstall how do i get these back?

Hello DHolland1
You can do one of two things, first is to locate the songs on your computer by looking in the iTunes Folder. Once found then drag and drop them on top of iTunes to import them in. The second option is to revert back to a previous version of your iTunes library to get the data back before you installed. The articles below will assist with those steps.
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
No content shows up in iTunes after updating
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967
Regards,
-Norm G.

How can I get iTunes to locate and play all my music files?

How can I get iTunes to locate and play all my music files?

I have this problem too. I am researching now. Here is what I know so far. If you right click a song then get ifo the it will say Protected AAC or purchased AAC. Protected wont play on sonos, purchased will play on sonos. It seems that all my protected were purchased 2005 to 2009 or so. I am trying to find out if apply will convert these for a small dfee or if I use the itunes cloud these tunes will convert for me. downloading and reloading is not an option for me. Pretty much a money grab by apple either way. I am sure Steve is smiling.

HT1349 Can I reinstall ITunes and not lose all my music ????

I am getting the message "MSVCR80.dll missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix the problem."
Can I reinstall ITunes without losing all my music ????

Hello,
"iTunes Store purchases or songs imported from CDs are saved in your My Music folder by default and shouldn't be deleted when you remove iTunes. While you probably won't lose any content in your iTunes Library when following these steps, it's always a good idea to back up your iTunes library."
Source: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1925
Cedric

I hooked up my iPod to the computer and opened iTunes and now all my music is gone. I have greyed out areas where the music is supposed to be. Can I get my music back?

I hooked up my iPod to the computer and opened iTunes and now all my music is gone. I have greyed out areas where the music is supposed to be, but it says that I still have the same number of songs as I did before. Can I get my music back?

Grayed out whee? Computer? On iPod?
If in iPod that means the music files got corrupted and are lost.
You can redownload most iTunes purchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

Reinstall iTunes and use backed-up music files?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for