Sync iPhone with new computer (w/o access to old computer)

I'll make this quick!
Helping a friend of mine sync her iPhone to a new computer. She wants all the info on her iPhone to stay on her iPhone after the sync on the new computer. Problem is, iTunes wants to erase and restore her iPhone (because its a new computer).
The concern here is not about her music, but actually, she just doesn't want to lose her text messages, contacts, etc. from off the phone. What can I do to get her iPhone syncing with her new computer, while retaining all the info she's got on it?
Thanks.

You just have to set your preferences in iTunes.
You can choose not to delete contacts etc from the iPhone. After you connect the iPhone, click on the iPhone icon that shows up in iTunes, and go to the appropriate tab, and check / uncheck what you want or don't want.
I don't think text messages get deleted or changed.

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Keeping Contacts & Apps when syncing iPhone with new computer

I just got a new netbook with Windows 7 Starter. I would like to transition from using my current work laptop to the netbook as the manager of my iPhone. When I try to sync my iPhone with the new computer it says that my iPhone's library is linked to another computer. It appears that all of my contacts and apps will be erased if I sync these items on the netbook.
Does anyone know a way that I can keep this information without erasing? I already erased my music content from the iPhone. I foresee a real problem since this netbook doesn't have Outlook and all my contact information is in that format. I also don't want to have my apps all wiped out. Thanks for the help.

iTunes content can be synced or manually managed with an iTunes library on a single computer, and photos can be transferred to the iPhone via the iTunes sync process from a single computer only. When transferring iTunes content and photos from another computer, all iTunes content and photos transferred from a different computer will be erased from your iPhone first.
No other content is touched or erased when doing so including iPhone contacts especially if you don't select to sync contacts with a supported application on a new computer.
iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store only. With your iPhone connected and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPhone. If you haven't activated the new computer with your iTunes account with iTunes, you should do so before doing this.
With Windows, contacts can be synced with Outlook 2003 or 2007 along with calendar events, or with Windows Contacts for syncing contacts only.
If you don't have Outlook 2003 or 2007 available on the new computer, you will have Windows Contacts available. Before syncing contacts with Windows Contacts, enter one contact in Windows Contacts. Make the contact up if needed, which can be deleted later. This will provide a merge prompt with the first sync with Windows Contacts, which you want to select.
There is no Outlook format or Apple address book format with contacts. You can sync contacts with Outlook 2003 or 2007 or with Windows Contacts on a PC, and sync contacts with Apple's address book on a Mac.
Contact, calendar events, and Safari bookmarks can be synced with the supported applications on multiple computers. With two Windows computers, with two Macs, or with a Windows computer and a Mac.

Syncing iPhone with new computer

Please help and bear with me. I have read many similar threads but have found none that seem to match my situation. My old computer was unstable so I restored it to original settings. It created a backup file of my stuff. It still was trouble so i'm done with it. I now have a new computer. I'm trying to sync my iphone 3gs with it and of course it wants to erase every thing as it can't find the files and iTunes libraries etc. In my old computer's windows created backup file I have an itunes folder. It has several dated library files and about 1.3 gb of stuff. I have many contacts and pics/videos from the camera on it that I want to save. I could care less about the music. There is not much there as I have a seperate ipod synced with a diferent computer for my music. I just want to keep what is on my iPhone currently and back it up and save on my new laptop. I do not have the icloud. My phone is currently on ver. 4.2.1 and has 7 gb of stuff on it.
Thanks in advnce for pointing me in the right direction.

I had the same problem. I decided to erase my drive and instill 10.5 and all of my apps fresh. What I did to keep my contacts and calendars is something I've done often in the past when restoring from backups.
This only works if you have a backup of your previous user folder. Go to your user folder, then the library folder. You should see a folder called calendar, move those files into the user/library/calendar folder in the new computer/system.
Do the same for your address book contacts. You will find those in user/library/application support/addressbook
You can do this for a number of other applications. I have done this for years with my the support data for web browsers (saved passwords, address).
You might also try this since itunes just asked me (and if you don't have a copy of your old user folder). Make sure that you check sync calendars/contacts in the iphone section in itunes. After I did that, it just asked me if I wanted to replace the information on the phone on merge its info with the new computer... That might make the process above unnecessary.

Sync iPhone with new computer after old one died

Hey,
My previous laptop (PC) motherboard died and I just recently brought a new laptop. I did not have a external hard drive or anything, so I lost everything from the laptop. Is there anyway that I can sync my iPhone to the new laptop and have everything, including the songs on the new computer? The new laptop is running Windows Vista.
Thank you in advance

The iPhone is not designed or intended to be a backup storage device.
When syncing an iPhone with an iTunes library on another computer, all iTunes content on the iPhone that was transferred from a different computer will be erased from your iPhone first, and the same applies to photos transferred to an iPhone via the iTunes sync process.
First you need to authorize your computer with your iTunes account with iTunes. iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store from an iPod or iPhone, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store only. With your iPhone connected to iTunes and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go go File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPhone. If all 3rd party apps do not transfer to your iTunes library on your new computer, you can re-download the apps with iTunes on your computer and you won't be charged again for a purchased app as long as you use the same iTunes account to re-download the app that was used to purchase the app originally.
Before syncing contacts with a supported application on your computer, which can be with Outlook 2003 or 2007 including calendar events, or with the address book used by Windows Mail (Windows Contacts) for contacts only, enter one unique contact in the application on your computer - the same for a calendar event if you have Outlook 2003 or 2007 available. This will provide a merge prompt when syncing this data, which you want to select.

Sync iphone with new computer without removing items from iphone

When trying to transfer library from iPhone to my new computer, it wants to delete the library from my iPhone. How can I transfer without removing from my phone?

If you do not have access to the iTunes Library on your Old computer... or its Backup...
See these 2 Links...
Syncing to a New Computer...
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141
Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
If you do have access... See Here...
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
Or...
From your OLD computer...
Copy your ENTIRE iTunes FOLDER to an External Drive... and then from the External Drive to your New Computer..
Full Details Here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

Sync iPhone with new computer but keep text messages / photos etc

Hi,
So I have an iPhone 4 that I always synced with my Mac Book Pro. I now use a Mac Pro tower computer as my primary machine. I hear you can only sync with one computer at a time (is this true?) well if so, I'd like to start syncing my iphone with the tower for now on, but am concearned cause my friend was in the same predicament and had a bunch of stuff erased. I see online a lot of people say to manually transfer your music to the new computer and sync, but I want to make sure everything else is properally done as well including contacts photos and the text message / call history etc.
My itunes music is already transfered to the tower. I beleve my "contacts" app is mostly updated on my tower , and even more updated on the phone itself. The photos are only on my iphone, and the text message / call / voicemails are only on the phone ( I dont even think those could be backed up). So - should I just go ahead and try and sync it with the new computer?
What option would I choose...I don't think I wanna swipe it...and although I have my music on the tower, my contacts / photos are on the phone so what is the best way of properly doing this?
Thanks

You just have to set your preferences in iTunes.
You can choose not to delete contacts etc from the iPhone. After you connect the iPhone, click on the iPhone icon that shows up in iTunes, and go to the appropriate tab, and check / uncheck what you want or don't want.
I don't think text messages get deleted or changed.

Can u use itunes match to sync iphone with new computer

can you use itunesmatch to sync iphone music and pictures to new computer

You can use iTunes Match to make your iTunes library available on another computer, to either play or download the music to it. But iTunes Match doesn't have anything to do with pictures and other data, and it doesn't sync your iPhone with your computer.
If you are changing computers and have previously syncing your phone with another computer, you should copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the music) from your old computer to your new one using one of the methods explained here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527. That will allow you to sync your phone with your new computer just as you did with your old one.

Trying to sync iPhone with new computer

Bought new computer. When I tried to sync iPhone it wanted to erase info on phone and sync with new computer iTunes which has nothing in it.

Sync with new computer
http://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141

How do i sync iphone with new computer when old computer is unavailable?

I want my iphone content on itunes on a new computer. My old computer crashed and is unavailable.

No backup is a big mistake.
If you sync iphone to a blank computer, then the current content will be erased.
The iphone is not a backup device.
The music and pics sync is one way - computer to iphone. The only exception is itunes purchases: File>Transfer Purchases
You can e-mail the pics to yourself. They will never be of the original resolution.
If you enter one unique contact and calendar item, then you should get the option to merge the data when you first sync.

How to sync iPhone with new Mac without losing all my iTunes?

I have recently got a new MacBook after my old one crashed... but I have been told that anything not bought would be lost when I sync my iPhone with my new Mac... I have already transferred the bought songs etc... is there a way (cheap or free if possible!) to transfer my music and videos to my iTunes library on my Mac?
Thank you very much!

Hi,
Option 1:
     If you have purchased a new Mac from an Local Apple store, I'd advise you to bring in your old computer along with your new one in, and have them assist you on transferring. (Assuming your computer doesn't not even power up)
Option 2:
     If your computer can be powered up (seeing the Apple Logo), and your hard drive is fine, then you can connect the two computers by using a Firewire cable, and then transfer the music files by drag and drop.
     http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
Option 3:
     There are 3rd party software that you may purchase used to extract music from your iPhone, but it will have to be done at your own risk. You may Google for extracting music from iPhone for a start.
-cwdlin

How to sync Iphone with new itunes library?

I used to sync my iphone with itunes on my macbook.
My macbbok was lost, and i got a new macbook.
Now when i try to sync with the new itunes libaray, it prpompts that it will delete my exisiting data on my phone, This would mean losing all my contacts, and text messages etc.
Is there a way i can sync to a new itunes library without losing my data?
thanks
nazmul

Sorry to hear about your macbook.
Others have reported that if you have at least on contact and calendar entry on your new computer when you sync, then it will not erase you iphone, it will simply merge the two. While that makes perfect sense, I have not tried it myself.
As for the texts, I don;t think you can get those back.
Music can only be synced to one library at a time, so the music will be gone. However, in Itunes you can "transfer purchases," at least putting your itunes purchased music on your computer.
It is always a good idea to have a backup. I use an external hard drive. Then you will have a complete backup if anything happens to your computer.
Good luck. I hope it works out.

Had to reinstall windows 7 - Problems syncing iPhone with new iTunes

Hello everyone!
I've recently had to reinstall windows 7. Now I am having issues syncing my iPhone 4 with my new iTunes. I've look online at several forums and webpages but haven't found a workable solution yet.
My issues are that when I attempt to sync my iPhone with the new iTunes, it tells me that it will erase everything on the phone and replace it with what's in iTunes. Well there's nothing in iTunes so this is a problem.
Now I don't purchase anything through iTunes, except for a few apps, and the only thing I really want out of syncing is to get some class recordings, done by Voice Memos, from my iPhone to my computer. The files are all around ~30 Mb so I can't email them.
Is there anyway to do this?
Thanks,
Greg

What gets erased is the iTunes/App store purchases on your phone, replaced with the contents of your iTunes library on your computer - in this case nothing. Voice memos sync only from phone to computer - they don't get deleted.
To avoid losing your apps, music/media:
1. Defeat automatic syncing on connection to iTunes: ITunes preferences > Devices > Prevent .... from syncing automatically
2. Connect phone to computer with iTunes open
3. ITunes menu > File > Devices > Transfer Purchases
4. iTunes menu > File > Devices > Back UP
Now OK to sync voice memos to iTunes.

Transferred my Library to new laptop, but how to associate/sync iPhone with new laptop?

I got a new laptop. The old laptop is still working. I transferred my library using the Home Sharing method and all of my items were moved except my apps. I plugged in my iPhone to the new computer and used "Transfer Purchases from iPhone" option and all of my apps were added to the library. But, now I don't know how to associate the iPhone with the new computer. When I plug in my iPhone to the new computer. It starts to sync. It says steps 1 through 3, spins for 20 seconds and says complete, but nothing was done. I do not get the "this iPhone is associated with another library" message when I plug it in to new computer, perhaps because I've authorized both computers. All I can find in my searches is how to avoid losing all of your data and how to transfer your library, but none has dealt with this exact situation. I am stumped as to how to get iPhone associated with new computer. Can I transfer my backup from the old computer and restore from backup? Other thoughts? Sorry if the answer is somewhere (I'm sure it is), but I have spent two days looking.

Randers4, so I carefully followed the directions (only one that confused me was about adding a fake address/calendar entry, is that for Macs, I'm using a PC?.) I restored it from the backup and everything looked good. I had hope, the final step says to sync it and when I did, I had the exact same problem. It spun, went quickly through only 3 steps (even though there were 7 sync steps with my old laptop) and nothing changed. It clearly didn't sync.
So, I had an idea that I would back up everything by right clicking in the left pane and forcing a back up on the new computer, and then erasing the entire phone and then restoring from the backup I just made to see if that would make a difference. So, after I tried that and it restored, it was weird. All of my settings were there. Some folders were there, my pictures were there, but all of my apps, folders, music and video was missing and it still wouldn't sync. So, then I had to plug it back into my old laptop and do a restore from there to get that stuff back.
Shouldn't I get a message when I plug the iPhone into the new laptop saying this phone is connected to another computer? I tried "Reset Warning Messages" but it doesn't do anything. At this point, I don't care if I lose some of the stuff from my iPhone (texts, etc)...but I want it to sync to the new computer because my old laptop is on its death bed.
So frustrating, all of my iTunes content is on the new computer, the only piece that is missing is getting it to "talk" to the iPhone. Times like this I wish I wasn't a poor teacher and could afford to get a nice Mac laptop.

Sync iphone with new macbook

I've had an iphone for a while now....no issues. I've always synced it with my iMac....no issues. Just bought a new Macbook Pro. Instead of syncing my iphone with the iMac, I ONLY want to sync with the new Macbook. I just want my itunes, photos and contacts backed-up on the new Macbook. I've been all over the web, searching for an easy solution. I tried migration assistant, that created a second home folder on my Macbook using all of the old stuff on the iMac. Should I buy a software program for Mac to make this easy? I'm not a go into the sub, sub, home, sub-folder and delete this or that kind of guy. I could be with SPECIFIC instructions as to how to go about it, but too many sites speak a language I don't. Any help would be appreciated for the semi-computer challenged. Thank you.

All you need to do is move all the contents of your iTunes folder on your iMac, to the empty iTunes folder on your MacBook pro to get your iTunes media synched.
For photos, replace the empty iPhoto library on your MacBook Pro with your old iPhoto library from your iMac.
For your contacts, create a "dummy" in Address Book on your MacBook Pro. You will be prompted to "merge" the contacts on your phone and from Address Book when you first synch.

Sync iphone with new macbook without erasing info - don´t have backup

Hello everybody,
although I have googeled and searched in this forum I couldn´t quite find the exact answer to my problem:
Unfortunately, a few weeks ago my Windows PC went kaput. Fortunately, I bought a new Macbook Pro which is awesome.
Buuut I cannot find a possibility to sync my iphone 3gs with my new mac without losing all the information on it. I do not have a backup for the iphone on an external hard disk.
What can I do??
Thanks in advance for you help!
Mike

Without a backup for your iTunes library that was on your PC and for any photos on your iPhone that were transferred from your PC, transferring any iTunes content and photos from your new Mac or from any new computer will erase all iTunes content and photos from your iPhone that were transferred from your old PC. Not all information on your iPhone will be erased when doing so, just iTunes content and photos that were transferred from your PC.
Just one reason why including your iTunes library with your computer's backup along with all other important data is a good idea.
iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store from an iPod, iPad, or iPhone, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store only.
First you need to authorize your Mac with your iTunes account with iTunes if you haven't already done so. With your iPhone connected and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPhone.
Before syncing contacts with the Address Book and calendar events with iCal on your Mac, enter one contact in the Address Book and one calendar event in iCal on your Mac. This will provide a merge prompt with the first sync for this data, which you want to select.

Sync iPhone with new computer (w/o access to old computer)

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