Definition of crashed
- You seem pretty pushy that someone should have backups. I had backups ... on my hard drive that crashed. Hence the needing to recover. My solution was to do it manually and not trust anyone (especially Apple) with my data. Jailbreak, ssh into phone and sftp my MP3s back over. Then reimport them into iTunes and let the tags tell me what the songs are. [Just an FYI: to be safest, your backup should always be a on a different physical hard drive, and probably in a different computer, than your main files. - Sam]
- —Guest Spliff
Doesn't help with playlists
- Sadly, this info doesn't help with the biggest pain in the a** of all: the fact that after you move your enormous collection you then have to rebuild all your playlists one by one in your new itunes. I've done this before and it takes HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS... wish someone could make THAT part simpler!
- —Guest Paul
you rock
- Let me just tell you that you were the first person who posted a solution that worked. Everyody else had crap about downloading some third party software, right clicking to transfer music and crazy things....even the apple web site was vague. Your solution did it!!!!!
- —Guest very thankful
Easy--sign in to your iTunes account
- And go to "purchased" and it will show you everything you've purchased through iTunes, and you simply tap "download" and viola! My hard-drive crashed yesterday and I had to buy a new one. I rarely make back-ups because it's a pain in the butt--so I was relieved to see this option. Yay!!!
- —Guest Jen
Thank You
- This worked perfectly! Everything transferred over, including TV shows. Thank you!
- —Guest MJF
Thank you
- Worked perfectly... much better than the Apple site. Thank you.
- —Guest Dean
moving itunes
- I've just moved 15GBs of music from old Mac to new one using external HD. This method worked perfectly - even brought my album art over which took me ages to put together... Awesome :)
- —Guest j mac
it's easy actually
- I spent two days trying to figure out how to get my iTunes library from my desktop to my new laptop. Then it hit me!!! After trying relentlessly by downloading iTunes to my new laptop, then importing the library from my backup external HD to my new laptop and newly installed iTunes ... it struck me. Apple was f'ing the whole thing up... The files came over but wouldn't import to iTunes or play at all. So I did the unimaginable... I DELETED ITUNES from my program file and OPENED WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER!!!! From then it was friggin' simple. It asked which folders to include in music library. Just designate the folder that you brought over from external hard drive and boom, it's done. You can still buy from any mp3 supplier and use whatever cloud you want. Just skip the drama by getting rid of the iTunes player ...You're welcome. -JG
- —Guest roost'r
Didn't copy books, apps etc. - SOLUTION
- I did this and it didn't copy over my audiobooks. Worryingly, the top left of the iTunes screen, under 'Library', only listed 5 folders – Music, Films, TV Programmes, Podcasts & Radio – whereas my old computer had three more (iTunes U, Books & Apps). I struggled with this for ages before stumbling on the ridiculously simple solution. In iTunes, select Edit/Preferences/General - you will see that iTunes U, Books & Apps are unchecked. Check them (i.e. click on them so that the boxes are ticked). Problem solved! (I am using Windows).
- —Guest Sam
THEHEIGHTS
- What I did was to install iTunes on the new computer and set it up for it to be recognized by Apple's picky iTunes store. Next I copied (not backed up) my MP3 files to a recordable DVD-R drive. I pulled out the disk, plopped it into my new computer and then ripped the files onto the new PC. This worked perfectly and took just as long as it takes to copy and then rip the files. Most off the time I was relaxing, reading the paper while watching a game on TV. What I like to call, a low stress day. Worked great. I've done this twice so far, worked great both times. The second time was much faster since the music was already on the DVD-R and I didn't have to do that again.
- —Guest THEHEIGHTS
Thank you
- Your tip worked great. Much better than the advice Apple gave on their site.
- —Guest AndyK
xfer issues
- ok i get it and got a 4G to transfer from old desktop to laptop. works great until i remove the backup stick. says it can't find the source. What??? but it's only some of them. the files are MPEG4 I don't get it.
- —Guest Laura
For anyone interested..
- I suggest that you try those online backup programs that are all the rage these days, like the one that I have, "Carbonite." They store your backed up music on their servers and it's just a small matter transferring the subscription and all your backed up data to the new computer. No muss, no fuss. It seems to me the simplest thing to do if you want to splurge on getting the program that is.
- —Guest Try This!
Macroplant
- I was dreading transfer of my library from PC to new laptop. I am not a natural with the details of windows and external hard disks. To cut to the chase, I purchased macroplant. I was dubious and downloaded it against my gut feel. However it was tremendous, it is loaded without fuss and 2000 songs downloaded in 5 to 10 minutes. A great product.
- —IHarrison1960
Transfer iTunes Library to other comp
- The best solution I found online on How to Transfer iTunes Library to Another Computer is this tutorial http://www.from-iphone-to-computer.com
- —ant1x
