Migrating iPhone to new host computer, shared with iPod

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Migrating iPhone to new host computer, shared with iPod

Up until now, the iPod was synched to the desktop machine, and the iPhone 3G was synched to the laptop. I need to migrate the iPhone over to the desktop, and remove iTunes from the laptop all together.

Both computers currently run Win XP Pro, and both are running the current version of iTunes (8.0.2). iPhone has been backed up, and all applications have been updated to current. iPhone currently has no music/videos on it (nor is there such in the laptop's iTunes library. There is much music on the desktop iTunes library, and I don't want to lose that library. Both versions of iTunes have been set up for manual syncing and manual organization of the library music. Lastly, iPhone syncs to my Exchange server at work using ActiveSync over the air - that is where the contacts, calendar, email, etc. come from.

How do I this without losing everything on the iPhone? I can't be the first person to have this problem, but very little is published on solving it. Didn't find an apps note from Apple, and found little of use in other online forums.

I want to keep my iPod (and my music library) on the desktop machine. I want to add my iPhone to that desktop machine, and make it its new sync home. I don't want to lose any of my applications or other data on the iPhone. I want to manually configure which device will get music - playlists are fine for this purpose, though I really haven't used them before.

Absolutely imperative that iPhone retains its ability to sync to my Exchange Server, as this is a primary business tool (and works very well!). I can't break that in the process.

What's the secret sauce for making this transition without breaking something? Thanks for any advice you may offer.

Core i7, Windows XP Pro, iPhone 3G, iPod Nano

Posted on Mar 4, 2009 6:44 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 4, 2009 7:00 PM in response to Goldtop

If your iPhone doesn't have any iTunes content that was transferred from the laptop, then you have nothing to be concerned about, and I assume that you purchased and downloaded all 3rd party apps via the App store on your iPhone only? If so, were you using the same iTunes account on your laptop that is being used on your desktop?

The sync process for iTunes content is a one way transfer process only - from your computer to your iPhone. No matter what you select or don't select for your iPhone or iPod sync preferences with iTunes on different computers, your iTunes library on the computer is not touched by the sync process.

An iPod and an iPhone synced with iTunes on different computers can have different sync preferences with iTunes on each computer. And an iPod and iPhone synced with an iTunes library on the same computer can have different sync preferences.

In regards to iTunes content, an iPhone can be synced with an iTunes library on a single computer only. When selecting iTunes content on another computer to be transferred to an iPhone, all iTunes content on the iPhone that was transferred from a different computer will be erased from the iPhone first, but the iTunes library on your computer can't be erased via the sync process with an iPod or iPhone. This does not completely erase the entire iPhone.

The email account or accounts on your iPhone will not be touched or affected by syncing your iPhone with iTunes on your Desktop. If you are syncing contact info and calendar events over the air with your Exchange account on your iPhone, you won't have the option to sync direct with a supported application on your Desktop for this data under the Info tab for your iPhone sync preferences.

If for some reason your 3rd party apps available on your iPhone are lost when syncing with iTunes on your Desktop, you can re-download all purchased apps with iTunes on your Desktop without being charged again as long as you use the same iTunes account to re-download the apps that was used to purchase the apps originally.

You will get a warning message that your iPhone has been synced with iTunes on a different computer, but you should have the option to make your selections under the various tabs for your iPhone sync preferences with iTunes on your Desktop.

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Answer 2

Mar 4, 2009 7:44 PM in response to Goldtop

I just copied my itunes folder for the ipod over to the computer that had my iphone on it. All I got was a message saying I was entitled to have this information on 4 or 5 computers. Once you get past the computer limit you have to deactivate some of the old ones. Worked like a charm the first try. I run windows xp as well.

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Answer 3

Goldtop Author

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Mar 5, 2009 7:36 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Thanks for the response. Much appreciated.

Yes, all third-party content purchased at Apps store.

Yes, using same iTunes account on the laptop and desktop machines. Never purchased music through iTunes, by the way - everything in my library is from my CD collection.

So what you're telling me is that I can just plug the iPhone into the new desktop, let it give me the warning about it being synched elsewhere, and then make the desktop its new home. Will my ring tones, photos, notes, and other misc "stuff" on the iPhone (backed up to laptop) get backed up to desktop properly?

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Answer 4

Mar 6, 2009 5:44 AM in response to Goldtop

You're iPhone's backup includes data such as most iPhone settings, email account settings, contact info, calendar events, SMS messages notes, recent calls, call favorites, photos available in your iPhone's Camera Roll, and 3rd party app settings and data created and stored by a 3rd party app.

iTunes content on your iPhone is not included with your iPhone's backup. iTunes content can be transferred to an iPhone from an iTunes library on a single computer only, and ringtones are iTunes content.

You need to transfer your iTunes library from your laptop to your desktop, and the same for any photos transferred from your laptop to your iPhone. When syncing iTunes content with an iTunes library on another computer, all iTunes content on the iPhone will be erased first, and the same applies to photos transferred to your iPhone via the iTunes sync process.

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