deauthorizing a dead computer (pc)

Question

deauthorizing a dead computer (pc)

Here's my situation:
I spilled a cup of coffee of my old laptop, which is authorized for ITune.
That computer is dead and gone (RIP). I have a new laptop and installed Itune and can't get my music bought in the past. How can I deauthorize the dead computer and so I can authorize my new laptop. And I have less than 5 authorization, so the whole deauthorize all option is not a solution. From reading on the net, sounds like I have to have Apple deauthorize the dead computer right? And what's Apple's number or email for me to get them to do the deauthorization.. Thanks

Windows Vista

Posted on Jul 8, 2009 9:30 PM

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Answer 1

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 8, 2009 9:33 PM in response to hellman's mayo

Welcome to AD!

Honestly, it's just easier to live with it. There is no way to deauthorize a PC you no longer have.
My work replaced a PC while I was on vacation. I lost that authorization several years ago, and still haven't gotten to the limit of 5.

If you really must, authorize 3 more PCs (maybe a friend who is also using iTunes?) and then do the deauthorize all.

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Answer 2

Jul 8, 2009 9:48 PM in response to Katrina S.

So is that my only option to get my purchased music back to my new laptop:
athorize 5 computers and deauthorize all option?

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Answer 3

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 8, 2009 10:31 PM in response to hellman's mayo

Oh wait - were you thinking that deauthorizing would let you redownload the music, or something? You only get one download, and you can copy it to up to 5 PCs and play it on them.

If your only copy was on the laptop, you're going to have to rerip & buy everything again...do you have it on an iPod, at least?

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Answer 4

Jul 9, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Katrina S.

Hi. I kind of have the same problem. I am authorized to 4 computers, though I'm only using one now. The other 3 ended up getting viruses and crashed. I read that you can hit 'deauthorize all.' How do I do that?

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Answer 5

Zevoneer

Level 9

52,705 points

Jul 9, 2009 12:59 PM in response to CuteCleo8

You only get the "Deauthorise All" option when you have reached your limit of 5 authorisations: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation

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Answer 6

Sep 15, 2009 10:06 AM in response to hellman's mayo

I have 7 machines that I use, all weekly, in different locations. The maximum number of authorized PCs you can have and the fact that you can't de-authorize more than once a year have made it so I only use iTunes to organize my music.

I keep everything I own in non-protected lossless MP3 format. I have heard you can change an ID in XML file for iTunes to trick it into letting you exceed the limit, but you won't be able to play new downloads from iTunes, which I don't care about, because I've stopped buying from them because of how this issue affected me in the past.

It's covered in iLounge.com's article about moving your iTunes library.

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