Syncing iPhone to New Windows 7 Computer and Preserving Playlists & Apps

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Syncing iPhone to New Windows 7 Computer and Preserving Playlists & Apps

I am trying to figure out how I can sync my iPhone to my new Windows 7 computer, and preserve my playlists and my apps. I have transferred all my music files into iTunes on my new computer, but if I sync my iPhone, it looks like all my playlists will be deleted! Any idea how I can get my old iTunes library from my Vista pc copied over into my new iTunes on my Windows 7 computer?

Dell E1705, Windows 7

Posted on Jun 9, 2010 1:32 PM

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Answer 1

deasos

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Jun 9, 2010 2:07 PM in response to hoosierquilt

I just recently did this within the last week. I copied my entire "my Music" folder from my vista PC to my Windows 7 PC. I then installed iTunes on my windows 7 pc. When I started up iTunes, everything was there. If you already have iTunes installed on the new pc, you could copy your iTunes folder from your old music folder, and paste it into your new music folder on your new pc. This should keep all of your playlists intact.

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Answer 2

hoosierquilt Author

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Jun 9, 2010 2:19 PM in response to deasos

I'm not following what you did, deasos. You copied your "My Music" folder from inside of iTunes? And you pasted it where on your Windows 7 computer? And when you then installed iTunes onto your new computer, how did the program "know" to find this folder? Not clear to me how you did this? And, the naming conventions for how iTunes maps out music, ringtones, audibooks, videos, etc. on Windows 7 is different than on Vista, so I don't think I can simply replace the "Music" folder on my Windows 7 computer with the "Music" folder on my Vista computer.

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Answer 3

wjosten

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Jun 9, 2010 2:26 PM in response to hoosierquilt

Follow the directions here, scroll down:

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329

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Answer 4

deasos

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Jun 9, 2010 2:34 PM in response to hoosierquilt

My apologies, let me clarify: In Vista, you have a folder named Music. In that folder you have another folder named iTunes. That is the folder that you want to take from your Vista pc and place it into your windows 7 pc in the Music folder. Sorry to use the 'My Music' name. I think it was called that a long time ago.

As long as you have kept all of your music within that iTunes folder, everything should transfer over. I did it using an external hard drive and i didn't run into any problems.

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Answer 5

hoosierquilt Author

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Jun 9, 2010 3:18 PM in response to wjosten

These instructions are for an iPod. Can you drag and drop the iTunes music folder onto an iPhone? I tried, and it does not appear that you can do this. Nothing happens - no file transfer window, nothing. And, the option to Paste is greyed out as well. Perhaps these instructions only work for iPods??

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Answer 6

wjosten

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95,321 points

Jun 9, 2010 3:23 PM in response to hoosierquilt

Sorry, read through this. These are excellent instructions:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/

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Answer 7

hoosierquilt Author

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Jun 9, 2010 4:43 PM in response to deasos

Thanks, deasos. I'll give this a try. I'm going to uninstall my iTunes on my new computer, paste my iTunes music folder inside my "Music" folder and hope that iTunes recognizes it, and will figure out how to rename the "Music" folder inside to "Media".

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Answer 8

hoosierquilt Author

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Jun 9, 2010 4:46 PM in response to wjosten

Ah...yeah. That article has WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION. Directions are totally not clear at all to me. I really don't want to know the "why" behind any of this (can you tell I'm a little frustrated at this point, lol!) Tried to follow this, but could not tease out the exact steps at all. Way, way too much superfluous fluff. I need numbers steps. I'm going to try to paste in my iTunes Music folder into my Windows 7 Music folder, and see if iTunes can figure this out with a re-install. If not, "I'll be back" as the saying goes...

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Answer 9

hoosierquilt Author

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Jun 9, 2010 5:54 PM in response to deasos

Just wanted to give you an update, deasos: I had to re-download my iTunes installation file, as there must have been one update since I had originally downloaded it to my new computer just a couple of months ago, but after one failed attempt, your suggestion worked perfectly! Thanks so much! Whew, finally!

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