Songs Don't Copy into iTunes Library

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Songs Don't Copy into iTunes Library

Hi;

I just bought myself a 32GB 3Gs iPhone, which is an awesome piece of equipment. Using a third-party application, I copied the music from my older 30GB iPod Photo to an external hard drive, which I then connected to a Windows 7 PC. My iPod Photo shows about 2220 songs, but for some reason I was only able to sync 1,911 songs.

There were also some errors indicating that the PC I was copying the files to is "not authorized." So I then deauthorized both my iMac G4 and an older Powerbook G3, and I still was unable to copy those songs (about 100 or so).

So my question is (a) Why won't the rest of the songs copy over, and (b) How do I enable those that need authorization to copy over?

Thanks!
Warren T.

iMac G4, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Jul 6, 2010 9:30 AM

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Answer 1

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Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jul 6, 2010 9:47 AM in response to Warren T.

There were also some errors indicating that the PC I was copying the files to is "not authorized."

This was while copying using iTunes? Do you mean trying to sync to the iPod? How were you doing this copying?

How do I enable those that need authorization to copy over?

If you attempt to play one of the songs in iTunes, it will ask for your iTunesID and password to authorize the computer.

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Answer 2

Warren T. Author

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16 points

Jul 6, 2010 11:32 AM in response to Chris CA

Hi, Chris:

Thanks for your reply. I had first connected a USB hard drive and copied the files into my iTunes library. Then I connected my iPhone to the PC and started to sync them, when the authorization errors came up. I was not trying to play the songs, only copy them from iTunes to my iPhone. I did authorize the PC I am using to store my iTunes, but it still would not allow me to transfer them.

The other problem I experienced was that I had used various login names at different times in the past, which only further compounds the issue. Some error messages indicate that "such and such" account has 5 computers authorized, while another named account may have 4, etc.

Also, what would explain the missing songs that did not indicate any authorization issues?

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jul 6, 2010 11:44 AM in response to Warren T.

I had first connected a USB hard drive and copied the files into my iTunes library.

How/what did you do to copy them into the iTunes library?

I was not trying to play the songs, only copy them from iTunes to my iPhone. I did authorize the PC I am using to store my iTunes, but it still would not allow me to transfer them.

Do the songs play in iTunes?

The other problem I experienced was that I had used various login names at different times in the past,

So you have created different iTunes accounts?
I highly recommend you do NOT do that, which may help prevent the problems you seem to now be having. Pick one and stick with it.
You can up date your iTunes account info if you move or get a new a new ISP.

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Answer 4

Warren T. Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 6, 2010 12:49 PM in response to Chris CA

Hi again:

I imported the songs into my iTunes library by first copying a folder from my external HD into the iTunes subfolder of the Music folder of my PC. Then I went through the steps of importing the songs by selecting the respective folder.

The songs play in iTunes, except those that I do not seem to have "rights" to. I paid for them; I'm not sure why I cannot transfer them over to my new device.

I couldn't agree with you more about not having multiple accounts. This was something I must have done in the past as I had changed email accounts or whatever. I didn't even realize it till I started geting the various error messages. I have been using only one account for the past several years.

WT

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jul 6, 2010 1:00 PM in response to Warren T.

I'm not sure why I cannot transfer them over to my new device.

Because the account they were purchased with is not authorized on your computer.

*Do these songs play in iTunes?*

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Answer 6

Warren T. Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 6, 2010 1:16 PM in response to Chris CA

Hey, Chris:

The songs won't play in iTunes since they need to be authorized.

Warren

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Answer 7

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jul 6, 2010 2:09 PM in response to Warren T.

When you attempt to play them, it should pop up a window allowing you to authorize them.

In iTunes, select one of the files, right click - get info.
The Summary tab will show you the account it was purchased with.

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Answer 8

Warren T. Author

Level 1

16 points

Jul 7, 2010 6:26 AM in response to Chris CA

Good morning, Chris:

Thanks for your advice. Yes, the window pops up asking me to authorize them; when I attempt to I get the familiar <<you are authorized to play it on xx computers>>, etc. The PC I'm working with has been authorized, by the way. Do I need to deauthorize any of my other devices (my iPod Nano, for instance) maybe?

I will definitely try the right-click thing and see if I can correct the situation from there.

Regards,
Warren

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Answer 9

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jul 7, 2010 9:05 AM in response to Warren T.

See this -> iTunes repeatedly prompts to authorize computer to play iTunes Store purchases

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