Will I lose iTunes?

Hi there,

Looking for some advice please.

my friend has a 2009 MacBook Pro running Yosemite.

it is only used for iTunes. It is running slowly and iTunes is playing up. I have suggested a factory reset as it has all sorts of rubbish on it!

My question is, if I don’t back it up, as there’s nothing to save on it, will I be able to access iTunes when I log back in after reset with the Apple ID?

Thanks for any advice.

Earlier displays & monitors

Posted on Jun 6, 2023 6:21 AM

Reply
15 replies

Jun 6, 2023 8:53 AM in response to 26bosman

iTunes is an application (that no longer exists as such on newer computers). If you are only using it for streaming then what is being used is stored online. If, however, you are also playing music sourced on the local drive and do not have it backed up then you might well lose files.


As you can see, the understanding of this depends upon exact terminology.


There's then the bigger question about "resetting" a computer. A 2009 computer could have multiple reasons for slowing down (one being the modern world is designed for faster things). If, for example, the reason is a failing hard drive, then resetting it won't help with that. A drive could also slow down if it is getting nearly full, in which case trashing unused files or moving them to an archive drive might help without a major system reset. Frankly, unless you have really abused the system files then a system re-install is more a Windows solution than anything for a Mac. I have had system versions I have run for 15 years with never resetting.

Jun 6, 2023 8:53 AM in response to 26bosman

Again, "iTunes" means an application itself. It gets confusing when it is used to mean anything to do with Apple accounts and music and movies and half a dozes other things that people use it for. If by "iTunes" you mean audio files then please say audio files so I know exactly to what you are referring.


If you're worried about the app itself then it will be reinstalled as long as you reinstall Yosemite. If your means of "resetting" involves erasing the computer then anything else on the computer will be gone. Frankly I don't think any time in the past 30 years have I seen anybody mention re-installing a Mac OS version on top of the same version already on the computer. Windows, yes.


As mentioned earlier, drives are cheap. I don't know what size you have in that 2009 model but you could probably even pick up a flash drive that would hold the stuff. Not that I really trust flash drives for true backup purposes but I have used a pair for temporary use. If you don't have a backup for what you wish to do now then you really are living life on the edge as far as those files that seems to be using for professional purposes.


If all you have on this computer are audio files then you could just make a backup of those.

Jun 6, 2023 8:53 AM in response to Limnos

Sincere apologies for generalising “iTunes”. I am talking about “audio files” stored in the iTunes application I believe.

If “iTunes” is reinstalled with Yosemite, when I enter the Apple ID, will all the “Audio Files” be accessible again or would I need to restore from a back up.

Sorry to appear an idiot but I know very little about these things and come here for help and guidance.

Jun 6, 2023 8:53 AM in response to 26bosman

They will only reappear if you are subscribed to Apple Music or Match (I believe Apple still offers that though you almost never hear about it anymore). Even so, if they originated as higher resolution files on your computer, Apple will only store their version of them as 256k AAC. So if it was me, I would make my own local backup. I don't use Apple's services but if I did I would just consider them a convenience, and not as a true backup service. I think in its fine print Apple even says something similar.



Jun 6, 2023 8:53 AM in response to 26bosman

Yes, but I may ask this to be relocated to the iTunes forum (if it still exists since Apple did away with iTunes a few years ago) where somebody may be more familiar with your setup. I still use iTunes 7.5 from about 16 years ago, plus I have highly configured it to store things where I want them to be stored and I haven't used the Yosemite version. Almost everything for mine is in the Music folder, but some special scripts are in my user library folder (which on newer system versions than the one I use, Apple decided to hide from regular users).


If you are going to use an older mac OS then I am afraid you are going to have to learn how to do this kind of thing because Apple's thinking is you should always be running their newest system software and buying the equipment that enables you to do so. :-/

Question marked as Helpful

Jun 7, 2023 11:09 PM in response to 26bosman

If you have a computer with anything at all important stored on it, you really should have at least two backups, preferably with at least one stored-off site.


One off-site: In case a thief steals your computer (and any backup drive stored next to it), or a fire burns down your house (and any backup drive stored in it).


Running a hard drive from 2009 to 2023 without any backups at all is living on the knife's edge. All that it would take is one mechanical failure, or one good lightning strike, and everything would be gone.

Jun 9, 2023 9:30 AM in response to Servant of Cats

Hi Guys,

Well, I took the plunge and factory reset my friends old MacBook Pro as she wasn’t bothered about losing the Audio Files she had on iTunes.

I reinstalled Yosemite, logged into iTunes and everything was still there! Result!!!

However, (there’s always a but). When I log into safari I am able to enter a value into the search bar but a get a greyed screen with a white line across it and can’t click on any links in the search.

Anyone got any ideas?


Will I lose iTunes?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.