Iphone synching with new Imac that has not yet been synched

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Iphone synching with new Imac that has not yet been synched

This is my first post, so hello all.

I have just purchased a new Imac, I have had an iphone 3GS for a few months now and already downloaded music straight from itunes onto my iphone. I am now trying to synch my iphone with my new Imac but it is not recognised. I don't want to lose any of the music and pictures i have on my phone as anyone wouldn't.

I do not have the updated firmware for my iphone as i cannot connect it to itunes.

I rang apple and they were trying to charge me quite a bit of money for the support, which I thought was unfair as I have just spent a lot of money with them recently. So I thought I would try this first.

Can anyone help with this issue?

Much appreciated.

imac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 9, 2010 9:28 AM

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Answer 1

roaminggnome

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106,365 points

Oct 9, 2010 9:47 AM in response to mrw85

Iphone will sync to one computer at a time. If you sync to another it will erase the current content and replace with content from the new computer.

This is why it is very important to move all of the info/music/pics/docs/etc from your old computer, or your backup copy, to the new computer before you sync.

If you had a Mac before, then Migration assistant will move everything over for you.

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Answer 2

mrw85 Author

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Oct 9, 2010 9:49 AM in response to roaminggnome

The thing is is that I never synched it with any PC or mac in the first place. So I think I am kind of stuck.

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Answer 3

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,365 points

Oct 9, 2010 9:56 AM in response to mrw85

Why would you never sync it?

You may be able to transfer purchases ( File>Transfer Purchases -without syncing).

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Answer 4

wjosten

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95,321 points

Oct 9, 2010 9:54 AM in response to mrw85

Do this in the order specified:

Run system update to insure ALL software on your Mac is up to date. Make sure iTunes is up to date. Then:

1. Disable auto sync when an ipod/iphone is connected under preferences, in itunes.
2. Make sure you have one contact & one event in iCal & Address Book on your Mac. The entries can be fake, doesn't matter, the important point is that these programs not be empty.
3. Connect your phone, itunes running, do not sync at this point.
4. Store>Authorize this computer.
5. File>Transfer Purchases(To make sure all purchased content on your phone will be in your itunes library).
6. Right click in the device pane & select reset warnings.
7. Right click again and select backup.
8. Right click again & select restore from backup, select the backup you just made. When prompted to create another backup, decline.
9. This MUST be followed by a sync to restore your itunes content, which you select from the various tabs, You'll get a popup regarding your contacts & calendars asking to merge or replace, select merge.

You should be good to go.

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Answer 5

mrw85 Author

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Oct 9, 2010 10:17 AM in response to wjosten

I have successfully got to point 3, however i connect my iPhone and it has the charging symbol in the corner however the iMac doesn't seem to recognise it.

The reason I never synched my iphone in the first place was because i didn't have or need a pc/mac as I was training and moving around a lot so never needed one, but I did want an iPhone.

Is there anything else I can do? Or is there some way to see on the iMac what is connected to it like you could with a pc, i.e. through USB or devices?

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Answer 6

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 9, 2010 12:51 PM in response to mrw85

Is it your computer or iTunes that does not see your phone? With itunes running, plug the USB cable into the phone's dock connector, then plug into a USB port directly on the computer, what happens? Does it appear in the left device pane?

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