Before I could do a back up of both iPod and iPhone my computer gave up the ghost. I now have a new computer but does this mean that I have lost all my data on iTunes? I know I can obviously redownload all my apps but have I lost music that I have paid for? Also can I back up all 3 devices on the same iTunes on the same computer. I have managed to back up my very new iPad but am reluctant to connect the other 2 devices without help.
All iTunes content on your iPhone and on each device should be in your iTunes library on your computer - all music, movies, tv shows, podcasts, and 3rd party apps, and your iTunes library should be included with your computer's backup along with all other important data. Did you lose all important data on your computer's hard drive, or just your iTunes library.
The iPhone, iPod, and iPad are not designed or intended to be used as a backup storage device.
iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store from an iPod, iPhone, and iPad, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store only.
First you need to authorize your new computer with your iTunes account with iTunes. With your iPhone connected and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPhone. You can do the same with your iPad if an iPod Touch and there is any iTunes content downloaded with the iPad Touch that is different from your iPhone.
If you aren't currently maintaining a backup for all important data on your computer stored on an external drive or some other external media used for backup purposes only or you do but your iTunes library is not currently included with your computer's backup, now is a good time to start. The iTunes library is easy - just copy the iTunes named folder located in your Music folder. A hard drive can fail at any time - a partial or a complete failure without any warning regardless the age of the hard drive. I've had new hard drives fail within 6 months after purchasing a new computer. The first time that happened I didn't maintain a backup at the time - I lost everything. The 2nd time this happened many years later, I had a complete backup of all my data and nothing was lost.
