Laptop Hard drive failure :-(

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Laptop Hard drive failure :-(

Hi,
Just before XMas my hardrive on my laptop crashed and has been replaced. Unfortunately I hadnt got around to making a backup. I didnt think this was a major issue as other than iTunes there was very little on the laptop as I mostly store things in the cloud. I'd assumed the iTunes data was OK as ATM everything is on my phone, but I've now spent 3 days trying to workout how to sync the data back to the PC.
Also, as my PC was Authorized previously I've now had to authorize it again with the new hard drive, I assume that counts as 1 of my 5 devices, is there anyway to un-authorize the original?

thx

Andy

Inspiron, Windows 7

Posted on Dec 28, 2010 8:02 AM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Dec 28, 2010 8:11 AM in response to aleeivel

is there anyway to un-authorize the original?

Not now, sorry. Regarding the rest, follow these instructions:

By design, the iphone will sync itunes content with one computer at a time. Any attempt to sync such content with a second computer will result in ALL itunes content being first erased from your phone & then replaced with the content from the second computer. This is a design feature and cannot be overridden. Because you replaced your hard drive, your phone, sees your computer as a "new" computer. The itunes content sync is one way: computer to phone. If you have photos that were synced to your phone or music ripped on your own that were not backed up, you will first have to extract them from your phone using third party software, before you do anything else:

http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/index.php

Once you've done that, do the following in the order specified:

1. Disable auto sync when an ipod/iphone is connected under preferences>devices in itunes(under the edit menu if using Windows).
2. Make sure you have one contact & one event in the supported applications on your computer. 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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