Sync iphone to two computers without delete data

firstly you can do it - i know this because i am - see my previous post on how to do it - its pretty simple, duplicate your itunes folder.

I doubt this has anything to do with money etc as the ipod allows you to sync between different computers - the iphone doesn't. This I believe is to do with the complex nature of managing purchases and other info on the iphone.

The problem with having different computers managing the same iphone is that its easy to get them out of sync. When you do it will cause problems if you have any setting on automatic sync. You will find that applications/books/music get erased or added when you dont want them to.

So if you're cunning you can do it, but apple dont want you to because they've probably realised that the average user doesnt need to and the average user would get themselves into trouble if they did.

I was able to deauthorize my iTunes because my PC crashed and take out the HD where it's in an external dock.

Can I set up my iTunes account on my new laptop with the music library folder on the dock and sync my iPhone 4 without getting the data wiped from the iPhone?

The library and playlist files were all backed up into the iTunes music folder on the external drive and that's where I point iTunes to for the music folder.

Haven't synced iPhone yet.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Edit...

I have iTunes on Manual sync, never on auto sync.

The prior backups are not in the iTunes music folder just the music / media files.

I had my PC set up so C: has OS and programs and D: has all the files; the D: drive is the one that's in the portable dock. I think iTunes saved the iPhone backups on the C: drive.

Don't know why but the playlists are messed up so I'll have to reorganize everything later :(

Hi.

If you have your original library and your media it can be made to work. If it is not too late don't "import" any media. The aim should be to get your original library file working, as this is the one your device treats as "home", rather than building a new library from your recovered media. If it turns out that really isn't possible then I can suggest a way of getting your device hooked up to a new library (Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device) but that carries more risk of losing data.

Please describe what you mean by "playlists are messed" up. Where is your library now? Where is the media? What works? What doesn't?

tt2

Thanks, i don't mind synching my phone to a new comp (mine crashed suddenly :/) as i had my files. But i couldn't figure out how to save my apps. I did this on a mac as well, worked perfect 🙂

Not sure if I am replying to this the proper way since this is my first time in an Apple forum. I have found a work around to this that's simple and I've been doing it for quite sometime now. From what I understand when you try to add music to your iPod/iPhone on a different computer, it won't allow you to manually manage the music (drag & drop), because it has been synced/used on another computer. Basically the idea is that you would wan't to hook your iPod/iPhone up to any random computer & drag music to it.

What I do when I'm on a different computer is I check the option to "manually manage my music" & click apply. iTunes will let you know that the iPod/iPhone has been previously synced with another computer. I don't remember what comes after that because I just this second added music to my iPhone from another computer. I think you get one or two more pop up messages. But basically you unplug your iPod/iPhone the second it starts to sync. If you wait to long, your music will get deleted. When you plug back in your iPod/iPhone, the "manually manage my music" option should remain checked. If it isn't checked, repeat the process but don't be as quick pulling out the usb cable as you did the 1st time.

You son of a gun....................it worked for me..........Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worked for me too! I wonder if this will break when I do the iTunes 11 update.

****UPDATE****

Never mind, it ended up erasing my original music.

Oh my god...HUSTLE HARD your suggestion was RADICAL but IT WORKS!!! Now I don't have to do some hacking, changing plist or everything else, just drag and drop my music and it's all done, whatever the comp is!!

Thank you so much for sharing your great idea 🙂

Hustle Hard, thanks for keeping me sane!! Perfect solution!!

Hmm I thought I was quick enough, it ended up deleting all my music in my Iphone5. I was using Itunes11, perhaps it's the version? Ah well, this might just work for some but guess I'm one of the unlucky ones. Maybe back up your music before doing Hustle Hard's idea.

Its all about timing. I haven't tried it since the update of iTunes 11. But I'm pretty sure it should still work. I think Apple is way to controling over their devices & how one should be able to put music on it.

Oh my gosh! This worked perfectly...Thank you so much!

Sync iPhone with 2 Macs is pretty simple. When I want to sync my iPhone with my second machine (MacBook) I first sync my iTunes folders via Chronosync to make sure that both computers have the same data. Then I sync my iPhone with my MacBook. The same is true the other way round. Coming back from a trip where I used my MacBook only, I re-sync via Chronosync and can sync my iPhone with my Mac mini.

BTW I do the same with my Aperture Library so that both libraries are perfectly synched.

Or follow these steps.

http://fehlis.blogspot.ca/2011/09/syncing-your-iphone-with-multiple.html

Works for me.