Syncing my iTunes to match my iPhone

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Level 1

4 points

Syncing my iTunes to match my iPhone

I had a catastrophic hard drive failure last week and my husband has now built a new machine for me. I had everything backed up to our home server, so I didn't lose anything -- but I've loaded iTunes (Windows 7 - 64 bit, if that makes a difference) and I when I connect my iPhone 3Gs to my computer and sync, it doesn't actually sync and my iTunes is still a factory load (i.e., no apps, no playlists, no library in iTunes).

If I go to individual tabs inmy iPhone when it is connected to iTunes and check the "sync" checkbox for each category (music, apps, etc.) - it gives me a warning that it's going to overwrite my iPhone (i.e., do you really want to erase all your existing playlists with what is in iTunes...?).

So, how do I sync my phone backwards into iTunes rather than syncing iTunes to my phone - if that makes sense?

I moved my music folder from our server back-up to my new machine last night, so it's all there, but not sure how to restore everything from the back-up -- if that's what I need to do.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, or if there is a thread that already covers this, kindly point me to it!

Thanks!

Diane

iPhone 3GS, Windows 7

Posted on Jul 1, 2011 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 1, 2011 6:31 AM in response to DianeY

You can only sync from iTunes to the iPhone and not the other way round.

If you restored your music folder on your new computer, iTunes should show all your media content.

Then you should be able to plug in your iPhone and sync to it again.

If you did not backup your whole system (e.g. with TimeMachine), you might miss a few files and you therefore might need to redo the sync settings in iTunes.

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Answer 2

Jul 1, 2011 6:36 AM in response to DianeY

probe_droid is right, iTunes syncing is only one way, computer to device. If you purchased some of your music from iTunes you can get that back by pluging the iPhone into iTunes (make sure cancle sync, as it will try to replace everything on the phone). Then go to "File > Transfer Purchases for [iPhone]". Music not purchases iTunes will not sync back.

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Answer 3

DianeY Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 1, 2011 5:51 PM in response to daguerratype

Bleh. Okay, so how do I point my new iTunes load (which is empty) to my manually backed-up folder from my old machine and make it recognize/catalog everything? I tried going to Preferences - Advanced and pointing the media folder location to the folder where everything is backed up - but nothing happened. I then went to File - Library - Organize Library and "consolidate" - but nothing happened. Do I have to delete the default directory created by iTunes, or am I way off the mark?

I'd just really like to preserve my play lists, ratings, album art, lyrics and play counts, if at all possible.

Thanks!!

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Answer 4

Jul 1, 2011 6:10 PM in response to DianeY

Pointing iTunes to the backup in the Advanced settings should do it. Did you Backup the entire iTunes folder or just the iTunes Music folder? It needs all hte .plist and .xml stuff in the iTunes folder to recognize it a vaild iTunes library. If you do have that stuff you can try olding down "option" ("alt" on Windows) when clicking on the iTunes icon. It will give you the option to choose a library location, from there point it to you backup folder.

Again, that will only work if you still have the .plist and .xml files. Without those all your old playlist are gone, those files are were that infomation is saved.

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Answer 5

DianeY Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 1, 2011 7:05 PM in response to daguerratype

Hi there - yep, I backed up the entire folder and the .plist and .xml files are there - I just select that directory and nothing happens. This is so frustrating - everything is there, I just don't understand why this isn't working!

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Answer 6

Jul 1, 2011 7:10 PM in response to DianeY

Try pointing directly to the iTunes Library.xml.

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