need to sync my ipad without deleting apps.

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need to sync my ipad without deleting apps.

ok, so i've been put in chrage of updating my moms iPad. so i plugged it into her comp and ran iTunes, thinking it'd be easy. apparently not. it gave me the standard "this iPad can only be synced with one library" message, even though I'm signed into her account on her computer, which is authorized for her itunes account. the only thing I can think of, is maybe the iPad is synced to her old windows laptop, and now it doesnt want to sync with the mac one.

my dilemma is, I dont want to sync with the newer computer if it means that will delete the angry birds saves on the ipad, which my younger brother has spent probably weeks of his life building up. if i do that everyone will be livid. so, how do I fix? i'm about to update iTunes and see if its just a bug, but im wondering if that doesnt work, would I be able to reinstall iTunes on the old computer and set it up, so that the apps may update to that one, then see if there's a way to transfer an iTunes backup from one computer to the next?

*hates the iTunes sync cartel* if the above doesn't work, would there be any chance this could be fixed when iOS 5 comes out, assuming i refuse the 4.3.3 update now and wait? the iPad is on 4.2.1 at the moment, by the way.

Posted on Jul 11, 2011 11:29 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 11, 2011 12:37 PM in response to Demarisw

In regards to iTunes content, an iPad can be synced with an iTunes on a single computer only and photos can be transferred from a single computer only. When transferring iTunes content and photos from another computer including syncing with an empty iTunes library, all iTunes content and photos transferred from another computer will be erased from the iPad first.

You can transfer her iTunes library from her old computer that was used to sync with her iPad to her new computer per the instructions included with this link.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

Or iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store from an iPod, iPad, or iPhone, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store only.

First you need to authorize her new computer with her iTunes account with iTunes if this has not already been done. With the iPad connected and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of her iPad. Make sure all 3rd party apps on the iPad are now in her iTunes library on her new computer - namely this game everyone would be so distraught over if the game status were lost.

After this, create a backup for her iPad without syncing on the new computer. Right-click or Control-Click with a Mac on the iPad under Devices in the iTunes source list. At the menu window that appears, select Back Up.

Before the first sync, under the Apps tab for the iPad sync preferences with iTunes, make sure Sync Apps is selected and all apps below are selected.

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