Q: I can't access my iTunes library from my brand new iMac. I had to change my apple id when I set up my computer. Does this have any ... more
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Jul 24, 2012 3:07 PMby JoelandRhonda,My old computer is dead. The hard drive died. Isn't all of my music on iTunes? I have my iPod but it doesn't have all of my music on it since I hadn't synced it lately. Also, my old AppleId wasn't an email address so it wouldn't let me sign in until I changed the Id. I also have all of my music on the Google cloud. Can I use that to put my music back on iTunes? My new computer is the first Mac that I've ever owned. Should I be able to see all my devices from my iTunes account? I have two iPods, an iPod shuffle, and my old PC (the one that died) as iTunes devices. I don't see them when I access my account although it does show the correct number of computers as authorized. I thought all I would have to do is sign into iTunes on my new computer and my library would be there. I have over 6,000 songs, so I'm kind of freaking out!
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Jul 24, 2012 6:40 PMby Limnos,Helpful"iTunes" is on your computer. By the way. iTunes is really the application. Your iTunes collection which is a series of media files and the database which is what you see when you open the application are all on the computer's hard drive. Unless you subscribe to Match then that is their only location (or other backup). One exception is purchases from the iTunes store which you may be able to download again. Still, all your playlists, etc. were on the computer's hard drive in the dead machine.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
As for gettng mucic off Google, I know nothing about that and you would have to refer to help on a Google support site.
For getting music off your iPod, things aren't really set up that way. It is designed with you maintaining proper backups of your computers. You can get music off but what you have to do and purchase will depend upon the music source.
Some of the information below has subsequently been summarized and duplicated by turingtest2 in the document: Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
Your i-device was not designed for unique storage of your media. It is not a backup device and media transfer was designed for you maintaining a master copy of your media on a computer which is itself properly backed up against loss. Syncing is one way, computer to device, updating the device content to the content on the computer, not updating or restoring content on a computer. The exception is iTunes Store purchased content.
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 - only media purchased from iTunes Store
For transferring other items from an i-device to a computer you will have to use third party commercial software. Examples (check the web for others; this is not an exhaustive listing, nor do I have any idea if they are any good):
- Senuti - http://www.fadingred.com/senuti/
- Phoneview - http://www.ecamm.com/mac/phoneview/
- MusicRescue - http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/products/musicrescue/
- Sharepod (free) - http://download.cnet.com/SharePod/3000-2141_4-10794489.html?tag=mncol;2 - Windows
- Snowfox/iMedia - http://www.mac-videoconverter.com/imedia-transfer-mac.html - Mac & PC
- iexplorer (free) - http://www.macroplant.com/iexplorer/ - Mac&PC
- Yamipod (free) - http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/downloads/ - PC, Linux, Mac [Still updated for use on newer devices? No edits to site since 2010.]
- 2010 Post by Zevoneer: iPod media recovery options - https://discussions.apple.com/message/11624224 - this is an older post and many of the links are also for old posts, so bear this in mind when reading them.Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141 - dates from 2008 and some outdated information now.
Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/ - Information about use in disk mode pertains only to older model iPods.
Get Your Music Off of Your iPod - http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Get_Your_Music_Off_of_Your_iPod - I am not sure but this may only work with some models and not newer Touch, iPhone, or iPad.
Additional information here https://discussions.apple.com/message/18324797
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Jul 25, 2012 8:23 AMby JoelandRhonda,Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. Luckily, the Google Cloud and the Amazon Cloud are both very user and iTunes friendly so I am currently in the process of recovering most of my music (looks like only about 20 songs may be lost). Once I get my music all back on iTunes I will probably be spending some money to put it all on the Cloud. Again, thank you so much, your help is very much appreciated, and this entire experience has taught me a lot about backing things up and learning more about my storage options.
