iTunes Library is gone when external HD crashed. Can I recover from Match?

Question

iTunes Library is gone when external HD crashed. Can I recover from Match?

My external HD that I have had iTunes operating from had a catastrophic head failure and NO data can recovered because the head destroyed my disk! I had thousands of songs and converted movies (3.5TB's worth!) ALL lost. I did have iTunes match, and most of my songs are MATCHED on iCloud.

I'm afraid to open up a new empty iTunes folder because iTunes may search my empty library and dump my matched songs if it can't find any!

Question? Is my iCloud library saved? Will I be able to use all my uploaded songs even if my computer's iTunes library has no songs in it to match?

Question? Should I dare open up a new iTunes folder that is empty? It will prompt me to match my library!

This is a catastrophe!!! Years of work lost...

Lesson to be learned? Back up! Back up!!!

Kevin

iMac, iOS 8.1.1, External HD failed

Posted on Dec 7, 2014 2:40 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 7, 2014 3:18 PM in response to kevinfromkaneohe

Hi

When you create a new blank library then turn on match, you wil see all the tracks that are in iTunes match. Each track will have a download icon. You should be able to download those tracks. You will only lose tracks if you opt to delete from cloud.

Jim

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 7, 2014 5:37 PM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Thank you Jim,

I did exactly you said and they were all there. Did not empty the library!

The only downside is a majority of my files were apple lossless and I was not able to recover those in the pure lossless format but I was able to recover most everything.

I am wondering if I should NOT download all my songs and just keep them all on iTunes Cloud server? This would save a bunch of HD space and seems to be the way iCloud is designed.

Thanks again!

Kevin

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 7, 2014 11:24 PM in response to kevinfromkaneohe

HI

I suggest that you download all tracks FAQ: Why iTunes Match Can Not Be Used as a Backup

jim

Reply