Been having trouble with my computer for a while. With the latest update on iTunes, I lost access to iTunes. The update didn't take. Multiple attempts to restore iTunes have been unsuccessful. My question is, with a new up to date computer on the way, will I be able to download iTunes and just plug my devices in and sync them to the new PC. Thanks for the help.
iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 7.1.2
No. Copy the entire iTunes folder from User's Music on the old computer to User's Music on the new one. Do this before installing iTunes so that it picks up your library automatically. If for some reason that is no longer possible see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2
No. Copy the entire iTunes folder from User's Music on the old computer to User's Music on the new one. Do this before installing iTunes so that it picks up your library automatically. If for some reason that is no longer possible see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2
Very Cool. I have access to Explorer on the old PC so it should be no problem to copy my old folder to a flash drive and on to the new PC. I think I already have my music on a flash drive all ready. Although I don't think the folder was called User's Music. I will check tonight or tomorrow when I have access to the old PC. I will see where the folder is and when I get the new PC lit up on Saturday I will stick it in that same folder it came out of if it is the same on Win 8.1 as it is in XP.
Using another one of your posts I was able to download iTunes 11 to my newer laptop and then upgrade it to 12.1. I have that available and may remove it and try your procedure there if the new PC gives me any trouble.
When I tried to upgrade to 12.1 on the old PC the first time I got an error which lead to the 11 download there. It says I can't access my current library and there I sit, no access to iTunes, a new PC on the way. I wanted to upgrade anyways so this was a good excuse.
Do you think I will have any trouble deauthorizing the old PC when the new one gets going or is that just automatic when switching to a new PC?
Thank you so very much for your time and effort and I look forward to the journey.
Slim
<User's Music> is shorthand for either:
C:\Documents and Settings\{Your username goes here}\My Documents\My Music or
C:\Users\{Your username goes here}\Music
and refers to the Music or My Music folder in your user profile. Your iTunes library folder is normally placed inside <User's Music>.
Sometimes an iTunes update will make changes to the structure of the iTunes database. Newer versions of iTunes can read the older database, but the reverse isn't always true. So when you install a later version, then try to revert to an earlier one, you may also need to restore a pre-upgrade copy of the database as shown in Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.
To deauthorize a computer using iTunes on the machine itself you must be able to open iTunes. If it cannot read your current library your can use the steps above to restore one that works, or hold down shift as you start iTunes and use the option to create a new library so that you can access the deauthorization controls, or you could deauthorize all computers using the working installation on the new computer, then authorize that computer again.
tt2
So far so good but not all the way yet. I did exactly as you said and the new iTunes, when opened, had my existing library there. It looks like everything came across; apps, movies, music, etc. But, when I open an album and click on a song to play it, iTunes becomes unresponsive. Nothing works, including closing down the program. When I go to Task Manager it lists iTunes as "Not Responding". I loaded a previously unloaded CD into iTunes and it played just fine. I am not going to try to sync my iPhone, iPad, or iPod till I get this working. I have authorized this computer, which is a new PC, Windows 8 (latest version). The library is from my old computer which I have not deauthorized yet.
As a brief aside, after I got off work I was playing a little with iTunes. When I displayed Playlists and clicked on a song it gave me the error that the song could not be located. For what that is worth.
Thanks for the help so far.
Slim
The "missing file" error happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, one of its parent folders, or the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place. In the case of a library moved from one system to another there are also potential permissions issues. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to Get Info, then click No when asked to try to locate the track. (Due to a bug in iTunes 12 you currently have to say No twice!) Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, a folder renamed, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions. If the difference between the two paths is an additional Music folder in one path then this is a layout issue. I can explain further if that is the case.
In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps with Get Info but this time click Locate and browse to the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links.
If another application like Windows Media Player has moved/renamed the files then the chances are that subtle differences in naming strategies will make it hard to restore the media to the precise path that iTunes is expecting. In such cases, as long as the missing files can be found somewhere, you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes. See this post for an explanation of how it works.
I may be able to give some more focused advice once there is a clearer picture of where things are.
tt2
My most humblest apologies. When I did as you suggested before I copied and pasted only part of my music to the Music folder. On further inspection in File Explorer (Win 8.1) I discovered only a partial list. I have since copied the full list of my music from my thumb drive to the Music Folder and it appears to work fine. I have checked from Playlist and My Music. I am so sorry for any inconvenience that I might have caused.
Now to try to connect a device and sync to the new computer. I will let you know how it works out.
Well I synced my iPhone and it appears to be working great. I am unwilling to try to sync my iPod and iPad right now because I don't want to take the chance of losing anything before next week so I will try it then. I truly believe that I should have no further problems.
To recap, following TT2's instructions, I was able to load a new version of iTunes to my new computer and make everything work. I strongly urge everyone to at least keep a copy of all their music on at least a thumb/flash/USB drive in order to load it into Music before loading the newest version of iTunes to their computer. This ain't anything I figured out on my own, I was taught.
My first back up was to my computer as suggested to me by someone else whose opinion I trust.
TT2, if you are ever in Seattle, I owe you and yours dinner. Just passing through; I know a real nice place right next to the airport. I don't know how you would get in touch with me but I am on Facebook and I ride mountain bikes.
Again, my sincerest gratitude.
Slim
You're welcome. 🙂
I recommend you Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy. This process backs up the library files as well as the media, which is necessary if you want to avoid the dreaded warning: "The <device> is synced with another library. Do you want to erase this <device> and sync to this library?". The process also allows for efficient updates of your backup set, copying over only the changes, and if you preview each update also gives you an opportunity to spot and reverse any unwanted change in your library such as the accidental deletion of an album.
tt2
Lost access to iTunes on old computer
