iTunes deletes music in sync to new computer...

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iTunes deletes music in sync to new computer...

I have to be honest this is less of a question and more just me desperate for help. I have tried to sync my iPod (4th gen) to my new laptop with USB cable, and upon doing so, music I had downloaded had been deleted from my iPod. 105 songs to 72 songs, 6 hours of audio to 4. This was a mix of songs I had purchased off iTunes and music I downloaded from the computer. I didn't know this would happen, searching forums had told me it wouldn't delete anything that hadn't came from iTunes, let alone actual PURCHASED iTunes songs. So I tried to go and restore the iPod's backup, buuut of course it tells me there is not enough storage on the iPod to back up. What's the point of the restoration if it's not even going to work, I mean its not like I'm adding more to what I originally had, right? Anyways if you can't tell, I'm a little upset. I would appreciate if anyone had help or advice that would be useful in this situation. I suppose I have two questions:

If I were to delete, say, all my music, or something to open up storage on the iPod, and then attempt to restore the backup, would it re-download what I had deleted, or would that end up lost as well?

Or, if I were to get the original computer running again, where I had downloaded the music in the first place, would I be able to use a flash-drive to transfer the data to the new computer, and then transfer that to the iPod, all without losing data in the process?

I'd appreciate the help, thanks.

iPod touch, iOS 6.1.6, null

Posted on Mar 20, 2016 12:25 AM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Mar 21, 2016 5:15 PM in response to Dav117

Dav117 wrote:

.... searching forums had told me it wouldn't delete anything that hadn't came from iTunes, let alone actual PURCHASED iTunes songs.

I don't know how you reached that conclusion. In general syncing an Apple device with a new library replaces the content on the device with what is in the library. There is a warning asking you to confirm that you want to erase and sync the device. The word erase should make it clear.

Hopefully you can get the old computer fired up for long enough to recover the library. Failing that perhaps you can run its hard drive externally to retrieve the data.

Migrate an iTunes library from one computer to another

These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.

Method 1

Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.

Method 2

Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.

Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.

I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.

Note if you have iOS devices and haven't moved your contacts and calendar items across then you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should merge the existing data from the device.

If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See Make a split library portable.

Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.

tt2

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Answer 2

Dav117 Author

Level 1

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Mar 21, 2016 1:03 PM in response to turingtest2

If I were to follow method 1, would I need to install the synctoy on both computers, first syncing the old library to an external drive, and then syncing that external drive to the new computer?

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Mar 21, 2016 4:07 PM in response to Dav117

Yes. You could manually copy the iTunes folder to the external on the first machine if you're going to be using it for the last time, but if there is any hint that the drive is flaky SyncToy beats Windows Explorer hands down. Explorer will quit if it comes across a file it cannot read without telling you which file, SyncToy will carry on and report any failures. You can also run SyncToy again to try to get access to anything not already copied. With Explorer you'd have to manually locate any missing files.

tt2

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