HELP with iTunes

[becca-becca]

We have all of our music (both purchased and our own uploads from our own CD's) on one computer. This computer is starting to have some problems and I really don't want to re-purchase the music, movies, etc. that are in my iTunes library. I have tried backing it up and moving it, but I am doing something wrong. Can anyone either give me directions or guide me to a place that has step by step directions on how to do this? Surely it is doable. It would be ridiculous to have to lose everthing you have purchased from the iTunes store.

TIA!!!

 

[Ava]

I don't know if all iPods do this, I have a Touch, but when I plug my iPod into my computer, if there are purchased items on my iPod that are not on the computer, it asks me if I want to copy them onto the computer.

You can also "authorize" more than one computer to access your iTunes account, so anything purchased on that account is downloaded onto each authorized computer.

 

[becca-becca]

Is there any way to copy the entire library?

As a last resort, I can do what was suggested above, to retain my purchased music and movies, but I also spent quite a bit of time uploading my CD's into iTunes and would like to move or copy the entire library to my new computer and possibly an externad hard drive.

 

[becca-becca]

How many computers are authorized to access you iTunes account? We have a laptop we use for traveling which is a cheap computer so I would not want it to be a main iTunes computer, but it would be nice as a backup and for traveling. But, that would mean three on the same account until my first computer dies. Is that allowable?

 

[Ava]

You can have up to 5 authorized computers on one account.

If you have an external hard drive, can you just copy the folder where your music is stored onto that, and then transfer it from there onto your new computer? I'm not a computer expert but I think that might work, if you can connect the external HD to both computers either via USB or wireless.

 

[Dictator]

there are programs you can download that allow you to copy the files from your ipod to your new computer.

 

[becca-becca]

Are you allowed to post the names of the programs?

 

[msmayor]

I just copied the whole iTunes folder to an external hard drive. It didn't require any special program, just the "copy" command through Windows.

 

[Dictator]

one of the programs was ephpod.
Although, I'm told that now there's a way to do it without this program. But I haven't had an ipod in a few years.
If you have an external HD, that'd be the easiest way. If not, use ephpod.

 

[jedijill]

Easiest thing to do is to back up your Itunes library to an external hard drive. This has saved my butt on numerous occasions.

If you haven't backed up your library and need to move files from your Ipod back to your computer, I have used PodUtil very successfully. It will pull your files off and store them on your hard drive. It is a free program (although they ask for donations--totally worth it!) and easy to use. Just google podutil and you will find the guy's website.

HTH

Jill in CO