Itunes to a new computer

[HeXen]

My wife has Itunes setup very specifically, she spent a long time getting her music exactly so and if anything differs it will erase and sync her ipod. I got her a new laptop so I need to switch it over exactly as configured.
Is there a way to do that? I just want to make sure that when she plugs in her ipod, it won't have to erase and sync again or mess up her lists or however she has it configured.

 

[BuCkDoG]

Just make sure you have another account setup and select the appropriate options in order to sync and move what you want. Its actually very simple. Good Luck!

 

[ViRGE]

From the computer side of matters, you should just be able to copy over her music folder (assuming that's where all of her music is) and get away with it.

That said, it's still a good idea to export your Library and Playlists first just in case you need clean copies of those files.

 

[HeXen]

Just make sure you have another account setup and select the appropriate options in order to sync and move what you want. Its actually very simple. Good Luck!

I don't follow exactly. Could you be more specific? I don't know anything at all about Itunes really, I used it to move PDF's to my Ipad and that's about it.

From the computer side of matters, you should just be able to copy over her music folder (assuming that's where all of her music is) and get away with it.

That said, it's still a good idea to export your Library and Playlists first just in case you need clean copies of those files.

I think that's what I tried to do when I last had to reinstall Windows and it totally screwed it making her have to redo everything, she raged on me for days. Copying the folders only keeps the music itself but you still have to import it....I need to figure out what data file Itunes uses that remembers all of the configurations and settings within it.
She keeps specific songs in specific folders and things like that where Itunes wants to take all those songs and put them into a genre or something like that. So it's not a matter of just importing the folders again, I would need to configure Itunes itself to say, this song goes here...etc. She has gigs and gigs of music so I'm not sure how she has it all setup exactly, I just know my ass is in for it if she has to spend hours trying to remember how it was.

Is there any program that will copy an installed Windows app like Itunes including registry entries and place them back when needed?

 

[Kadarin]

I have iTunes Match, so my process is just get new computer, log into iTunes with my account, and everything syncs automatically. Including playlists.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Export the library. But I just expect a new library to mean a total resync. Apple never seemed to figure out the moving from one computer to another thing. It's a bloody nightmare...and it's why my macbook is now the main system, sync music to the phone, iTunes match everywhere else.

 

[ViRGE]

Is there any program that will copy an installed Windows app like Itunes including registry entries and place them back when needed?

From what OS to what OS? Windows Easy Transfer should be able to move everything in one go; the music folder, the registry, and the AppData folder. That's how I did my transfer when doing a fresh install of Win8, and as far as I can remember I swear everything came back exactly as it was (though RA may be right about requiring a total resync).

 

[manly]

Export the library. But I just expect a new library to mean a total resync. Apple never seemed to figure out the moving from one computer to another thing. It's a bloody nightmare...and it's why my macbook is now the main system, sync music to the phone, iTunes match everywhere else.

that's odd to say, Mac OS X has had pretty good user migration during an OS upgrade for about a decade now.

Okay, so the OP is referring to Windows. I don't think the library metadata is in the Registry. It's within the iTunes library folder, wherever that lives. Probably something like %HOMEPATH%\My Documents\My Music\iTunes

To make matters worse, it sounds like Hexen is saying it's not just the metadata. But custom folders outside of iTunes management. Honestly for 95% of the population, manually managing files is a PITA but that's a separate discussion. 😉

 

[JackBurton]

I have iTunes Match, so my process is just get new computer, log into iTunes with my account, and everything syncs automatically. Including playlists.

Exactly. Why do people make things so difficult?

 

[HeXen]

From what OS to what OS? Windows Easy Transfer should be able to move everything in one go; the music folder, the registry, and the AppData folder. That's how I did my transfer when doing a fresh install of Win8, and as far as I can remember I swear everything came back exactly as it was (though RA may be right about requiring a total resync).

W7 to W8 but afaik, it installs the same. So I'll give that a shot. I'll also backup all the Itunes folders I can find just in case and try to copy over but if that doesn't work either then guess she'll just have to be mad and get over it cause her current laptop is on deaths door.
thanks.

Exactly. Why do people make things so difficult?

Cause I'm not gonna pay $25 a year for the service, that's why.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Exactly. Why do people make things so difficult?

Because iTunes match takes your perfectly good 320k (or higher) MP3 files and makes them 256k variable AAC files. You're at the mercy of their encoding quality.

 

[RampantAndroid]

that's odd to say, Mac OS X has had pretty good user migration during an OS upgrade for about a decade now.

Okay, so the OP is referring to Windows. I don't think the library metadata is in the Registry. It's within the iTunes library folder, wherever that lives. Probably something like %HOMEPATH%\My Documents\My Music\iTunes

To make matters worse, it sounds like Hexen is saying it's not just the metadata. But custom folders outside of iTunes management. Honestly for 95% of the population, manually managing files is a PITA but that's a separate discussion. 😉

I just know going from Windows to OSX there was no way to convince iTunes to not resync. Also, if you drag a file twice into iTunes, it's added twice. What the hell...

 

[Koing]

I just know going from Windows to OSX there was no way to convince iTunes to not resync. Also, if you drag a file twice into iTunes, it's added twice. What the hell...

Makes sense brah.

OP either spend hrs trying to fix it?
Have wife rage on you for a few days?
Or pay the $25 and be done with it.

I say it's $25 well spent for the aggro you suffered last time.

Good luck!

Koing

 

[manly]

I just know going from Windows to OSX there was no way to convince iTunes to not resync. Also, if you drag a file twice into iTunes, it's added twice. What the hell...

I've never tried migrating iTunes from Win to OS X, so I can understand the challenge. I'm guessing Google is your friend if it had to be done successfully. 😉

I'm pretty sure if you buy a Mac at the Apple Store, they'll transfer your PC's "data" over for free. I don't know if they'll do it if you bought a Mac from an authorized reseller, but I sort of doubt it (like how they limit One to One training to in Store Mac purchasers only).