Had itunes library on old computer. Bought a new computer, (still Windows, not Mac) plugged in iphone, got itunes & saw library was empty. Clld Apple Tech support (1-800-694-7466) & was advised they could recover only my purchased songs, not any I imported from my own CD's. They explained a new library had to be created each time I ditched one computer & bought another, due to the legal/copyright agreemts, etc. they have with record companies on itunes. They walked me thru how to create a new library, (Apple needs to walk you thru this) (Apple can recreate the purchased songs for you also.) My new library only consisted of my previously purchased songs. Any previous ringtones & playlists could not be recovered & put on the new library. I'd also have to re import any CD music to recreate my full old library.
Thought I was OK till I tried to: sync my iphone, transfer a newly bought ringtone via drag & drop method & transfer a newly created playlist via drag & drop (got a circle w/line thru it, couldn't utilize the drag/drop transfer feature .) Noticed my phone wasn't actually syncing or backing up any data either. Plugged in my phone, got it to show up as an icon on the library, clicked on the phone icon & brought up a "Summary Window". Under Summary, tried every variation to sync phone, kept getting message that phone was "synced to another library, could only be synced to one, to sync, would need to erase contents of iphone & replace." DIDN'TWANT TO DO THIS, AS IF YOU'RE SYNCING UNDER THE SUMMARY TAB, THIS WILL ERASE ALL DATA ON PHONE.
Researched problem via Web, tried all recommendations, none worked. MY phone was "authorized" on new library, so that wasn't the issue. decided it was time to call Apple. Apple tech support offered 2 ways, via phone(see 1st paragraph for tech support #) or at Apple store. Either way, one has to make an appointment, this isn't a big deal. Have an Apple store near us, so called, made appointment & went in.
Here's what Apple tech said: If u change computers, must create a new library, due to music copyright laws on itunes. I had the new library, I now needed to "sync" my phone properly to it. Tech said I could sync certain areas of phone, like contacts, without erasing my contact info on my phone or erasing all phone info. However, with the music section, I had to erase phone music content & replace it w/my new library, if I wanted my phone "synced" to this new library.
My phone had some imported CD music on it, plus custom ringtones that would be wiped out; however, the bulk of the music was purchased & identical to that on my new library. I decided to "go for it" & replace the music on my phone w/the new library music, in order to "sync" my phone w/this new library.
Here's how the Apple Tech told me to do it, taking small steps. These instructions are different from what I saw online:
1) Bring up ur itunes library. Plug in your phone & wait for it to appear as aN ICON under "devices" on the main page of the library (click on music to get to the main page)
2)Then click on your phone icon (under devices). A window will pop up, labeled "Summary". DON'T DO ANYTHING IN THIS "SUMMARY TAB", AS SYNCING IN THIS TAB WILL WIPE OUT ALL YOUR PHONE DATA, NOT JUST THE MUSIC. Look across the top & you'll see different tabs named: Summary, Info, Apps, Ringtones, Music, Movies, TV shows, Podcasts, etc.
3)Click on the "Info" tab. This will be an area you can safely experiment to "resync" your phone to the new library without much risk. In the Info tab, click on small box next to word CONTACT, then click on "all contacts". Click on any contact applicationsthat drop down & are on your computer, even if u have no contact info on ur computer in this application. Then you'll see a choice to MERGE INFO or REPLACE INFO. Click on MERGE INFO (not replace info). Click on apply, then click on Sync. Your contact data will begin to be backed up (look at top of screen), then synced with the new library. When done, (about 5 min or less) your contact info on your phone should be fine, &ur phone will be synced for contacts on the new library.
MUSIC SYNC: For ur phone to be synced for Music on the new library, you have to replace the music on ur phone w/that of the new library. Tech told me there is no other way. For me, I would lose my imported CD songs, some playlists & ringtones, but decided it was worth it to be synced up with the new library. If u want to do this, here's how. On the top of the window, click on the MUSIC TAB. Click on the box next to the word Music, then click on all music, then click on APPLY, then SYNC. You will get a message that your MUSIC DATA WILL BE DELETED & REPLACED. THIS WILL OCCUR IF YOU click on SYNC. BUT, YOU'RE ONLY REPLACING YOUR MUSIC DATA ON YOUR PHONE, NOT ALL OF THE DATA ON YOUR PHONE. If you click sync, your phone will begin to be backed up, then data will be erased & replaced with music on new library. Once complete, you'll have to replace any custom ringtones or imported CD music on the library, then transfer to your phone. The transfer will occur via "syncing" process, as your phone is now synced to your new library.
thanks alot