How do I transfer itunes to a new computer?

[olivia720]

I'm getting a new computer and I've been researching how to transfer my itunes on to the new computer. I don't know a ton about computers and it looks complicated. Help?

[sputnik]

are you pc or mac?

if mac, use time machine to back up your hard drive, then when you're setting up your new computer, import the back up and it'll set it up automatically.

if you're on pc just back up your itunes and then when you're setting up the new computer, hook the external hard drive up to the new computer, open itunes, go to 'file', then 'add to library' and then import your whole itunes library. it should copy your itunes so you don't lose any music or playlists or covers or anything but i'm on mac and i haven't used itunes on a pc in a couple of years so it might have changed.

[olivia720]

thanks sputnik!

[Novice]

If she's on a mac the iTunes folder is in the documents folder iirc all she needs to do is put it on a memory device and the import on to the new machine

[msdeb]

we have 3 computers all have the same iTunes on it. You add a computer to your account. i can't remember how i did it, but you can have 5 computers on one account, and all of the same music goes to your zune.
um, does that make sense? in my head it does

[Novice]

Oh yeah! Isn't it in the advanced tab? I never realised it did that!

[msdeb]

my daughter says its in the 'Store' tab, and you choose Authorize computer.

however, i don't know if this works for the songs that you didn't buy from itunes.

[olivia720]

Actually, I'm on a pc.

That would be great if I could just "add" another computer to the itunes account.

OK I tried it but I must be missing something. I went in the "store" tab and chose "authorize computer" (on the old computer), so I think I authorized the same computer? I'm on the new computer and just downloaded itunes and its importing all these weird songs. I think they're the free songs they give you? I tried to authorize this computer but it didn't seem to transfer any songs.

Right now I'm trying the "home sharing" in itunes.


Update: I got it to work by using the "home sharing" thing. thanks guys!

[msdeb]

Actually, I'm on a pc.

That would be great if I could just "add" another computer to the itunes account.

OK I tried it but I must be missing something. I went in the "store" tab and chose "authorize computer" (on the old computer), so I think I authorized the same computer? I'm on the new computer and just downloaded itunes and its importing all these weird songs. I think they're the free songs they give you? I tried to authorize this computer but it didn't seem to transfer any songs.

Right now I'm trying the "home sharing" in itunes.

i remember when we had issues doing it, and emailed tech support, and they emailed back super fast (less than 24 hours)

[Novice]

It shouldn't make any difference I'd your in a mac or a px.
Also somewhere on the hard drive is all your music you could just copy that across.

[AliceInWonderland]

wow sput, that was helpful!

i hate itunes and i hate my laptop w/ microsoft vista, im kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place

[sputnik]

^^^
glad i could be of help!
yeah, windows vista is why i switched to mac in the first place. i hear windows 7 is much better but i'm a mac-tard now and never going back.

[AliceInWonderland]

DAMNIT i need to switch, im not very brave though, it took me years to get a smart phone and now i want to switch or something b/c its a blackberry and keeps crashing and im too afraid to call and complain and ask and ugh! im lame

[sputnik]

alice, seriously, it took me like a day to get used to my mac. not even.

[AliceInWonderland]

OMG COOL mmm ok and you can transfer your crap from a laptop onto one of those?

(im sure the answer is yes )