iPad & iTunes - moving "home computer" to a second machine

[TangoWhiskey]

Calling all iStuff gurus:

So, when I got my iPad, I initially installed iTunes and sync'd my iPad using my work laptop (I was on the road). Now, I've installed iTunes on my home computer, and want to make the desktop machine be the one my iPad considers it's "primary". I've founds lots of articles about syncing music and video files--I don't care about those (I don't have any music or videos or photos on my iPad yet, at least not enough to care about).

I've authorized both machines to my iTunes account. Per this Apple article, I selected "Erase and Sync" when I connected my iPad, to 'delete the music library on your device and make the new computer its "home" computer'.

So far so good. If I select my iPad, and go to the Apps tab, I can see my current configuration of applications, but the screen where you'd move apps around is grayed out, presumably because "Sync Apps" is not checked. (see screen shot below)

If I do check that box, it warns me that 'all existing apps on my iPad will be deleted and replaced by apps from this iTunes library.'

This concerns me--I don't want to lose the apps I've purchased or downloaded, their data, or how I configured them. I do, however, want this computer to be my 'home' and allow me to manage my apps and such.

If I click the 'sync apps' button, am I going to lose ForeFlight, my charts, etc?

If so, how do I sync my apps from their current configuration to the new computer? Can I use the backup from my other machine and import it into the new one?

Remember, I care NOTHING about the music/video/podcasts--it's the Apps that I want the new machine to let me manage.

 

[gkainz]

"call apple support" but really, I'm serious on this one (because I don't know - I don't do iTunes store and don't have an iPad) ... especially when the price of an "oh crap" is losing apps

 

[jason]

The easiest way is to just copy the ENTIRE iTunes folder from the old computer
and drop it into place on the new computer.

 

[Everskyward]

The easiest way is to just copy the ENTIRE iTunes folder from the old computer
and drop it into place on the new computer.

Won't that erase his current iTunes folder? I get the feeling his "new" computer isn't brand new, just the one he has at home.

I just recently moved my iTunes folder from one computer to another and it worked great but the computer I was moving it to is brand new (yes I bought an iMac) so it didn't have music or other files in the library to begin with.

 

[rpadula]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 ?

 

[jason]

Won't that erase his current iTunes folder? I get the feeling his "new" computer isn't brand new, just the one he has at home.

I just recently moved my iTunes folder from one computer to another and it worked great but the computer I was moving it to is brand new (yes I bought an iMac) so it didn't have music or other files in the library to begin with.

Yes, but I guess that I assume that you'd only want to sync with one computer and you'd want the library that you've been using. That's how they're designed to be used.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Thanks, Jason. Moving everything from iTunes worked... though it took me three tries because I didn't realize you meant from my iTunes Library folder (My Music\iTunes); I thought you meant from Program Files and the iTunes folder that is under \Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\iTunes.

 

[Everskyward]

I have a follow-up question. Before I moved my iTunes folder from my "old" computer to my "new" one I consolidated my iTunes library as in this screen.

Then I copied the whole iTunes folder to the "new" computer as recommended. This worked well, and all the music that was scattered around other folders on the "old" computer got moved too. They are all in one neat folder on the "new" computer. What I want to know is if I can now delete some of those music files which were in other folders on the "old" computer in order to free up space since they have been copied to the iTunes media folder on the "old" computer when I consolidated them.

 

[denverpilot]

Were they copied or moved? I thought the consolidation feature moved them and deleted the original after putting them in the consolidated folder. But I'll admit, I've never checked because I don't let stuff get that scattered.

 

[Everskyward]

Were they copied or moved? I thought the consolidation feature moved them and deleted the original after putting them in the consolidated folder. But I'll admit, I've never checked because I don't let stuff get that scattered.

They were copied. The original files are still in the original folders but there is a new copy in the iTunes media folder.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Welcome to the dumbest file transfer method ever invented. It has dumbfounded and astounded me since Day One with the iPad, some seven months ago.

I've tried to picture the meeting where an Apple software engineer first proposed this uber-lame system to management. It goes something like this:

Software Engineer: "Dudes! I've got this great idea for file management on our new iPad!"

Board of Directors: "Okay, let's hear it."

SE: "We will utilize iTunes -- you know, our music library software? -- to install and delete apps and files from the iPad!"

BofD: "Okay...go on...."

SE: "First, you'll have to download iTunes onto our competitor's product, an IBM-based laptop computer! Well, it works on our computers, too, but they represent only 10% of the total on the market -- so most people will have to use our competitor's product."

"Then, you'll have to connect the iPad to the laptop, using our special connecting cord. Then...."

BofD: "Wait a minute...why do they have to install iTunes on a LAPTOP in order to delete files on the iPad again?"

SE: "Well, because the iPad can't do that by itself. It's a display-er of information, not a process-er of information"

BofD: "What? Why, after we've spent $150 million dollars developing the thing, is the iPad incapable of....oh, never mind. Go on..."

SE: "So, anyway, the user will install iTunes on their computer, connect the iPad to it via our proprietary connecting cable, and then they will synch everything from one to the other!"

BofD: "Synch? That can take a really, really long time. And why are we making them use a MUSIC system to install and/or delete photos, video, and apps? Why can't the user just view the iPad like a disk drive on the PC, and use Windows Explorer to delete/add files?"

SE: "What? Are you CRAZY? We can't let USERS have access to their data in that way! They will muck everything up! We need them to synch EVERYTHING, and then use iTunes to selectively add or delete stuff!"

BofD: "And this makes sense to you?"

SE: "Absolutely! Hordes of Apple-Heads will LOVE this system! It removes all thought and/or responsibility from their lives, and makes it completely impossible to screw up their iPad!"

BofD: " *Sigh* Okay. Well, you guys were right with the iPod. Go ahead, make it so!"

And so, you are now stuck with an iPad -- one of the greatest tools to ever enter the cockpit -- which is saddled with the worst operating system since Windows 3.0. It is so bad, we've stopped using the iPad for everything except passive viewing of charts, newspapers, and magazines.

Rumor has it that Apple is planning to fix this clusterf*&k in their new OS, to be released sometime next year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Everskyward]

I never had problems with iTunes on a PC. I don't have an iPad but I didn't have trouble syncing an iPhone.

A few months ago I got a wild hare to buy a MacBook Air. I liked it so much that when my PC desktop died I replaced it with an iMac. So I've gone from all PC to mostly Mac in the space of a few months. You are right. I have learned that Macs want to manage your files for you, especially in iTunes and Aperture (photo program). This was unusual and somewhat confusing for me at first but I've grown to like it. However, if you are someone who wants to manually move your files around instead of working within the program I can see how you would be always fighting the system.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

"Why can't the user just view the iPad like a disk drive on the PC, and use Windows Explorer to delete/add files?"

SE: "What? Are you CRAZY? We can't let USERS have access to their data in that way! They will muck everything up!

I don't think this has anything to do with the users.

The iOS filesystem makes each app play in its own little sandbox, which completely and effectively kills most types of malware.

Do you remember the justification behind not allowing third-party apps on the iPhone at first? They wanted to make sure that everyone knew damn well that the iPhone worked REALLY well before they let anyone else mess it up. Makes you want to but when you look at their results, well...