iPod touch PC problem - ipod wants to delete all apps upon sync with new itunes

[akat34]

I hope someone can help me with a PC/Itunes issue.

Computer problems (virus/malware/windows update) forced me to reformat my c-drive and put a new OS on it (windows xp). Fortunately, I had my music backed up onto an external hard drive.

When I reinstalled iTunes onto my 'new' computer and tried to sync my ipod touch, it asked me if I wanted to delete all of my apps. It only gave me a button to indicate "yes, go ahead". So, I tried uninstalling iTunes and starting over.

Once again, installed itunes, tried to sync the ipod and it wanted to delete everything on it. I uninstalled itunes again.

Can anyone please give me advice on how to set everything back up again? I don't know why I'm having this weird issue, and I want to do it correctly. So far, I've only gotten answers other places of "get a new ipod and start over" or "get a mac". I'm looking for more useful answers.

Of course, I'm not the most tech-saavy, and that's probably why I'm asking others for advice. I know it's April 1st today, and I would REALLY APPRECIATE not getting an "April Fool's" kind of answer.

I hope someone out there can help. Thank you.

 

[Acidglaze]

When you re-installed iTunes, did you redirect to your pre-existing library? Did you sign back into the iTunes account before syncing?

If you did and that didn't work, probably the easiest thing to do would be to copy your old itunes library folder (with the library files) and replace the new one that gets created when itunes is freshly installed. This should make iTunes think it's still the old version you had before you wiped and re-installed.

I thought iTunes kept track of app purchases and you could redownload whenever you wanted. Are you concerned about losing the free apps? Can't you just download them again after the synch?

Edit--- Saw that you had the music backed up. Was it just the music files or did you have your iTunes folder backed up? The iTunes folder would have those old library files if you backed up the entire folder.

 

[JediMeister]

Assuming that the Apps were not backed up, only the music, here are the steps to proceed so they aren't deleted on sync. Go into the iTunes preferences and disable the automatic sync. Then connect the iPod. Go to the Store menu and authorize the computer using your Apple ID. Then from the File menu, select the option to Transfer Purchases. This should transfer the applications back to the computer, and when you sync the next time around they will not be deleted from the iPod because they are now on the computer and seen by iTunes.

 

[akat34]

Thank you boyh for your input. I appreciate you taking the time.

It seems I have a bigger problem now. I uninstalled Itunes, then reinstalled it. Then, a windows update completely froze my computer and wouldn't let me fix the problem or even do a system restore. Once again, I had to wipe the c drive and reinstall Windows XP.

When I tried to install itunes again, I got a message saying that "files were missing or corrupted" and that itunes would not operate. It gave me an option to try and fix the problem myself by installing some extra files (.dil or something). Did that. Still got the same message.

I guess I'll have to go out and buy a copy of windows7 if itunes doesn't work with the xp that I have (or just buy a new computer if I want to use itunes again) Sounds like I am S.O.L. until then.

 

[nspire52]

This seems to be a good place to ask my question? I want to sync my IE favorites with my ipod touch. When I tried to sync, Itunes also wanted to ask me if I wanted to uninstall skype. What did I do wrong? Thanks Jerry

 

[M.K.Jaron]

NOW alll my apps and games have been removed! perfect!! Sync, what's the hell..!!