Ghost recovery/iTunes question

Due to a few problems I had i'm going to have to replace my OS with a ghost image I took a few months ago. The windows install is stuffed, but everything else on the disk is fine AFAIK. I have two questions, if anyone can help.

1) I don't have a ghost boot disk, but I have the ghost exe and a BartPE boot disk. I figure i'll run Windows from the CD, find the ghost exe on one of my drives, run it, back up the current system drive, then replace it with a working image. Does this sound like a good plan?

2) I recently installed iTunes and have purchased a bunch of apps for my iPod Touch, as well as paying for the OS3 upgrade. I have no backups of whatever files it makes yet, but as I said all the files are still on the system drive. Given i'll have a clean machine what do I need to do to make sure I still have access to all my apps? Install iTunes, restore some files, then point it at them? I think they're in

c:\documents and settings\tim\applicati​on data\apple

Cant help with #1. But with I tunes you have 2 choices. If your iPod/Iphone is big enough, just load everything on to it. When you recover, iTunes will sync again and pull off anything it needs. ITunes and the ipod/phone sync in both directions. The result will be the same as if you purchase/download over the air, the next time you sync, it gets put on the computer as well.

The second is iTunes keeps track of what you have purchased. And you can re-download at no cost.

Just dont forget to DE authorize the computer before you wipe it out. You get only 5 active installs on the same account before you run out of liscences. Many people have wasted one or two by reinstalling on the same computer without deauthorizing first.

Lol... OK, new thread. Sorry to year about XP. It's usually pretty hearty.

I use Drive XML and just make a copy of my OS HDD onto another HDD. Later, you can install Drive XML onto the new drive and search the old archived (saved) image for stuff you want. I find it super simple that way. Sometimes I keep the image for months until I"m sure I've gotten everything out of it that I want. BartPE is fine and Drive XML is fully BartPE able as well - plus it's free.

When you installed iTunes did you check "Let iTunes manage my music."? If so, then most of your work is done. All you need to do is copy your iTune's folder to a safe place, reinstall iTunes then tell iTune's where the library is by holding down the Shift Key while you open iTunes. I have about 10,000 songs and movies so it takes a little while to load them back up.

Mark1 wrote in post #8399431
Cant help with #1. But with I tunes you have 2 choices. If your iPod/Iphone is big enough, just load everything on to it. When you recover, iTunes will sync again and pull off anything it needs. ITunes and the ipod/phone sync in both directions. The result will be the same as if you purchase/download over the air, the next time you sync, it gets put on the computer as well.

The second is iTunes keeps track of what you have purchased. And you can re-download at no cost.

Just dont forget to DE authorize the computer before you wipe it out. You get only 5 active installs on the same account before you run out of liscences. Many people have wasted one or two by reinstalling on the same computer without deauthorizing first.

1. That won't work with anything that was not purchased - at least it hasn't for me. I have many personal CD's ripped and it won't copy them back to my computer. iTunes knows

2. No, iTune's should recognize that this is still the same computer and not take up another license. iTune's like XP and Vista derive their number from the machine so if nothing changes all should be well. Also, Apple allows users once per year to clear all 5 accounts and start anew. It's a god send to many users (and me ). I have installed iTunes and Quick Time Pro three times on this machine with no problem btw - no license problems I should say.

MaxxuM wrote in post #8399453
When you installed iTunes did you check "Let iTunes manage my music."? If so, then most of your work is done. All you need to do is copy your iTune's folder to a safe place, reinstall iTunes then tell iTune's where the library is by holding down the Shift Key while you open iTunes. I have about 10,000 songs and movies so it takes a little while to load them back up.

Gread idea! I assumed he had only 1 HDD for some reason. And a format would wipe everything out. Side point. You do not have to have that checked IF you keep everything in one folder. Just point it where that folder is after install and it re imports everything. Ends up being the same thing, only difference is the check mark.

tim wrote in post #8399375
1) I don't have a ghost boot disk, but I have the ghost exe and a BartPE boot disk. I figure i'll run Windows from the CD, find the ghost exe on one of my drives, run it, back up the current system drive, then replace it with a working image. Does this sound like a good plan?

that should work fine - if not sing out & I'll send you a Bart CD with Ghost on it.
In terms of the order you do things, boot from CD & back up yer doc&settings profile first, before doing the ghost restore (that's what you meant to say right?)

Mark1 wrote in post #8399514
Gread idea! I assumed he had only 1 HDD for some reason. And a format would wipe everything out. Side point. You do not have to have that checked IF you keep everything in one folder. Just point it where that folder is after install and it re imports everything. Ends up being the same thing, only difference is the check mark.

Yep, should work just fine. When iTune's keeps it all in order all your settings will remain the same (each songs settings, stars and so on). I'm not sure if iTune's will know these things otherwise.

Thanks for the advice everyone

I can't deauthorise as the OS is toast, but since I have five a year that's fine I've only bought apps, no music or movies, and iTunes doesn't manage it. I'll just import the music again once I have iTunes reinstalled. So I guess the conclusion is just reinstall iTunes, log into the same account, sync, and it'll all just work?

My computer has four drives - C is OS and apps, D is personal data/music/movies, E is commercial photography, F is swap/cache. I have the ghost app and image so I won't be changing to DriveImageXML, but it's a good idea if I didn't have ghost already. And Duncan thanks for the offer, I think i'll manage with what I have but I appreciate it

Oh the iPod is a 2G 16GB touch, plenty of space on it.

As a related question, how should I configure/back up iTunes? Do I just back up c:\documents and settings\tim\Applicati​on Data\Apple\iTunes ? That'll save all my apps, OS upgrades, etc? I think i've already told it to put purchased music onto my D drive in its own folder.

I would personally start on a fresh drive and just image everything over to another drive with enough space. The important thing with iTune's is to keep the library file and the files below it (folder placement) the same. Otherwise, you could just drag the entire folder onto iTunes and it will reindex the entire music folder and create new Library files. Again, I would move the original library off the drive and start fresh. If you reinstall over the same drive a lot of 'crud' will be left over and Windows will create new user and system drive folders which will just take up space and may confuse you later as to which is the old and new folders.

iTune's puts the security info in the music files so wherever the file goes so does the security. You could theoretically send me a music file you purchased and place into my iTunes, authorize my computer and play it. Plus (+ by the song) means you can play the song in any software because it's open (no DRM). So, yes, you could just move the entire iTune's folder anywhere you want. Personally, I like iTune's to 'copy' vs 'leave in place' so I know I'll have two copies. When it's done moving all the files I make a sweep to make sure all is well. Sometimes iTunes 'brings back' stuff that was deleted. On my last iTune's move it brought back pod casts and movies I had deleted long ago - really weird.

MaxxuM wrote in post #8399490
1. That won't work with anything that was not purchased - at least it hasn't for me. I have many personal CD's ripped and it won't copy them back to my computer. iTunes knows .

Mmm I thought I had done this. Once it is in I tunes, it would sync it both ways. Im going to have to test this. Just so I know for sure, just in case.

MaxxuM wrote in post #8399490
2. No, iTune's should recognize that this is still the same computer and not take up another license. iTune's like XP and Vista derive their number from the machine so if nothing changes all should be well. Also, Apple allows users once per year to clear all 5 accounts and start anew. It's a god send to many users (and me ). I have installed iTunes and Quick Time Pro three times on this machine with no problem btw - no license problems I should say.

It should! But does not. I am one of thoes that has wasted a install on a format/reinstall. You can deauthorize one then authorice another. But can not have more than 5 at once. and if you waste one like we did, there is no way to deauthorize it. So you now have 4 for that account. At least I had no luck recovering the one I wasted. If they have changed the policy I am going to call again!

Mark1 wrote in post #8399818
Mmm I thought I had done this. Once it is in I tunes, it would sync it both ways. Im going to have to test this. Just so I know for sure, just in case.

I'd like to hear back on that test. I know "Transfer Purchases from iTune's" will not move non-purchased music.

Mark1 wrote in post #8399818
It should! But does not. I am one of thoes that has wasted a install on a format/reinstall. You can deauthorize one then authorice another. But can not have more than 5 at once. and if you waste one like we did, there is no way to deauthorize it. So you now have 4 for that account. At least I had no luck recovering the one I wasted. If they have changed the policy I am going to call again!

I accidentally did it the first time I did a reinstall and I still have 4 authorized computers. I'm going to test again on Windows 7 on this same computer and see what happens.

Either way, Tim's in a pickle because he cannot access the OS anymore. What he has on his system can no longer go onto his iPod. You can always authorize another computer for a full 5 then clear it in user preferences and start again. I have 1 authorization that is a wash but never felt the need to go clear them and I have 3 personal/work computers

There also are programs available for XP to at least go in an pull your songs off the ipod even if Itunes wont sync both ways. Not so sure about the applications though!

I swear when I authorized my laptop for the first time it took everything off the ipod......If i can remember ill test it tomarrow! Im going to deleate an album I ripped and have synced to the iPod, and get it out of iTunes. The sync the iPod again. We will see. If it does not, I can just rip it again. Ill post here my results.

The "Transfer Purchased" will not work for everything. It is the same as saying "move the even numbered files". The odd ones do not get moved.

Let me be clear: music is not an issue. It's on its own drive, no drm, and i've imported it into iTunes. The music's safe, i'll import it again later. I have no ratings or playlists, and I don't care if it loses everything to do with the music.

MaxxuM wrote in post #8399793
I would personally start on a fresh drive and just image everything over to another drive with enough space. The important thing with iTune's is to keep the library file and the files below it (folder placement) the same. Otherwise, you could just drag the entire folder onto iTunes and it will reindex the entire music folder and create new Library files. Again, I would move the original library off the drive and start fresh. If you reinstall over the same drive a lot of 'crud' will be left over and Windows will create new user and system drive folders which will just take up space and may confuse you later as to which is the old and new folders.

iTune's puts the security info in the music files so wherever the file goes so does the security. You could theoretically send me a music file you purchased and place into my iTunes, authorize my computer and play it. Plus (+ by the song) means you can play the song in any software because it's open (no DRM). So, yes, you could just move the entire iTune's folder anywhere you want. Personally, I like iTune's to 'copy' vs 'leave in place' so I know I'll have two copies. When it's done moving all the files I make a sweep to make sure all is well. Sometimes iTunes 'brings back' stuff that was deleted. On my last iTune's move it brought back pod casts and movies I had deleted long ago - really weird.

Writing a ghost image to a drive destroys whatever's there, so there will be no old files. That's why i'll back it up first.

I don't even know what an iTunes library is. Given I only care about apps and OS updates do I just install iTunes and let it sync, or do I have to restore something from my old drive first?

tim wrote in post #8399953
Let me be clear: music is not an issue. It's on its own drive, no drm, and i've imported it into iTunes. The music's safe, i'll import it again later. I have no ratings or playlists, and I don't care if it loses everything to do with the music.

Writing a ghost image to a drive destroys whatever's there, so there will be no old files. That's why i'll back it up first.

I don't even know what an iTunes library is. Given I only care about apps and OS updates do I just install iTunes and let it sync, or do I have to restore something from my old drive first?

Yea, you should be fine. When I use Norton Ghost I make images onto a network drive. I'm not sure what version you're using but I think you're making a drive to drive copy not an image. Whatever the case, go with what you know.

For later reference I'll supply a pic of my library drive. I circled the folder you should move/copy (iTunes). I also circled the Library file and the App folder - both very important.

Think of the Library file like the LR Library. It's just a small database file that keeps track of all your music, pod casts, movies, apps and so on. Like I said, you can let iTunes manage your music if you want it all in the same place and move the folder wherever you want. Then hold Shift while iTunes opens and select the Library regardless of its location. I have mine on a drive to itself and my professional (clips, sound fx, etc...) on another drive. Just remember the three rules; backup, backup backup

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