Bob Bell

Hi, I am using a Sony Vaio VGN-NS30E Laptop with Windows Vista sp1 and iTunes version 9 installed again. Two weeks ago I had a virus which required me to restore the computer back to its original factory settings which I duly did. I re-downloaded iTunes with great difficulty, and now find that after attempting to restore my library which I am certain I saved, that it does not show up on screen. I have tried the various solutions on the Apple iTunes site, go to apps, purchased music etc. I also asked for a list of my purchases which comes up but does not list all the songs downloaded, I have also received a message on the iTunes main page asking if I would like to purchase the remainder of the albums from which I have selected songs from at a reduced price, which tells me that Apple do somewhere have a record of purchased songs. I have read that you are entitled to a once of free download of all purchases made from iTunes. For the life of me I cannot find how to do this, so I require someone to tell me step by step how to do this as all instructions from the help forums I have received have ended in failure. As you can see I am of the older computer users and do not have the specialist skills required to do what I am asking for, so please if you can help me ensure it is as I said a step by step instruction to re-download my purchases. Should you work for the Apple Organisation could you please put in a request to the company that they install their once of offer to redownload lost music in the support area and once it has been utilised it will remove itself from the screen therefor enabling users to know that they have used this priviledge and cannot do so again. I will be very grateful for help given to repair this problem as will no doubt millions of others.

sinclair_tm

Apple has been known on rare occasions allow a user to re download their songs, but official Apple policy is that they do not. How have you tried restoring your iTunes files backup?

Bob Bell

Hello Mr Sinclair, I thank you for your swift reply and would now like to ask you how I backup the files. Remember that I am not a computer wizard and that I have not a clue of how to do this, however in the meantime I will try and attempt to carry out a restoring of the files wherever they are. Please remember that I have brought my system back to its original factory settings by restoring the C Drive so everything that I had downloaded was erased. Will this make a difference.

sinclair_tm

You stated that you tried to restore your library, which you were certain you saved. I want to know how you saved it. If it was a save library command, or export library command from the File menu, that doesn't save your music files, just the playlist info. Unless you copied the music files to another hard drive, or burned them to CD/DVD, they are all lost, and there is no way to restore them. This is why iTunes reminds you to backup your files when you purchase them.

Bob Bell

I thank you for your help. One last question, I have read that you are entitled to one free re-download of purchased music from iTunes, is this true and if so how do I go about this as these links that they have to do this I have found that I'm unable to access them or have I just thrown £90 down the drain. I did burn some of the songs to CD's but not all of them and as you see there are quite a few for that amount of money. Once again thank you very much for your help.

sinclair_tm

Where did you read that you get one free redownload? Like I said, Apple's official answer is you can only download a song when you buy it, and no other time.

Bob Bell

Thanks for all the help it was very much appreciated.