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General discussion

Can you re-download songs on itunes after a format?

Feb 28, 2006 3:24PM PST

hey guys,

i need some help. i just had a huge crash on my harddrive and it really messed stuff up. now i normally back up my stuff every once in a while like a good person should, however i had just purchased some music on itunes a few weeks back, and since i hard to format my drive, it's now gone. Does anyone knowww.. will itunes let my download my songs again without payinggg.. orrrr.. am i in a bucket and have to pay again for music i've already paid for??

thanks guys!

Discussion is locked

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Sorry!
Feb 28, 2006 9:16PM PST

I didn't think you can re0download from the iTunes music store.

I went over to the apple support forums and they more or less say the same thing. However, if you have an iPod with the music on it, then you can recover the lost music and import it back into itunes.

Anyway, best of luck getting your music back, I hope you have not lost much.

Personaly, I tend to keep my Music Folder where iTunes works from off my computer - usualy on a usb hard disk Happy

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(NT) (NT) Hurray for DRM!!! NOT!
Mar 1, 2006 1:07AM PST
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Not usually possible
Feb 28, 2006 11:14PM PST

Apple normally says that once you download music you purchase, that's it. If you lose it, then you'll have to purchase it again. Now, I have seen and heard of a few cases where if you can convince them, they MAY let you get it again. I think it's on a case-by-case basis. But I wouldn't get my hopes up about it. I think it's a rarity when they do it. The last time I purchased music from iTMS (which was when I was trying to win that billionth song contest), I had gotten a popup that told me to make sure I back up my music.

-Terry

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re-downloading
Feb 28, 2006 11:41PM PST

yes, in a few cases people have been able to re-download content that was lost. I do now know what needs to happen for apple to let you but its very rare.

I believe they credit your account the value of the downloads and let you lose in the music store.

But I really would not get your hopes up Sad

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If you wish to succeed in life, you must back up your data.
Mar 1, 2006 12:27AM PST

If you wish to succeed in life, you must back up your data. I cannot stress that enough. Apple even warns you to make a backup copy of your download. I have had a number of my users ask me after their harddrives fail (home or work) can I get my bought music back. No, which...if you think about it could be one of the other major failings of online music besides DRM. If you bought a CD in the store, atleast you have that physical CD. Lost mp3...just bytes that are now gone.

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If you're lucky they'll do it once
Mar 1, 2006 2:54AM PST

I had a problem where my connection crapped out while I was downloading an episode of Lost and then when I went back to try over it said I laready had it.

Apple support responded the next day by reauthorising all the downloads I'd ever had to happen again. I just 'checked for purchased music' and it all came tumbling in. Of course it didn't redownload the few things I already had but it did redwonload the lost Lost.

So if you're nice and keep your nose clean, they may let you do it. No promises though.

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Apple has done it for me as well
Mar 1, 2006 4:26AM PST

I was able to redownload my music once as well. Just be polite and they should do it.

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Why wouldn't they always let you?
Mar 1, 2006 6:24AM PST

They've DRM'd the blankity blank files, why wouldn't they let you download the music you paid for a million times as long as you live by their DRM? Stupid DRM...

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they did it for me once as well
Mar 1, 2006 10:07AM PST

I don't understand their reasoning for not letting me download the song as much as I need, so I stopped buying from them. The one time they did do it, they made it out as they were doing me such a huge favor.