itunes Reinstalled Windows, now can not sync without losing all data!

[Elliot B.]

I had Windows 7 and my phone all synced up.

I reformatted my hard drive today and upgraded to Windows 8.

Before I reformatted, I went to File > Library > Export Playlist.

Once I'd installed Windows 8, I plugged my iPhone in and began by going to Files > Devices > Transfer Purchases.

I then went to File > Library > Import Playlist.

Finally, I went to the Tones tab of my iPhone in iTunes and clicked on "Sync Tones" but receive the following:

"Are you sure you want to remove existing music, films, TV programmes, books and tones from this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library?" "Music, films, TV programmes, books and tones synced to "..." from other iTunes libraries will be removed and items will be synced from this iTunes library."

How can I sync my iPhone again (e.g. Tones, SMS history, contacts etc.) without losing all of the data on the iPhone?

[Neu B]

Sounds like you didn't backup your iTunes folder. The one that has iTunes Library data files and such.

[2xSilverKnight]

That's why I hate itunes.

[Ambroos]

As far as I know syncing with a new computer isn't possible if you didn't back up all iTunes data (including all the configuration stuff).

[Shadrack]

Well you shouldn't lose your SMS history unless you were doing a restore of your phone or something.

"Are you sure you want to remove existing music, films, TV programmes, books and tones from this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library?" "Music, films, TV programmes, books and tones synced to "..." from other iTunes libraries will be removed and items will be synced from this iTunes library."

If you have those things in your new iTunes library, just let it do its thing. It will remove them and then re-copy them.

I guess I don't understand what the OP is concerned about.

You shouldn't be losing "all" of your data. Everything other than those few things (Music, films, TV programs, books, and tones) will remain the same on your phone. Your media files need to be in-sync with iTunes and it is a 1 way sync. Even if you did a full backup and restore of your iTunes library, your iPhone will think it is a new iTunes library and prompt you about this.

It use to also prompt that you would lose all Apps and App data as well, but since iTunes 11 they changed that.

I agree that moving an iPhone from iTunes install to new iTunes install is currently a pain.