Problem syncing with 2 computers

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Can someone please explain the process to me for syncing my phone to multiple computers? I just can't seem to get it right no matter what I try.

On my work computer, I have my contacts, calendar and images, and on my laptop, I have my music and movies. I can get the laptop to sync the music and movies without overwriting all the other data, but when I plug it into the work computer, it won't sync without overwriting the music and movies.

I have, on both computers, "Automatically sync..." unchecked, and "Only sync checked items" checked.

On the work computer, I uncheck music and movies, and when I do, it says it will overwrite and erase all the music and movies. So I let it do that once, and when I come back and plug the phone in, it is checked again!

Help!

EDIT: Alright, I just trashed the preferences for iTunes on the work computer, and then started it up again, and music and movies was checked, but not the info and photos!!! What the heck, coach?!

 

[Subiklim]

Just like iPods, you can't sync information with two computers, unless you want information deleted when you have non-identical libraries.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Just like iPods, you can't sync information with two computers, unless you want information deleted when you have non-identical libraries.

That's wrong though. With the iPhone, you can sync certain things on different computers. Everything on the info tab is one, music and movies could be a different computer, podcasts could be a third, and photos could be a fourth. I just need someone to walk me through it.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I'm going to ask once more...does anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong here? My laptop will work just fine, not erasing my contacts, calendar, or photos, while adding the music and movies. But when I get back to work, and want to update my calendar, the sync music button is ALWAYS checked. Grrrrr.

 

[louielui]

Syncing on 2 Computers

I have a Apple computer at home and a PC at work. I can sync my iPhone with both, well merge is more like it.

Under the info tab, you have the option to control what to sync. For my Mac, I choose contacts, calander, and my safari bookmarks. You have similar tabs to control photos, music, and videos. Based on your message, I think you already know this but wanted to right it down for completeness.

When you sync the first time, the computer and iPhone will be syncronized.

Now, when you go to your second computer. In my case, a PC running Windows XP SP2. I'm using Outlook to manage by calendars and contacts on this PC. You go to the info tab and only select the calendar and contacts for syncing. When you sync, the system ask whether to merge or overwrite the information on my iPhone. You need to MERGE the information. You continue to use the Merge option when syncing between the computers.

This approach works for me. There may be some issues with the initial merge, like duplicate entries the first time the machines are synced. You can either delete the duplicates or delete all the entries on one of the devices. In my case, I choose to have the Mac as the master. All my Outlook (i.e. work appointments) were already in the iCalendar. Therefore, I deleted all my contact and calendar entries on Outlook to initialize the process.

Using this approach, I'm able to sync on 2 machines. My music, photos, and videos are completely controlled on my Mac while my calendar and contacts are essentially merged together.

Hope this helps

 

[cgray24]

Im not exactly sure why it isnt working for you. Currently I have a simular setup, with my iphone syncing music with a PC and Contact/Calendar/Photos with a Mac. I sync'd contacts also with my work mac once, but didnt like how I couldnt just sync one group, it had to be all or else it would delete them on the phone.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I *think* that I figured it out.

When I copy music over from my laptop to my work computer, I just copy over the entire iTunes folder, including the xml file and all data. I think that made iTunes think that it was the same iTunes as on my laptop, thereby wanting to sync it, even though I uncheck it every time.

I trashed the entire iTunes library on my work computer, preference files, data files, and all, and now it is working like it should.