One of the most popular ways to store ones music collection, music videos and now TV shows and movies in this technologically advanced world is through Apple iTunes. Unfortunately, this programme is not without the faults of any other programme. Every once and a while one may need to get a new computer meaning that the iTunes library you've spent forever editing and adding your favourite tunes to will need to be recovered.

There are two possible ways that this can be carried out; one I shall call the computer to computer method, the other I shall call the iPod to computer method.

The Computer-to-Computer Method
This method is probably the most popular method, not necessarily because of how easy it can be carried but because it allows the user to maintain their play lists, play counts as well as album artwork.

The computer to computer method requires a USB stick or another such data storage device, the larger the amount of space the better. The first step of this method takes place in iTunes. Go to iTunes, in the top left hand corner go to File then go down to Export Library, this should take you to a Save As window, name your library (this will be a XML document) appropriately and save it. This is where you're data storage device comes into play, save the XML document to your storage device as well as the file folder (probably in "My Music") titled "iTunes" to your device.

From this point on your old library is no longer needed. Download iTunes to your other computer and this should automatically create a folder in "My Music" titled "iTunes" much like the one on the previous computer, technically it is the same folder but empty. Replace this folder with the folder titled "iTunes" from the previous library (making sure that the XML document is inside this folder). Do not open iTunes until you have undertaken the previous actions. Once these have been carried out, opening iTunes will produce you iTunes library just as you remembered it.

Similarly, if you do not wish to keep your play lists, play counts and album artwork you can simply transfer the iTunes music file. This is located inside the folder titled "iTunes". You can copy this file from the previous computer and replace the empty version of this file that will be created when iTunes is installed with the old version. This should have the same results, but, as I said, without your play lists, play counts and album artwork

The iPod to Computer Method
As mentioned this method is slightly

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