Authorization On Computers

Okay...hypothetical question (because I almost just did this)...

I have my main computer authorized right now. What if I was to format it, while the computer was authorized on iTunes, and then reinstall everything?

How do I "remove" the authorization when the software was wiped out with the format?

...how does this authorization thing work? How does Apple keep track of your computer being authorized or not? Is it a key generated from hardware, or what?

I'm just wondering. Knowing me one day I'll accidentally forget to remove the authorization when I format or whatnot.

Thoughts/ideas appreciated.

#83419

MY sugeestion would be to use quicktime to play your AAC Files and use QTFairUse , which will dump the file without AAC protection. This way to can be sure to have backups that will not have to be authorized on the computer, and sidesteps all the strange hoops that sometimes occur. Now this is NOT for sharing your non protected audio files on P2p networks, this is for you to have a set of backups with no AAC protection for personal use. You did pay for your downloads and this just helps you protect your investment.

- Enjoy!!

#83426

I reformatted yesterday, I had no problems with the songs I had purchased. You just have to reauthorize them. When you go to play them it'll ask your music store log in and password. Thats it.

#83432

@gnubug:

I know this sounds utterly stupid, but I can't get the darned program to compile...I've downloaded and installed the programs in the readme, but I can't figure out how to get the thing to compile... If you'd like you can PM me a detailed explanation... I'd really appreciate it.

@skippy:

I know that it'll ask for the password...but how do you know that since you didn't *deauthorize* the installed iTunes that you were using before you reformatted, you are not "down one" computer that you can authorize (i.e., if you didn't deauthorize, is it possible that you essentially still have a "computer" still authorized and you can now only authorize the one you're using and one other one)?

Man...that was confusing to type! Make sense?

What I'm asking is how does the authorization process really, truly work on the inside? Do you really need to deauthorize if you're simply going to use the same computer again after a format? How does the server recognize your machine in an authorization process?

#83469

here's to raising a dead thread! (i was gonna start a new one, but then i found this thing called 'search').

i just had to contact apple support to get them to manually de-authorize my pc from their database. for those who don't know: you are allowed to have up to 5 authorized pc's at any one time. well, if you forget to de-authorize your pc before you format, well, you get the idea. (most of us here like to mod and might need to re-format occasionally). so i started pondering...

what if itunes built a hash of your pc based on processor, video card and...oh, i don't know. what does M$ use for activating wxp? anyways, what if itunes sent this hash to the itunes store when you authorize your pc? that way, you could format like a banshee and still have only one pc in their database. i would have no problem with something like that. so...

wuddya think? good idea or 'big brotheresque'? or just unnecessary?

#236153

The only bad thing there is if you change some major component in your computer it will give you a different hardware ID. The way they do it now is fine. All you have to do is remember to deauthorize. If you're motivated enough to reformat and install everything all over again, you should have motivation enough to click on advanced and drag down to "deauthorize" in itunes. And if you mess up, you have 4 more tries. Its not like suggesting a change here will convince anyone who would actually be able to change how apple does things anyways.

If you have a problem with him making a new thread, then tell the moderators. For all you know, he did use the search function and he couldnt find an answer. Just assume thats the case unless otherwise noted.

#236282