Extract iTunes Config from iPod

I have been asking the same question in other forums about resetting play counts when syncing.

One of the strong theories is that it is an iTunes bug caused when you recreate your library in iTunes 10 from a previous iTunes 9 file (which is what I did). Unfortunately though there is no obvious solution yet.

I have tried to solve to problem by installing a fresh copy of iTunes 9 on a separate PC and importing my existing library via the iTunes Music Library.xml file.

Unfortunately the trick for recreating the library by using the XML does not seem backwards compatible. Even if I modify the Application Version at the beginning of XML file it is not recognised by iTunes 9 and is overwritten by a new, clean iTunes Music Library.xml file.

It seems like a bug I'll have to live with until Apple fix the problem - I have submitted a bug report via their iTunes website.

Here is the thread from the apple.com forums - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2697318

*edit*

The latest version of iTunes (10.1.2) seems to have fixed the play count reset bug.

It is a tiny bit ugly - but there are formal steps to accomplish exactly what you wish. Home Sharing doesn't work so well when both accounts have completely separate libraries - each in the usual home folder - so that's not a good thing to try.

The best workaround is to agree to store the media in a shared folder. It's more work to add the same music to both libraries - but you both have totally independent backups, playlists, play counts, ratings and apps.

This works really well and you can easily recombine later or split her or your account to another mac or PC any time you choose by taking a copy of the reference files as well as the library organization files.