Full iPod --> Empty hard drive?

Factual Questions
1

My friend got an iPod Nano as a present a couple years ago. She didn’t have a computer. One of her other friends let her load up her CDs on her computer to sync the iPod. So she hasn’t added new music in quite awhile. And that friend isn’t around anymore.

iPod-owning friend bought a laptop recently. She wants to be able to add new music to her iPod and get the stuff from her iPod onto iTunes on her computer so she doesn’t lose it.

I’ve been googling on how to do this. It’s all her music, not stolen (girl doesn’t even know HOW to steal music), and it sucks Apple won’t let you transfer from iPod to iTunes (although I can see why - most people would use it to steal music). But it looks like I need to get some software to do this.

But money is a factor. She doesn’t have any, and does not want to have to buy software to get her legally purchased music onto her legally purchased computer. It seems like there is shareware out there but I have no clue what will work best and not have spyware, etc. And I also can’t search the boards now but time is also a factor, she wants me to come over tomorrow and fix it for her.

Anyone had to do this due to hard drive failure or anything? She is trusting me to do this for her, because she is crap with computers, and I don’t want to screw anything up. I needs your helps!

2

The music on an Ipod is stored in a hidden directory called iPod_Control/Music. Just copy all the files over.

3

But how do I do that? I am okay with computers compared to my friends but not really. Do I plug in the iPod before I download iTunes? Then what? Kinda need step-by-step stuff here, although I am doing her a favor, she will kill me if I screw up :slight_smile:

4

There are plenty of tools to copy the music from an iPod. But the tools and instructions are different on Mac and PC. iDump works well, but it’s Windows-only. Information please!

5

You don’t need to have itunes installed. When you plug in the ipod it should come up as a hard drive. If you do have itunes installed you will need to eject the drive before you can use it as a hard drive.

Here tells you how to view hidden directories.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html

Then just drag and drop them like any other files and folders.

You might also need to setup the ipod to work as a hard drive.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1478

6

She’s got a decent laptop with XP.