Ipod question: Do I need to start all over again with a new computer?

Factual Questions
1

The computer I synched my iPod with was my laptop. Now it is gone, as it wasn’t mine and I don’t work there anymore.

If I want to start over with my desktop, what the heck do I do? Am I going to lose all my music?

2

Well, if you can access that laptop one more time, a program is sold at places like Radio Shack that will transfer files to your new computer. It is basically a double-headed USB cord. Ask for assistance if you aren’t sure.

If you can’t or don’t want to go that route, then you must import all your songs back to your new computer manually.

3

The music on your Ipod is stored in hidden directories on the ipod. If you enable viewing of hidden directories you can see these files in a bunch of subdirectories under the directory music. Copy the music directory to your new desktop computer. Apple, unlike virtually all other companies, renames the file and scatters songs from the albums across a bunch of subdirectories. The good news is the tags are still there and you can use a program like tag and rename to give the songs files the proper name and sort them by album like normal people keep their music.

4

If you have a Mac, there’s a nice free program called Senuti than can transfer all your data on an iPod to the hard drive, complete with metadata and playlists. For a PC, I bought CopyPod, but I’m sure there are freeware programs out there somewhere. Just make sure you do not allow the iPod to sync until you have completed the transfer to the hard drive.

5

I’ve used the Migration Assistant to transfer my iTunes library from my old computer to my new one, and that worked just fine.

Migration Assistant comes with the Utilities on your Mac :slight_smile: - if you have a PC I don’t know how to help you. :frowning:

6

Weird… I just recommended this in another thread…

  1. Go get Music Rescue. It’s inexpensive and in a pinch you can use the demo version with nag screens every once in a while. Get the iPod license (Music Rescue Anywhere).
  2. Install it on your iPod, on the hard drive portion.
  3. Plug your iPod into your new computer, open up the iPod (under “My Computer” -I’m assuming you’re on Windows here?)
  4. Locate & run Music Rescue.
  5. Copy all music & playlists (including all iTunes specific meta data) from the iPod to any folder on your new PC.
  6. Once you’ve set up your new iTunes they way you like, go buy a few blanks DVDs and back up your entire library so next time you can simply drag & drop all your music should you lose a hard drive one day (or have to give your PC back to you boss).