Itunes/ipod HELP!

So I had to reformat my computer and lost everything. Last night I downloaded iTunes, and obviously it did not have any of my old music that are currently on my iPod. I do not want to lose the music that is on my iPod, however I do not care if it is on my computer in iTunes. The problem is when I download new music and put it in iTunes and then sync my iPod, the new stuff does not transfer to the iPod. Any ideas??

 

So you want to add music without erasing your old music off your iPod? Just click on manually manage music on the "summary screen" once your iPod is connected. Hopefully this helps.

 

both of the above answers are correct. In order to get your music off of your ipod back onto your computer you will need some sort of software to get if off (there are many freeware programs available) and make sure you "manually manage music" so it doesn't erase everything like the guy above said.

Itunes will not allow you to transfer from ipod to computer...only from computer to ipod. I suppose this helps prevent piracy to an extent.

 

Yeah from what I've read many people lose everything off of there iPod when they get a new computer because they don't take the time to read when it tells you that it will erase your iPod...luckily I avoided that! So if just manually manage music I can get my new stuff on there and keep the old as well, its just that the old will not be in my iTunes library...is that correct?

 

No that is not true. Don't download any new music yet. Use one of the freeware programs and get your ipod music back to the computer first. Then download your new tunes, and hit manage files manually from there on out. You need to get the music off you ipod to the computer first.

 

Do you suggest any freeware...i tried a few things but they were just trials and would only allow like 10 songs.

 

I have never had to use one, but I would trust Chris's recommendation...

 

idump is free and pretty good!!

 

good luck Gorilla33

 

awesome! will try this evening, thanks!

 

mac or pc?

 

pc

 

I snagged this from some forum somewhere and I have not tried it...yet..
but it sounded good.

if you have windows, connect your ipod to your pc. when itunes opens it will ask if you want erase and sync your ipod to your new library.. select no. go the ipod tab and select manually manage music on your ipod. after that close itunes.

now open my computer. if you have windows vista at the top of the my computer window is a tab that says organize. select oraganize then select folder and search options. now at the top there will be three tabs-general,view and search. select the view tab.

look for the option "hidden files and folders" and select "show hidden files and folders". now close that out only leaving my computer window open.

now your ipod will show up as a disk drive. explorer your ipod, you'll find a transparent folder called "ipod control", open that ipod control and then open music. the music folder is all your files from your library however they are organized in apples structure which is useless to you. (F00,F01,F02).

copy and paste all of the F(#) folders to your music folder on your pc. after its finished your new folders will still be transparent. select all of the fnumber folders and right click then select properties. there will be box marked hidden. unselect hidden but select read only. after that is done reopen itunes.

now edit the itunes preferences to allow itunes to manage your music. after that just add the music folder by going to File-Add folder to library- and then point to your music folder. with itunes allowed to manage your music it will reorganize to artist and albums folders. after that you can go back and turn that off. enjoy.

Good luck, I copied this tip so I could have my itunes on more than one computer but like I said, I haven't tried it yet.

 

Don't forget to backup your music!

Depending on how much music you have - for larger amounts - you could buy an external hard drive pretty cheap these days and simply hook it up from one computer to the other without any fear of loosing your stuff (theoretically anyway).

Or, if you have smaller amount of music - get a USB flash drive as a backup to your original files.

 

x2

 

used sharepod, worked perfectly! Thanks to all!