I Pod help needed

[Sthronds]

It appears that my home computer may be kapoot. I have a little checking to do but as I replaced the hard drive last year, I may be buying a new one. My question is about my I-Pod music. I'm afraid that if I get a new computer, when I plug my I-Pod in, all the music will erase. Is there a way to keep the music on my I-Pod even though I will be starting from scratch with a new computer? I hope this makes sense. . . I'm starting to confuse myself. Oh, and what happens to the songs I purchased online (and didn't back up )?

 

[Linda/MA]

The same thing happened to me and I DID lose all my music. When I plugged the iPod in, a prompt came up. I can't remember exactly what it said, but, obviously, I chose the wrong answer. Lost everything. The music was on my iPod, then it was gone. I did send an email to Apple and they let me retrieve all my purchased music -- one time only! So, I would suggest you go to Apple's website first and read up on what you should do when you get a new hard drive. I know there is info about that somewhere on their website. And, as they have suggested, back up your music in the future.

 

[Micca]

Bumping. I'd like to know as well.

 

[toddp3]

Well if you absolutely can not recover your music collection off your hard drive, you can recover it from your iPod using some 3rd party tools. The one I prefer is called:

SharePod

Others are:

YamiPod
vPod

(there are others that cost money)

I will add the following!!!

After you install iTunes on the new computer plug in your iPod, and make sure you choose to NOT have iTunes automatically update/control your iPod (set it to Manual).

You also need to make sure your iPod is in Hard Drive Mode to use these tools (default state for iPod Video, must be turned on for Nanos and older iPods)

This way iTunes will not wipe your iPod clean.

Once you use the tool to pull all your content off your iPod and onto your computer, then import it all into iTunes.

Once this is complete, and you are satisfied that everything is there, you can set yourself back to automatic from manual. And then re-sync your iPod to the new computer.

*****

Very important!!! If you use iTMS (iTunes Music Store) to purchase music/video then you need to be aware of the following. Your iTMS account is good on only up to 5 authorized computers. Your old computer is #1, your new computer will be #2. If you can not deauthorize your old computer, you will need to wait for Apple's yearly grace period. Then you can deauthorize all computers from your account and reauthorize the new one that was #2 to be #1.

 

[Sthronds]

Thanks! That was big help. I am getting the new computer on Saturday so I'll try it all then. I'm giving the old one a second chance tonight, but I think it is dead.

 

[Divamomto3]

Go to Apple's site. As another poster said, they will let you re-download all of your purchased music to your new computer. They say it's a one time only deal, so be sure to back up your music. I just had to do this last month. The stinky part is that you have to reload all of your CD's back onto it and I think it takes a long time. Plus, I had to re-do all of my playlists. I was too afraid to do one of those iPod recovery utilities that you download off the internet. I still haven't plugged my iPod into my new computer because I don't have all of my playlists set yet.

I need to get off the DIS and start doing that.