[ESPearls]

My PC's hard drive crashed and needed to be replaced. My files were able to be transferred to my new PC's hard drive. I've just reinstalled itunes on the new hard drive. If I synchronize my ipod to my new hard drive will I lose all of my songs on my ipod or will it restore the library? How can I retrieve all the songs which I have bought from itunes in the past? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Frisco]

If your iPod is set to update Automatically (this is the default setting, unless you changed it) when you connect it to your Computer it will erase and put only those songs in your new iTunes library onto your iPod. But you said you transferred the files over to the new computer? If so they need to be in iTunes. If your iPod is set to automatically update and nothing is in your library your iPod will be wiped clean.
If your iPod is set to update manually your iPod will not be erased no matter which songs are in your library.
Let's say your iTunes library is empty and your Pod is set to update automatically. What can you do so that you don't lose your songs? First thing you have to connect your Pod to the PC without it updating. The trick is to connect the iPod to the PC and Force Quit iTunes before it gets chance to update. You could do this by right clicking on iTunes in the Taskbar and choose Close: Practice this a few times without connecting the iPod. Once you have your iPod connected to your computer with iTunes closed you need a program to extract the songs off your iPod and transfer them to your iTunes library.
Here is one: http://www.versiontr...einfo/win/29657
Regarding purchased music: If this purchased music is on your iPod you can use the utility above to extract it from the iPod. Other than that unless you have it backed up there is no way to get it back from Apple.

[ESPearls]

The versiontracker program is not downloading properly. I tried it on 2 computers and the files are corrupt. Are there anyother programs?

[Frisco]

Here's a direct link to Pod Util
http://www.kennettne...are/podutil.php

If it still doesn't work
http://www25.brinkst...rmagt/SharePod/

[Frisco]

See this Link

[ESPearls]

I was able to download the software. I apologize for the basic questions but I'm really confused now and don't want to lose 1000 songs.
The first problem is that the ipod software is no longer on the hard drive since it is a new hard drive. When I installed it, it required the ipod to be inserted to configure it. I skipped this part, but now I have no ipod on my tool bar. I presume that once I connect the ipod and configure it I will lose all the songs on my ipod.
One post mentioned that the ipod can be set to automatically or manually synchronize. How can I select manual?
If it's of any help I have another ipod on another computer with different song lists.
Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric

[ESPearls]

continued from last post:
If I set the other PC to manually update and put my ipod in that cradle, would I be able to backup my ipod songs on that PC with the downloaded software. Just as a way to know that I have my songs saved somewhere before potentially losing them on my PC.

[Frisco]

You can't change the iPod to manually update without connecting it, which will allow iTunes to open erasing your iPod of your songs. Remember the setting is stored on the iPod, not on the computer.
Here's what I would suggest. Do you have a computer without iTunes installed? If so this is good. Or at least so you have iTunes without any songs in iTunes. If so uninstall iTunes temporarily. Put the software that I told you to download on the computer without iTunes. Connect the iPod. The iPod won't erase if iTunes is not installed. Run the program you downloaded to transfer the music to your computer.
As an alternative to uninstalling iTunes, connect the iPod, but quit iTunes before it gets a chance to update. Then run the software that you downloaded to get the songs off of the iPod.

[ESPearls]

Thank you Frisco!
Your advice worked perfectly. The one thing that you might be interested in though is upon connecting my ipod to my PC, even though I was in automatic mode, it noticed that my PC itunes library was different than the ipod's. It asked whether I wanted to replace my ipod library with the PC library.

[Frisco]

Glad it worked out for you! So you are saying that when you connected the iPod, iTunes actually gave you a choice, before automatically updating? Interesting, I have never seen that--maybe it's part of the new software? But that's good to know in the future.