please help how to sync ipod and itunes

[jesennia]

first of all is itunes the only way to put music from your ipod to the computer?

is itunes the only way to burn a disc to the computer then export to ipod?

I have an older 20gb ipod bought a few years ago..just got a new computer so downloaded the latest version of itunes.

to load the songs on the ipod to itunes, do i just plug it in? what preferences should i set so that something horrible doesn't happen? Last time i tried to update and get the latest itunes, it replaced my ipod with the latest itunes purchases and i lost all the previous years of music (suckville)

so can someone walk me thru what i should do? should i set it up to manually sync the songs or???

and i guess most importantly the two top questions since if i dont need itunes i might just decide to import cds and burn to ipod, etc.
thx in adv

[Ainsley]

iTunes doesn't allow you to backup files from your iPod onto your computer, it only loads files in one direction: from computer to iPod.

So for goodness sake, don't plug your iPod in and press "sync" in iTunes! That will erase whatever files are on your iPod and load whatever files are currently on your computer in their place.

To backup the files from your iPod onto your new computer, you can try Sharepod: it's a program that you save right onto your iPod itself, and it allows you to transfer files in both directions between your computer and your iPod. The "Backup iPod" button will copy all the files from your iPod onto your computer.

There's also a list of other alternatives to iTunes here. Some are intended only for iPod to computer backup, but many of them can replace iTunes for loading songs onto your iPod as well.

Just keep in mind that you're advised not to have most of these programs running at the same time as iTunes, as they can mess each other up and throw your iTunes and iPod out of sync.

[ErikaOH]

Hi jesennia -

I just found out how to do this last week! Here are the instructions I used...GOOD LUCK!!!

How to copy music from your iPod to your iTunes library

[jesennia]

thank you for the posts, figured out how to put ipod previous purchases on the itunes library, am now loading some discs to the computer to make sure i can competently transfer to ipod :) i dont use itunes on the computer to make playlists right now..just need a way to transfer around files

[Nyyrikki]

Just a note, make sure you turn off automatic syncing, because that will just put the current music in your library on your ipod, and that is a lame thing indeed :) To do so, go to edit-> preferences->devices tab, and check the box that says "ipods, ipads, iphones from syncing automatically"
And to upload songs, just select and drag them over to the sidebar where it lists your ipod when it's plugged in :)

[raqFariha]

iTunes doesn't allow you to backup files from your iPod onto your computer, it only loads files in one direction: from computer to iPod.

So for goodness sake, don't plug your iPod in and press "sync" in iTunes! That will erase whatever files are on your iPod and load whatever files are currently on your computer in their place.

yes, this is an attempt to prevent people from plugging ipods that don't belong to them into their computer and stealing music

[Lulugreen]

Hello,
No, iTunes can't help you to put music from iPod to computer. Apple only allow you to put music files from computer to iPod.

No, there are many other programs to help you burn a disc to the computer then export to ipod instead of iTunes.

If you want to sync iPod to iTunes, here I introduce iPod to iTunes Transfer tool to you.

[aziyade]

So for goodness sake, don't plug your iPod in and press "sync" in iTunes! That will erase whatever files are on your iPod and load whatever files are currently on your computer in their place.

Okay help me out, as I'm confused.

I have a VERY small hard drive on my laptop. I think I only have 3 gig left or so.

I have a 64 gig iPod.

I DO NOT want to keep my entire music library on my laptop. I want to keep that on my iPod.

Can I rip a CD into iTunes, then copy over to my iPod just the songs I want, and then delete them off my laptop WITHOUT also deleting them from my iPod the next time I plug it in?

Thanks!!

[ssipes]

Okay help me out, as I'm confused.

I have a VERY small hard drive on my laptop. I think I only have 3 gig left or so.

I have a 64 gig iPod.

I DO NOT want to keep my entire music library on my laptop. I want to keep that on my iPod.

Can I rip a CD into iTunes, then copy over to my iPod just the songs I want, and then delete them off my laptop WITHOUT also deleting them from my iPod the next time I plug it in?

Thanks!!

No, you can't do that with iTunes. The best solution is get an external hard drive and keep your iTunes library on that. They are really cheap now days.

There are softwares out there that would allow you to do that. One for macs is called Senuti. Its really made to copy from an iPod to an iTunes library on a computer, but you can go the other way as well. I used it to restore my iTunes library after a hard drive crash. I found it fairly cumbersome to use and not user friendly.

I know some people really hate iTunes, but I have learned to love and embrace it. I keep my music highly organized and keep a bunch of functional playlists on my iPod by using iTunes.

[Ainsley]

Can I rip a CD into iTunes, then copy over to my iPod just the songs I want, and then delete them off my laptop WITHOUT also deleting them from my iPod the next time I plug it in?

Yes, you can, as long as your iPod isn't synched with your computer in iTunes. I do the same thing. To unsync your iPod, there should be an place on your iPod launch panel in iTunes where you can select "manually manage music". Then you just drag and drop files from your library to transfer them onto your iPod. And also you make sure never to push the "Sync" button on the iPod launch panel, as doing so will erase all your files.

The sync/unsync preference is recorded on the iPod itself, so you should also be able to plug your iPod into other computers without having it sync up with them.

[ericym]

Have you authorized your new computer with your iTunes account? If not, do so. (you can authorize up to 5 computers on a single iTunes account)
Once you've done that, then right mouse on your iPod > choose "Transfer Purchases"
That action will download all of your iPod data/apps/music/video to your computer

More reviews about iPod Transfer:
How to transfer videos from iPod to iTunes on PC
How to transfer or sync iPod files from iPod to PC

[sunnywang]

If there is not something wrong with your computer or your account, i think you can transfer ipod files to new computer in this way.
1. Download iPod transfer program. connect ipod to computer

2. check files which you want to transfer

3. click "export checked files to local" button