Use iPod to Transfer Music to Another Computer

What's a Podcast?

Backing Up Your Music

Version after 7 of iTunes has a backup procedure built it. However, it can be downloaded free at www.apple.com/itunes. To use this feature, open iTunes and choose File   Back Up to Disc. You can choose to back up your entire iTunes library and playlists, or just the items you purchased from the iTunes Store. You'll be prompted for a CD R or CD RW. If your collection doesn't fit on one disc, you will be prompted to insert new blank discs. After a computer crash you can restore your music by choosing File    Back Up to Disc and clicking on the Restore button.

Consolidating Your Music

If you have songs (generally mp3's) that are scattered around your computer, you can ask iTunes to place a copy of all the files in your iTunes Music folder.  Choose Advanced, then Consolidate Library.


Copy Songs from iPod to Your Library

Link to directions


Ejecting or Continued Do Not Disconnect

Before you just disconnect your iPod from your computer, you need to properly eject it first. Incorrectly disconnecting an iPod while it is in use can damage data on the iPod and/or the computer's hard disk. Quit ALL open applications and stop ALL running process that may involve your iPod. As long as your iPod is connected to the computer, and you have not ejected it from the operating system or iTunes, the "Do not disconnect" message will appear on your iPod. If you are copying files onto your iPod or if iTunes is automatically updating music on it, you will not be able to disconnect your iPod until these tasks finish. So quit everything.

Then open ITunes.  To the right of your iPod is a small gray arrow. Click on the arrow and your iPod should eject. You can also try going to My Computer and right-click on your IPod and choose Eject.


Frozen IPod

Check that the hold switch is off on the top of your IPod by sliding it away from your headphone jack.  Press and hold the following combination of buttons buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.

iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
Shuffle: Turn it off, turn it on. Done.

Links

Apple/Support
iPod101 Troubleshooting
iTunes Store Accounts
MediaFly Free Podcasts
 

Multiple iPods on One Computer

You may use multiple iPods on a computer without the need to create multiple user accounts. To do this, you can set iTunes to update each iPod with only certain playlists. This method allows you to put all your music on, say, your iPod and keep your iPod shuffle updated with only your workout music. Here's how to do this with iTunes 7: Create a new iTunes playlist for each iPod that contains all the music that you want to send to that particular iPod. To automatically update your iPod with only certain playlists, select "Sync music" and "Selected playlists," and then select the playlists you want synchronized.

 

You can have two libraries on your computer by holding down the Shift key when you open iTunes.

  1. Open iTunes Preferences.
  2. Click the Advanced tab and then click the General tab.
  3. De-select Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library checkbox if it is selected and click OK. This will prevent iTunes from creating duplicate copies of your existing media files in the new library folder.
  4. Add the specific media files you want on your iPod to iTunes either by dragging them into iTunes or using the Add to Library option in the File menu.
  5. Once you have the iTunes LIbrary just how you want it, connect and sync iPod.
  6. Once the sync is complete, quit iTunes.

Ripping Music CD's

Use the Apple Lossless Encoder when importing CD's to save the crispness of the original music. Edit - Preferences - Advanced Tab - Importing Tab. Choose Apple Lossless Encoder from the pop-up menu. OK  Windows Media Player folks should use the Mindows Media Audio Lossless when ripping using Windows Media Player.

Storing and Reading Notes

You can store and read text notes on iPod if it is enabled as an external disk. (Edit - Preferences - iPod tab - Music • Manually Manage Songs and Playlists). Save a document in any word-processing application as a text (.txt) file. Place the file in the Notes folder on iPod. To view notes on your iPod choose Extras > Notes.