PC erasing multiple ipods--WHY?!

I am so mad I could scream! After HOURS of downloading music into iTunes, I went to load music onto my and my children's ipods. The first two went great. The third appeared to erase all the music in the library rather than syncing with it. I rebooted the computer...still no music in the library or the purchased songs. So I plugged in one of the ipods that had loaded already and was operating fine and get a message that the ipot is corrupt and needs to be rebooted...another one down. I figure it must be a glitch with iTunes so I uninstall and reinstall it. I still have one iPod that is loaded with music. I would like to plug it into the computer and transfer songs from it to iTunes but now I am afraid of getting the same 'corrupt iPod' BS. What do I do??????

You're doing this via iTunes, right? Which is set up to download and upgrade the firmware/software on the attached device in one operation. However, if you download the firmware/software directly you only need to do it once - the following link shows how you do this on a PC :
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/02/09/apple-iphone-and-ipod-touch-firmware-up date-221-direct-download-links/
If you download the software/firmware directly from the Apple website instead of via iTunes, you will get one item only which you then apply yourself to each device in turn.

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Updating multiple ipods.Why does it have to download each time?

Hi,
I have 3 ipod touches, mine, and one for each of my sons.
Why is it that when apple comes up with an update like 2.2.1 I have to download it 3 times to update the 3 ipods? I should be able to download the update 1 time and then update all 3 ipods. It is a pain having to download the same file 3 times...
Any idea about this? Am I doing something wrong?
Please help

You're doing this via iTunes, right? Which is set up to download and upgrade the firmware/software on the attached device in one operation. However, if you download the firmware/software directly you only need to do it once - the following link shows how you do this on a PC :
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/02/09/apple-iphone-and-ipod-touch-firmware-up date-221-direct-download-links/
If you download the software/firmware directly from the Apple website instead of via iTunes, you will get one item only which you then apply yourself to each device in turn.

Why does my Windows Vista computer say the wrong iPod Touch name? I have multiple iPod Touches and after updating one of them, Windows Explorer says they are all the same name now.

Sorry for the exceedingly long title...
I have multiple iPod touches, and I just updated one of them to the newest iOS (5.0.1). Now whenever I plug in any of the others, the name of the one I updated appears in Windows explorer. How can I make Windows able to determine which iPod is which again?
64 bit vista home premium.

iPod Classic are high drain USB devices, I hope you are not trying to connnect them simultaneously to iTunes, which will definitely hang your USB Host controller, thereby freeze iTunes.
But here is an Apple Support Article on using multiple iPods for iTunes.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495?viewlocale=en_US
Have nice day!

Multiple iPods on one computer question

Hello,
I know this question has been asked already and I've read all the help topics about multiple iPods.
I've tried twice to use two iPods on one computer and it was not as easy as described. I'm just wondering if I'm doing something wrong.
The first time I tried was on a PC running XP with two iPod minis. I had seperate user accounts and it kept erasing all the songs in one account.
The other situation was on a different PC running XP Pro with a shuffle and a 30gig photo.
I had my 30gig for about a year and as soon as I plugged in my shuffle it didn't recognize it and the next time I plugged in my 30 gig photo it froze and I had to end up doing the hard reset for it.
Tomorrow I am about to try a PC running XP with a shuffle, nano, and a video iPod.
I've read the two ways to do it and am going to try the specific playlist option.
I'm worried that as soon as I plug in the second iPod it will freeze and I won't be able to even get to the "iPod Option" Button in iTunes.
The computer is not mine nor are the music devices. I'm doing it for a friend who doesn't understand computers that well. All devices are new, never used.
Is it as easy as the process sounds?
Also the last time I tried multiple iPods was at least two iTunes updates ago.
Thanks for any help,
Chris
PC and iMac Intel Windows XP Pro

Hello!
Let me explain this in detail for you:
The Do Not Disconnect screen
It is normal for your iPod to say this message to you when you connect it to your computer.
When you need to disconnect it from your computer, you'll first need to eject it.
There are a few ways to eject your iPod; through iTunes, the Safely Remove Hardware program, and "My Computer".
Through iTunes
Ejecting your iPod via iTunes depends on what setting your iPod is on for.
Connect your iPod. Go into Edit> preferences> iPod. See what setting your iPod is on; "automatic" or "manual".
Automatic
If you aren't restoring, or updating your iPod, iTunes should automatically eject your iPod from iTunes. If it doesn't, then right-click the name of your iPod in iTunes, and make sure that the "enable for disk use" is un-checked.
Manual
If you need to eject your iPod from iTunes if the setting is "manual", click the little arrow that's next to the name of your iPod in the left source list in iTunes.
Through the "Safely Remove Hardware" program
Look at the bottom-right corner of your screen, and there's the system tray icons there. If the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon is there, click on it, select your iPod, and click "stop".
Through "My Computer"
Go to "My Computer".
Find your iPod's listing there (it's typically "E:" or "F:").
Right-click it, click on "eject".
For additional information about ejecting your iPod, check this Apple Support articles about it.
Safely disconnecting your iPod
About the "Do Not Disconnect" and "OK to Disconnect" screens on iPod
Any more questions? I'll be glad to try to help you again.
~~Kylene

Using multiple iPod Touch units with a single instance of iTunes.

My wife and I both have the iPod Touch. She syncs hers on her computer, I sync mine on my computer... If I want to transfer an .mp3 or .mp4 video from my device to hers what's the best way to do that?
I tried to plug hers into my computer and iTunes opened but iTunes will not let me drag and drop music or videos (not even .mp3s) into her iPod Touch and she can not transfer anything into mine.
What is the work around to this? Why is this so?

*Apple doesn't allow you to sync multiple iPods*
Sure they do.
Plug it in and it will sync. Plug in another and it will sync.
iTunes does not sync from the iPod to the computer (except for iTunes purchases).
If I want to transfer an .mp3 or .mp4 video from my device to hers what's the best way to do that?
You can't go iPod to iPod.
Copy the music from her computer to your computer.
Or set your iPod to Manually manage music, plug into her computer and drag the music to your iPod.
I am unable to manage the other iPod.
You don't need to do it on both and you cannot go iPod to computer.
You can if you copy the files into the iPod in the Finder, then plug into the other computer and drag from the iPod in th eFInder to the desktop, then add to iTunes.

Multiple iPods on 1 Macbook + later installation on different computers

Hi =)
I have a Macbook with iTunes installed and my own music library I currently use with my iPod video.
For their respective birthdays, I would like to prepare two iPods Nano for my parents, one for each.
Ideally, I would like to create two additional separate libraries for them and ensure that my own is not synchronized on the Nanos (we do not enjoy the same music =).
How should I proceed with regards to this?
Also, when they get their Nano and I install iTunes on their respectives computers, would I just need to transfer (by CD-ROM or memory stick) their libraries onto their computers? Or is it not that straightforward?
Thank you very much for your help!
Dominique

With iTunes 7 it is possible to have multiple libraries in a single account. To create or access a second (or more) library, hold down the Option key when launching iTunes. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to the other Library.
Note: You can only have one Library open at a time and iTunes will default to the last library opened if you don't use the keyboard command to choose one. This can prove tricky when using multiple iPods, if you don't use the keyboard command you can risk syncing to the wrong library:
Using multiple iTunes libraries -Mac
Another way to do it would be to create separate Mac user accounts. Different accounts by definition would give you completely separate libraries. Each account has it's own iTunes folder, Library and iTunes Music folder and you load it with CDs etc just as you did with your original one. The iPod can be set to update however the owner chooses, sync all, manual or sync specific playlists.
If the libraries aren't too large you could certainly copy them using CD-Rs or DVDs. You'll get a few more options here: How to move music between authorised computersTransfer iTunes Store purchases using iPod
The transfer of non iTMS content such as songs imported from CD is designed by default to be one way from iTunes to iPod. However there are a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve music files and playlists from your iPod, this is just a selection. I use Senuti but have a look at the web pages and documentation for the others too, you'll find that they have varying degrees of functionality and some will transfer movies, videos, photos and games as well. This is just a small selection of what's available, you can also read reviews of some of them here: Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
Senuti Mac Only
iPodRip Mac Only
PodView Mac Only
PodWorks Mac Only
iPodDisk PPC Mac Only (experimental version available for Intel Macs)
YamiPod Mac & Windows
Music Rescue Mac & Windows
iPodCopy Mac & Windows
There's also a manual method of copying songs from your iPod to a Mac or PC. The procedure is a bit involved and won't recover playlists but if you're interested it's available at this link: Two-way Street: Moving Music Off the iPod
One last thing you need to be aware of is that by setting up the iPods on your Mac, they will be Mac formatted. This will be fine if your parents also have a Mac. However Mac formatted iPods won't run natively on a PC because the Windows OS does not support the HFS Plus file system and therefore will not see the drive. To format a Mac iPod for Windows it has to be restored on a PC. Restoring will erase and reformat the iPod's drive, reload the software and put it back to default settings which will mean anything you put on the iPods will be lost and they'll have to be reloaded from the PC: Restoring iPod to factory settings with iTunes 7

Multiple iPods on a Windows XP Pro networked computer

The school where I work is having a problem with multiple ipods on Windows networked computers.
Several of our students have been given 5G ipods. Each student has a network logon with a fairly restrictive mandatory profile.
The idea is that each student could log on, plug in their iPod and download the appropriate podcasts for their needs.
Here is the issue. The first student to log in plugged the iPod in and did all the setup work.
The next student logged in to that same computer and plugged in his iPod. The machine recognized it as teh iPod fom the first student.
Anyone have ideas why this would be? I have read the Apple papers on using multiple ipods on one machine and one of their suggestions is to create multiple logons, so this whole issue should not even arise.
Thanks

The next student logged in to that same computer and plugged in his iPod. The machine recognized it as teh iPod fom the first student.
those symptoms can be produced by the issue described in the following document:
Windows confuses iPod with network drive or hard drive and may keep iPod from mounting or songs may seem to disappear
(if that is what is going on, it would be a "doubled" version of the basic problem. you get an initial drive letter confusion. a copy of the ipod_control folder from the first ipod ends up on one of the drives as a result of the drive letter confusion. when the second ipod is plugged in, you get a second drive letter confusion, the PC sees the rogue ipod_control folder on the drive ... and it interprets the drive as the first ipod.)

How do i set up multiple iPod touch devices

Both my children have iTouch devices and they are setup under my account
How do i seperate

See the following:
How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer
Just why do you want to seperate them? One one you can add another Messaging and FaceTime messaging/calling email address and delete the Apple/iTunes ID emasil address.

HT1386 My iPod Mini will not sync with my iTunes newly purchased Album!! I receive a message stating my iPod's User Name is registered with another iTune & I can't receive the new purchased Album onto my iPod! It tells me to erase my iPod to put this iTun

From the message given to me from my iTunes I stated above, I don't want to erase all that is on my iPod in order to get iTune site to get to sync or download to my iPod! the newly purchased Album downloaded to my iPod!!! HELP!!! I'm trying to figure out HOW to find out where iTunes thinks there is another iTune acct registered to My iPod"s User Name???!!! AND TO REVERSE ALL THAT OR MERGE THIS ACCTS IN ORDER TO GET ON MY iPOD WHAT I HAVE PURCHASED IN ORDER TO ENJOY MY CHOICE OF MUSIC!!! iTunes or Apple's solution on this message box to me when I tried to download the newly purchased Album, was to ERASE MY IPOD'S CONTENTS & THEN I'D BE REGISTERED WITH THIS iTUNES ACC & THEN ABLE TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC & THIS ALBUM FROM THIS PLAYLIST!!! I HAVE NOT KNOWN OF ANY OTHER iTUNE I WAS AFFAILIATED WITH!! DOES ANYBODY KNOW OF ANYTHING TO HELP ME!!! P.S. MY iPOD HAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR NEW DOWNLOADS OR SYNCS!!! THANKS!!!

You can only sync with one iTunes library. If you sync with another one the iPod will be erased and its contents replaced with what is in the library of the second computer.
However, you can manage music among multiple computers. See:
Using iPhone, iPad, or iPod with multiple computers
BTW you posted in the iPod touch forum

Multiple iPods not being recognized

I'm a new user. I have a video iPod and just got the shuffle. I'm trying to load the shuffle and iTunes does not recognize it. I must be missing a step?
Windows 2000

Nope, no special setup, I run a 20G iPod and shuffle from my PC, no problem.
I do plug them in different USB ports, though - but I don't think that matters.
So have you restarted your PC lately?
And here's a light reading assignment.
Using Multiple iPods With One Computer
But your main problem with the shuffle is getting Windows to recognize it. That's why I suggest the PC restart.

HT1386 I erased my hard drive and now my ipod touch and Itunes will not sync unless I erase my ipod. How can I have transfer transfer the data on my ipod to my computer?

I have a lot of music on my ipod that is not in Itune and I have songs in Itunes that are not on my Ipod. What can I do to combine the two? I do not want to erase my Ipod. I have a lot of CDs that I put in Itunes and synced to my Ipod before I had to formatted my computer's hard drive. It took hours to put my songs on the computer. Once the hard drive was erased, I installed Itune and connected my Ipod. Since I am using the same computer, why does Itune not recognize that my Ipod and computer are the same ones that are linked to my account? What can I do to sync Itunes and my Ipod that does not require earasing my Ipod?

Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive: Apple Support Communities

Ipod 4 wiped out? I plugged it in to my work computer (used strictly for charging - home computer is where my files are updated) - but today it erased my ipod! Everything is gone

I plugged it in to my work computer (used strictly for charging - home computer is where my files are updated) - but today it erased my ipod! Everything is gone! It is asking me set-up questions (Language, country) and asking me to plug it in & go to ITUNES - problem is, my itunes icon is not working? It usually loads as soon as I plug the Ipod in but not today? I can take it home & plug it in & hopefully my files will come back but why is it doing this? (I've had it more than a year & it's never done this?)

It sounds like a setting change on the computer and iTunes synced the iPod. Yo can only sync with one iTunes library, if yo switch the iPod gets erased and its contents replaced with what is in the iTunes library of the computer.
Go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices and make sure that the box that says "Prevent iPods.. syncing automatically" is checked.

Syncing multiple Ipods to one laptop

How do I sync my 3 kids Ipods with only one laptop? It seems unreasonable to have a unique laptop for every Ipod in the house. We have 5 Ipods total, with 2 laptops. I need to find a way to put songs on my kid's ipods without having to "erase" the content that's on there now. Thoughts?
Thanks.
Jim
[email protected]

I think Niel gave you the wrong link by accident, (multiple computers one iPod)
Yyou need multiple iPods on one computer right?
Here ya go! http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

Multiple IPOD touches

My kids got IPod touches for xmas. I gave them my apple ID and now I realize they need to have their own ID. How do I go about getting each a apple ID on their IPODS and not erasing my apple ID?
Help please

I would consider yourself lucky and go with it. Or if you feel its wrong, report it. As for installing on multiple iPods, iTunes is programmed to believe that there is one iPod per account. When you plug a second one in, it justifies it as that same iPod since it makes the same purchases on the same account. When you try to upgrade, it most likely identifies that there was a problem with the original and lets you do it again, believing it to be the same iPod. Nice loophole. And as for apps, once you download it, just use a usb drive to transfer apps from one Profile on the computer to another, and if you need to, use the account info to verify.
Message was edited by: Jake13220

Auto erasing of ipod

my ipad 2 erased the audio books & music i had on the ipod. why?

You may set the length of time that Safari keeps history in Safari Preferences:
Rebeckahill wrote:
also, is it possible for safari to auto update and thereby losing topsides and history?
I have no idea what you mean here. More details will be required.
Ciao.

PC erasing multiple ipods--WHY?!

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