Can I restore my music from my ipod to a new computer?

Question

I got a new computer, and fouled up the process of transferring the music from my old computer to my new one.  I managed to lose a lost of files, and also lost all the ratings and playlists that I'd painstakingly built up over several years.
However, occurs to me that my music is still safe on my synced ipod.  Can I delete itunes from my new computer and then reinstall and transfer it all back from my ipod to the computer?
In installing the computer, I've already deauthorised all the old computers and authorised the new one.
Thanks.

Answer 1

I agree the term sync does somewhat give the wrong impression. I also know that most of us never really learn whether or not our backup strategies are good enough until we're called upon to use them in anger. Too often they fail.
A script is a program that hasn't been compiled into machine code but is instead interpreted at run time. There is less scope for a pretty front end but they can be just as functional. Mine tend to display one or more pop-up boxes to confirm that you want them to perform their task on the currently selected tracks, then if possible show a progress bar so you can see that they are working (and abort if needs be), and finally a summary screen shows what has been done. An advantage of distributing these programs as scripts is that others can repurpose them if they are so inclined.
If you copy your recovered media in to a new empty library then it won't have your playlists, ratings, playcounts etc. The two scripts I mention attempt to analyze all of the tracks in your library and on the device, and where a match can be found in the tag information (i.e. same name, track number, artist, album, etc.) the stats or playlist membership information are copied across.
Data copied to an iPod in disk mode can be copied back as is. Media copied over by iTunes however is given obscure filenames and placed in hidden folders. The aim is to prevent casual copying of media. Of course it is no barrier to the determined pirate, but that is the main drive behind the way things are set up.
For the future make sure you backup not just the media but the whole iTunes folder. The core of the library, holding ratings, play counts, playlists etc. is the iTunes Library.itl file. The user tip Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy suggests a way to efficiently backup the folder and then subsequent changes to it.
tt2