Can I sync iPod without music files accessible?

I'm traveling with my laptop but not my external HD which stores almost all my music. (The original My Music folder exists on my C: drive with one or two files in it.) I know it's okay to boot up iTunes anyway, since podcasts update to the default original folder in that case. BUT I'm also wondering if it's safe to sync up to get those podcast updates on my iPod --- I don't want to have to click "OK" for every single one of 4000 files it might say it "can't locate", or, God forbid, have iTunes try to erase anything from the iPod! Is it safe to sync and let the new podcasts upload onto the iPod under the circumstances, or will I risk causing myself a huge problem??
Thanks!

I know this won't be much assurance, because I can't guarantee it, but in my experience, files with next to them will result in an error in iTunes (the song "whatever" was not found, and won't be updated on the iPod), but if the file is already on the iPod it is not removed.

Similar Messages

Syncing iPod without all files on the computer.

What happens when I sync my iPod without having all the songs that are on the iPod not on the computer? I'd like to add songs from CDs without having to copy to my hard drive. HD space is limited, but I'd like to load up my iPod Classic 60GB.
Thanks

*I'd like to add songs from CDs without having to copy to my hard drive.*
You'll still have to import your CDs to iTunes and your computer or you'll not be able to put them on the iPod but you can delete them once that is done.
If you want to delete songs from iTunes and keep them on the iPod you need to change the update option of your iPod to "manually manage music and videos" (this setting isn't available for an iPod shuffle, you can't delete from iTunes and keep the songs on the shuffle). The content of iTunes and the iPod are not syncronised in this mode so the two can be different, you can get details here:
Managing content manually on iPod and iPhone
iPod - Syncing Music
One major word of caution. If you delete songs or videos from your computer and have no back up other than the iPod you will risk losing them permanently if your iPod fails or you find you have to restore it to solve a problem. You should consider investing in an additional internal or external hard drive to store/back up your music. Alternatively at the very least back up anything you can't replace such as iTunes downloads to CD or DVD: How to back up your media in iTunes
Something else to be aware of when using an iPod in manual mode is that the "Do Not Disconnect" message will remain on the display until you physically eject the device: Safely Disconnect IPod
Don't delete anything until you have changed the update option. If by any chance you do however you can use a keyboard command to prevent your iPod auto-syncing with iTunes. While connecting the iPod to the computer on Windows with iTunes 7.3 or later installed hold down the Shift + Ctrl keys together. This will stop the iPod from auto-syncing with iTunes and the iPod will appear in the source list. Wait until you are sure the iPod has mounted, and that it will not auto sync and then you can let the keys go. This may take between 20 to 30 seconds depending on your computer. Once you are connected the settings can be changed: iTunes - Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

How can I sync IPod, with lots of music, to ITunes empty library?

I lost my entire ITunes library when I had to format the hard drive. Now I want to sync all the info in my iPod into this new library. I wory that the sync may go the other way and empty my IPod. When I connect the IPod to the computer it tells me that it is synced with a different library. (This must be the one that was deleted when I formatted the disk).
Please help

1). Connect your iPod to your computer. When you get the message that it is linked to a different library and asking if you want to link to this one and replace all your songs etc, press "Cancel". Pressing "Erase and Sync" will irretrievably remove all the songs from your iPod.
2). When your iPod appears in the iTunes source list change the update setting to manual, that will let you use your iPod without the risk of accidentally erasing it. Check the "manually manage music and videos" box in Summary then press the Apply button. Also when using most of the utilities listed below your iPod needs to be enabled for disc use, changing to manual update will do this by default: Managing content manually on iPod and iPhone
3). Once you are safely connected there are a few things you can do to restore your iTunes from the iPod. There are a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve the music files and playlists from your iPod. You'll find that they have varying degrees of functionality and some will transfer movies, videos, photos, podcasts and games as well. Have a look at the web pages and documentation, this is just a small selection of what's available, they are generally quite straightforward. You can read reviews and comparisons of some of them here:
Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
Comparison of iPod managers
TuneJack Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
SharePod Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod2PC Windows Only
iDump Windows Only
iPodRip Mac & Windows
YamiPod Mac and Windows
iPod Music Liberator Mac & Windows
Floola Mac & Windows
Music Rescue Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iGadget Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iRepo Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Access Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
TouchCopy Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
If you have any iTunes Music Store purchases the transfer of purchased content only from the iPod to authorised computers was introduced with iTunes 7. You'll find details in this article: Copying iTunes Store purchases from your iPod or iPhone to a computer
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 on page 2 at this link: Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide
4). Whichever of these retrieval methods you choose, keep your iPod in manual mode until you have reloaded your iTunes and you are happy with your playlists etc then it will be safe to return it auto-sync.
5). I would also advise that you get yourself an external hard drive and back your stuff up, relying on an iPod as your sole backup is not a good idea and external drives are comparatively inexpensive these days, you can get loads of storage for a reasonable outlay: Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive

I got a new laptop and I can't sync all my music onto iTunes without iTunes saying it will erase my songs on the phone, how do I fix this to where I can put all my music on my laptop?

I got a new laptop and I can't sync all my music onto iTunes without iTunes saying it will erase my songs on the phone, how do I fix this to where I can put all my music on my laptop?

If you do not have access to the iTunes Library on your Old computer... or its Backup...
See these 2 Links...
Syncing to a New Computer...
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141
Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
If you do have access... See Here...
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer

TS1456 My 4th Gen iPod Nano isn't displaying a "Use iTunes to restore" message, but iTunes is displaying a restore message when I connect it. I have original music that I can't back up on my iPod. Is there any way that I can fix the iPod without restoring

My 4th Gen iPod Nano isn't displaying a "Use iTunes to restore" message, but iTunes is displaying a restore message when I connect it. I have original music that I can't back up on my iPod. Is there any way that I can fix the iPod without restoring it?

It's not designed to work like this. When you sync, the iPod stores some information that basically says 'this iPod belongs to computer xyz'. Apple did this to prevent copyright issues (syncing someone else's music).
If you really want to do this, you'll have to at least tie both iTunes installations to the same account. Maybe have them sync with each other.

Can't sync iPod on Windows "Can't find file" message

This is my umpteenth problem with iTunes since getting Vista. Can't resist sharing that.
Problem: I sync my iPod (bought it two years ago; audio and video, it downloads some of my music, shows the progress on the "bar", then it gets stuck on one song, will sit there for five minutes trying to download and then gives me the error message "Can't sync iPod. Can't find the necessary file" or words to that effect. I try ejecting my iPod and while my iTunes goes back to normal, my I have to wait for my iPod to run out of power before it returns to normal.
I uninstalled iTunes and downloaded it again and got the same result. However, the newly downloaded iTunes still kept my old play lists so maybe it was not completely downloaded even though it disappeared from my computer.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

. when i plugged my ipod shuffle g1 in a few days ago itunes said the i had to restore my ipod. i did not want to but i had no choice cauz it already deleted my songs. after 5 trys it said "cant restore ipod"ipod". unknown error occurred (1418))(itunes did it by it self, i just put it in one very fateful afternoon. i spent 5 hrs on the computer and i still cant fix it) well i went to this web site to see if they could help me. i found something. it was a program for my ipod but by the time i downloaded it, it was too late. after a while plugging in my ipod "my computer" no longer reconized it as removable disk. a pop up comes up and says this device malfunctioned then my ipod disappears off the face of the earth. i would send it to the apple store but my warranty expired. bummer what should i do?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!umm i dont think anything can work towards our problem

When i connect my ipod to my computer it says unknown device however my ipod still charges i can not sync the new music i have on itunes

when i connect my ipod to my computer it says unknown device however my ipod still charges i can not sync the new music i have on itunes

iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Mac OS X
Or
See
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
- I would start with
Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP
or
Removing and reinstalling iTunes and other software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
However, after your remove the Apple software components also remove the iCloud Control Panel via Windows Programs and Features app in the Window Control Panel. Then reinstall all the Apple software components
- New cable and different USB port
- Run this and see if the results help with determine the cause
iTunes for Windows: Device Sync Tests
Also see:
iPod not recognised by windows iTunes
Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates
- Try on another computer to help determine if computer or iPod problem

Can't Sync - iPod & iTune Libraries are Differant

Something happened to my iTunes library. It won't sync with my iPod. I get a warning that the iPod is associated with another library, and since I can only have one library, I will lose the songs on the iPod if I sync with iTunes.
How can I get everything into one library without losing songs on the iPod and the iTunes? Thanks for any suggestions.

1). Connect your iPod to your computer. When you get the message that it is linked to a different library and asking if you want to link to this one and replace all your songs etc, press "Cancel". Pressing "Erase and Sync" will irretrievably remove all the songs from your iPod.
2). When your iPod appears in the iTunes source list change the update setting to manual, that will let you continue to use your iPod without the risk of accidentally erasing it. Check the "manually manage music and videos" box in Summary then press the Apply button. Also when using most of the utilities listed below your iPod needs to be enabled for disc use, changing to manual update will do this by default: Managing content manually on iPod and iPhone
3). Once you are connected and your iPod is safely in manual mode there are a few things you can do to restore your iTunes from the iPod. iTunes will only let you copy your iTunes Store purchases directly from an iPod to the computer, you'll find details in this article: Copying iTunes Store purchases from your iPod or iPhone to a computer
For everything else (music from CDs, other downloads and including iTunes purchased songs and in some cases, videos and games) there are a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve the music files and playlists from your iPod. You'll find that they have varying degrees of functionality and some will transfer movies, videos, photos, podcasts and games as well. You can read reviews and comparisons of some of them here:
Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
Comparison of iPod managers
A selection of iPod to iTunes utilities:
TuneJack Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
SharePod Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod2PC Windows Only
iDump Windows Only
YamiPod Mac and Windows
iPod Music Liberator Mac & Windows
Floola Mac & Windows
iPodRip Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Music Liberator Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
Music Rescue Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iGadget Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iRepo Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Access Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
TouchCopy Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
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 on page 2 at this link: Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide
4). Whichever of these retrieval methods you choose, keep your iPod in manual mode until you have reloaded your iTunes and you are happy with your playlists etc then it will be safe to return it auto-sync.
5). I would also advise that you get yourself an external hard drive and back your stuff up, relying on an iPod as your sole backup is not a good idea and external drives are comparatively inexpensive these days, you can get loads of storage for a reasonable outlay: Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive

Format iPod without losing files

hi everyone,
I'm new to apple, I bought a white macbook about a week ago..it's fantastic..
before doin' that I had a windows-based notebook, so my iPod is windows-formatted, how can I mac-format it without losing data?
grazie
F

You can't, restoring/reformatting will erase the hard drive. If you want to save the content prior to restoring there's a manual method of copying songs from your iPod to your Mac at this link: Two-way Street: Moving Music Off the iPod
If you prefer something more automated there are also a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve the music files and playlists from your iPod, this is just a selection. Have a look at the web pages and documentation for these, they are generally quite straightforward. I use Senuti but check the others out and choose whichever you are happy with.
Senuti Mac Only
iPodRip Mac Only
PodWorks Mac Only
iPod.iTunes Mac Only
PodView Mac Only
iPod Access Mac and Windows Versions
YamiPod Mac and Windows Versions
PodUtil Mac and Windows Versions
iPodCopy Mac and Windows Versions

I have reorganised my music in the itunes folder in windows explorer. Now I can't sync all my music to a new iPad, or play the music from itunes (as it is looking in the old location). How do I repoint itunes to all my music?

I have reorganised my music in the itunes folder in windows explorer. Now I can't sync all my music to a new iPad, or play the music from itunes (as it is looking in the old location). How do I repoint itunes to all my music?

Have you read for possible solutions over in the "More Like This" thread over here?----------------------->
Check out the following KB Articles: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329 How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer

I can not sync ipod due to 6gb of 'other', how do I get rid of this?

I can not sync ipod due to 6gb of 'other', how do i get rid of this?

Hello drumsdonkey,
Thanks for the question. The following article outlines issues with free space, capacity, and a large amount of "other" space. While it refers to iOS devices, most steps are applicable for your situation as well:
iOS: 'Not enough free space' alert when trying to sync
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1503
One symptom of this issue will be displayed in iTunes where the Capacity indicator for the iOS device will report a large amount of "Other" disk usage for the device. To resolve this issue:
- Turn off the music or photo sync option in iTunes for the device.
- Click Apply to sync the changes to the device.
- Turn the music and photo sync options for the device on again.
- Click Apply again to try to sync the device to iTunes.
Thanks,
Matt M.

Can't sync ipod, there is no disk in drive F

wat does that mean? does anyone know what kind of disk they are talking about? is it just a probmlem with my computer? does anyone know what i should do?
also, i was able to sync my music, but then i tried to sync some movies and videos and "can't sync ipod. There is no disk in drive F" popped up

i think i am having the same problem as well. i plugged my ipod in to my computer last night and it said something about scanning for problems...then it popped up my F drive saying that i needed to insert something into the F drive....
i have tried three different cords to hook up my iPod to my pc...I tried another usb port...so i am assuming that it is either my computer, the iTunes or the iPod...regardless of what it is, my iPod wont update. and when it says it is updating it's not.
Does ANYONE know what to do??
Message was edited by: 1stgennano2010

How can i sync all my music and playlists from my iphone to my new computer

how can i sync all my music and playlists from my iphone to my new computer

Yes. You can sync everything that is currently on your iPod Touch to your newer one. Just plug it in and sync it like you did with the old one.
If you want to retain your App data, see this article for information on backing up your current iPod Touch and restoring the backup onto a new one.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414
If you purchase the iPad, keep in mind that some Apps may not be compatible with it.
B-rock

How can I move the 'Itune music file' to another disk

Hello
I am using ITUNE in a Winfow XP environnement. I am running out of space on my C disk. How can I move my ITUNE music file
C:\Documents and Settings\Yves\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music
to another bigger partition on the same computer?
Sorry if that question as been answered before I may have missed it.
Thanks Yves.

Sorry, there is no way to move that file out of the Profile folder, or specify a different location for it, built into Firefox.
One extension that might be able to help you do that is Pike's Bookmark Backup extension. BB allows you to specify which files are backed-up and where those backup files are saved. It also has a backup interval setting, IIRC. <br />
http://www.pikey.me.uk/mozilla/?addon=bb

Can't sync apps or music iphone 4S ios_5

I can't sync apps or music to my 4S. I had upgraded my 4 to ios5, made a good backup, and tried to restore backup to the 4S. It says it is syncing (for an hour), but there are no apps on the phone other than built-in apps, and no music or audio content of any kind. Videos sync, as do contacts and notes.
I have tried the following:
Multiple syncs
delete itunes plist
delete and reinstall itunes
repair permissions (Power mac dual g5 2.0Ghz, 10.5.8, all software updated)
restore iphone 4S from scratch 3 times
tried the "dual restore" trick at least 6 times
Bought apps on phone and on computer (this has worked in past for certain itunes errors)
deauthorize and reauthorize computer for store
Here's where it gets weird - if I click the "apps" tab then 14GB of apps show up on the summary as loaded on the phone, but they're not. If I download a previously owned app, the data for the app is already on the iphone (1password pro, angry birds, etc.). I still can't sync so re-downloading all of the apps is not going to work for me.
I am at my wit's end - Genius Bar was unable to assist. Any tips are appreciated.
Thanks!

I have the same problem with the apps. I can't find the way to make them work on my IPhone 4s.
I have also tried:
Multiple syncs,
Restoring several times to factory settings and back to different back-ups
Plugging the USB cable in a different port,
Removed data (pictures and videos) to allow more memory space,
Uninstalling and reinstalling ITunes,
Deauthorize and reauthorize my computer
When my phone is plugged in and it's in sync mode, the apps tab on the ITunes is grayed out (meaning that is not getting included). We have two old 3G iPhone and an IPad that sync from the same computer and they work fine.
Please help if you have had any success!
Thank you!

Can I sync iPod without music files accessible?

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