Computer restore without saving itunes library....help

Question

My computer had to be restored to original settings and I did not know that you can only sync the ipod to one library at a time and did not transfer it. Now that ITunes is reinstalled I cant sync my ipod to get the songs I just bought without erasing all my old songs. I have tried the manage manually but it still says the songs was not copied to the ipod because I am not authorized to play them on the computer. How do I fix this?

Answer 1

Hi Shugabutt
you need to take all of your music manually off your ipod onto your computer.
Whethere you use 3rd party software or this way ill try to help you as best i can.
You need to be able to view hidden files on your computer , you need to go to the control panel and find folder options. (i believe that you could change the settings on in the windows explorer by clicking view at the top menu bar. you need to click it so that you can see the hidden files. (i think this explains simply what i said Tools -> Folder Options -> View, and then check (enable) the option “Show hidden files and folders.”)
Next find your ipod now if you have enabled hidden files you need to click on your ipod and find a folder called ipod control. the folder itself will look different maybe a bit transparent because it is hidden. Next you will go in and if you explore further you will see loads of files (transparent like ipod control) with things like F34 F01 (or F1) etc.
They are the files with your music on it and if you click on them, they will show music files but they wont have names. they are encrypted with file names like AKLY (basically four letters or 3 letters put together in capitals) so to get the names and other suff back simply drag the music files into itunes or import them individually (the folders) into itunes by clicking file, import into itunes and by folder.
Then once you have done this the names should be correct in Itunes.
Alternitavely you can drag all the files in 'ipod control' into an external Hard Drive if you go into itunes prefrences you can let itunes put all your music on your computer into organized files of album names.
*Also telling itunes in prefrences to organize music when you import helps* as it orgainsises songs into albums and artists.
Hope that Helped (if you don't understand what i said this guide is pretty good http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/P0)
Also if your willing to spend money by doing all of this in one click then this program for £14 (not sure in $) is really good. the free version (does 5 songs at a time) but the great thing is, is that it transfers directly to itunes you can get it here http://www.findleydesigns.com/
if you want to transfer your purchases then you need to go to itunes File>Transfer Purchases from Itunes and all of your purchases will be on your computer
Alex
Message was edited by: Alexander Richardson