Converting iPod from Windows to Mac

We recently purchased our first Mac, a MiniMac. My son has a iPod Video that was originally formatted for Windows. When hooking it up to the MiniMac, it stated that it would have to be reset to factory settings, thus loosing his video, photos and music. To top it off, the PC that he synchronized to in the past is no longer here.
I can hook the iPod video up to a PC Workstation (Windows XP) and can see the HD at the same time but can only really see the photos. The music and videos seem to be archived.
I was hoping to copy the photos, music and videos on the PC workstation, hook up the iPod to the MiniMac and reset to the Mac factory settings and then import the saved photos, music and videos.
I am a bit stuck right now and could use any advice. Thanks
iPod video Mac OS X (10.4.7) Also using Windows XP

If you transfer the songs etc to the PC and then restore the iPod on the Mac you won't be able to use the iPod on Windows. An iPod formatted for Mac 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. There third party programs that will allow you to use a Mac formatted iPod on Windows, this is one for instance gets good reviews: XPlay 2
With the songs back on the iPod you could use Senuti as recommended above to transfer from the iPod to the Mac. Alternatively connect the PC and the Mac and move the songs from one to another: Networking with a Windows PC

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Convert iPod from Windows to Mac

I've been using my iPod (30GB) with Windows and am just now switching everything to a new MacBook Pro. Do I need to do anything to switch my iPod from Windows to Mac, or does it just sync with the new Mac without my having to do anything?

Macs can read Windows formatting so your iPod should work Fine on your MacBook. However if you don't intend using the iPod on Windows again you should consider restoring it and formatting it on the Mac. If you keep it in Windows format you'll have to connect it back to a PC to make any firmware updates otherwise the formatting will be changed. One other thing, if you haven't transferred your music from the PC to the Mac you won't be able to sync the iPod if you do you'll lose what's on it. To be sure you don't accidentally erase the content you should set the iPod to manual update until your music is on the Mac.
If your iPod is set to update automatically take care when connecting to your new computer and an empty iTunes. You will get a message that your iPod 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 songs from your iPod. Your iPod should appear in the iTunes source list from where you can change the update setting to manual and 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: Managing content manually on iPod
You can also use a keyboard command to prevent your iPod auto-syncing with iTunes. While connecting the iPod to the computer on a Mac hold down the Option and Command (⌥ and ⌘ Apple) keys. This will stop the iPod from auto-syncing with iTunes and it 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. You should then be able to change your settings: iTunes Keyboard Shortcuts for OSX
Just some additional information in regard to moving the music from your iPod in case you no longer have the PC. If you have any iTMS purchases the transfer of purchased content from the iPod to authorised computers has been introduced with iTunes 7 A paragraph on it has been added to this article: Transfer 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's a manual method of copying songs from your iPod to your Mac. The procedure is a bit involved but if you're interested it's available at this link: Two-way Street: Moving Music Off the iPod
If you prefer something more automated 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. You can also read reviews of some of them here: Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
Senuti Mac Only
iPodRip Mac Only
PodWorks Mac Only
PodView Mac Only
iPodAccess Mac & Windows
YamiPod Mac & Windows
PodUtil Mac & Windows
iPodCopy Mac & Windows
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 again.

How do I reformat my iPod from windows to mac?

How do I reformat my iPod from Windows to MAC?

On the Mac, click here and follow the instructions.
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How do I reprogram my ipod from Windows to Mac?

How do I reprogram my ipod from Windows to Mac?

Connect the iPod. Decline any offers from iTunes to sync it, if this is the first time the iPod has been connected to the Mac. When the iPod appears in the iTunes sidebar, under DEVICES, select it there. Over to the right, on the Summary tab, there is a Restore button. Click it. Follow the prompts.
Restore will erase the iPod and install the latest software, using default settings. If it is connected to a Mac when you do the Restore, it will use Mac formatting during the erase. That's basically the only difference. The software is the same, so it is not really "reprogrammed."

Formatting my ipod from windows to Mac

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hola adolfo, acabo de comprarme un macbook y descubro el mismo problema que tu. mi ipod 30gb estaba con windows pero ahora mac no lo reconoce. he estado leyendo y parece que hay que restaurarlo pero mi duda principal por ahora es: si se borra la musica y fotos que tengo actualmente en el ipod? agradecere mucho tu experiencia, mi nivel de ingles no es bueno. diego

Transfering my ipod from windows to mac

i've been tying to reformat my ipod from windows so i can use it with my new mac book pro, but i can't find the cd my ipod came with and obviously my mac won't read it. what can i do????

I am also wondering how to do a similar thing. I just got a Macbook Pro and have a 5th gen. iPod that I have quite a few songs on. When I first got the iPod, I was running it on a PC. I have heard that to use it on my Mac, without erasing the few songs that I have in my new iTunes, that I need to restore my iPod on my old computer and set it to run with a Mac and then plug it into my Mac to completely re-write all of the songs onto it.
Is this right?
Macbook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.9)

How do I change my iPod from Windows to Mac ?

When I got my IPod, my music was on a windows computer. Now I have a MacBook Pro and want to convert my Ipod nano to the Mac. How can I do this as I am new to the IPod and very new to the MacBook?

Connect it to your Mac and restore it. Just be aware that restoring will erase and reformat the hard drive, reload the software and put it back to default settings, so if you have songs on your iPod that aren't on iTunes you will lose them if you have no back up. Once the restore is complete follow the on screen instructions and it should connect to iTunes and give you a prompt to automatically update your library onto the fresh installation: Restoring iPod to Factory Settings with iTunes 7
If you haven't transferred the music from your PC to the Mac and you have any iTMS purchases on your iPod the transfer of purchased content from the iPod to authorised computers has been introduced with iTunes 7. A paragraph on it has been added to this article: Transfer iTunes Store purchases using iPod
The transfer of non iTMS content is designed by default to be one way from iTunes to iPod. However there is a manual method of accessing the iPod's hard drive and copying songs back to iTunes on Windows posted in this thread: MacMuse - iPod to iTunes
If you prefer something more automated then there are 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. You can read reviews of some of them here: Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
YamiPod Mac and Windows Versions
iGadget Windows Only
iPod Access Mac and Windows Versions
PodUtil Mac and Windows Versions
iPodCopy Mac and Windows Versions
PodPlayer Windows Only
CopyPod Windows Only

Switching Ipod from windows to mac without losing all data

Please help. I set up my Ipod last year with windows computer, downloaded most of my CD's and lots of other music, last month laptop was stolen and I decided to buy a macbook as replacment.
I would like to transfer all songs from IPOD to new itunes library, which requires converting IPod to hard disk, but in mac I am not allowed this function, or I can't find it. The tick box is not shown in the summar page
Can someone give me an idiots guide, the instructions in various mac help sites are not getting me anywhere!

First, please note that your iPod previously formatted on a PC, should be able to read by your Mac, but not the other way round. You can copy the music files from your iPod to the iTunes on your Mac by download and install a 3rd party software
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1020963&tstart=0

Changing an iPod from Windows to Mac format

I want to change my iPod from a windows format to Mac. I understand that i can restore my ipod but how could I get my songs back on the Mac from the PC . I have also heard that I can use iPod iRip but do not quiet understand that. If anyone could explain to me either how to restore and not lose my music or to use iRip i would really appriciate it.

Restore it from within iTunes.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1339?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

How do I change the format of my 5th Generation iPod from Windows to Mac

How do I change the format of my 5th Gen iPod from a Windows format to the Mac?

But this will delete all the songs I have? I have a lot of them on my iPod classic
Yes.
I want to transfer (well copy) all my songs from the iPod to itunes on the mac - and then have the itunes library as being placed on the external drive. The last part I think I know, but I can't work out how to copy music from my iPod
See this older post from another forum member Zevoneer covering the different methods and software available to assist you with the task of copying content from your iPod back to your PC and into iTunes.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2452022?start=0&tstart=0
Then see here about backing your iTunes library onto an external hard drive.
iTunes: Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
B-rock

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My 3G iPod is no longer recognized by my Windows XP machine at work and I want to change it over to my G5 iMac at home. Neither Windows nor Mac will read the iPod in disk mode and both offer to format/initialize the drive. Do I start by initializing the iPod HD over to Mac format and go from there to restore the iPod?
thanks for any help

Keep in mind that formatting as a Mac iPod you will not be able to add songs to it from your pc. The only thing you'll be able to do on your Windows XP machine at work is charge it.

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I am trying to change my iPod from a windows format to a mac. What do I need to do?

My daughter recently got an iPod Nano as a gift. Unfortunately, it was formatted for a PC and we are unable to load songs onto it from our Mac. If we simply reset the Nano, will we have the option to format it for the Mac? I realize we will lose all the content during the reset, but it is more important for her to be able to load her new music from the Mac.

Re-formating iPod from Windows to MAc

How do I, if possible, reformat my iPod that I use to connect to a Windows based PC to a MAC? Also can I do it without wiping out music libary on the iPod?

On the Mac, use these instructions to restore the iPod; doing this will erase everything on it.
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Can I convert my iPod from Windows to Mac?

I've had an ipod for over a year now, and I have a ton of music on it. I am gonna be getting my first Mac computer soon, so I was wondering whether or not I can use my iPod on that computer without losing any of my songs? Thanks!

The mac can read a windows formatted iPod (but not vice versa). However, its probably best mac-formatted. The easiest solution is to, on your pc, take all the songs off the nano and enable it for disk use. Then, put the song files on the iPod in my computer (like a HD). Then, upload the files from the iPod to the mac, download the iPod updater and restore the iPod. It will be mac-formatted.
Great choice, getting a mac!
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I need HELP converting my iPod from Windows to Mac

Anyone know how to do it??? Can I rip my music from my Windows iPod onto my Mac before reformatting my iPod to Mac?

To format an iPod to a different OS tpye, all you ned to do is restore the iPod in iTunes : Restoring your iPod to factroy settings
If your iPod is in Windows format, you can connect and sync it on a Mac computer, but you can't update the iPod's firmware unless it is formatted to a Mac, though.
Can I rip my music from my Windows iPod onto my Mac before reformatting my iPod to Mac?
Yes, you can.
Senuti is a free third-party utility that transfers your iPod songs to your computer (it's Mac-compatible).
-Kylene

Converting iPod from Windows to Mac

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