How do i get my itunes and ipod classic to sync on new computer?

Question

I just got a new laptop and transferred my songs to it. Some of my playlists did not make it over, but are still on my ipod classic.  When i connect my ipod classic to the laptop and try to sync, itunes tells me that it will erase all data and then sync it.  I do not want to lose my playlists.  Any suggestions?

Answer 1

If you transfer your complete iTunes data from your old computer to your new computer, the iTunes library on the new computer is the same iTunes library that was on the old computer.  All of your playlists (as well as other supporting data such as ratings and play count) will be there, and your iPod will treat like it as the same iTunes library.  What you probably did is move your iTunes media files (such as song files) and added them to a new iTunes library on the new computer.
So, if you still have access to your old computer, with its iTunes library intact, you may want to do the transfer again, following the procedure described here
Back up your iTunes library by copying it to an external drive - Apple Support
There are many steps, but to summarize:  (1) Consolidate all of your iTunes user data so that it's in one place, your iTunes folder.  (2) Copy that iTunes folder to an external drive.  (3) Install iTunes on the new computer (and while iTunes is NOT running), replace the existing iTunes folder with the one from the old computer (on the external drive).  When iTunes runs, it uses your old iTunes folder.
Otherwise, if your iPod is the only source available, iTunes syncing is generally in one direction only, from the computer's iTunes library to the iPod, NOT from iPod to computer.  However, there are third party methods and utilities that can transfer from iPod to computer.  If you do an Internet search on something like "ipod transfer," you should get some links.  Some utilities may recover playlist data.