How do I migrate to iTunes to a new laptop without losing my ipod content

Question

I installed iTunes in my new laptop with Vista OS. I am hesitate to plug in my iPod to add new mp3s. I know that it will identify that this is a new IPOD and will ask to reformat the iPOD. I am afraid of losign my content. How do I migrate my itune configuration from my old computer to my new Vista laptop. Basically, I want new iTune to recognize my IPOD like the old computer. Do I just copy the Program Files/ITunes folder to the new computer? I am not sure where the IPOD configuration is stored in the old computer.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Probably the most straightforward way to get iTunes onto your new computer is to network it with the old one and copy your iTunes folder across. This works fine if you have been using iTunes to completely manage your music and all your songs are in iTunes Music not in different folders. You can also use this method with an external hard drive, you drag the folder from the old computer to the external drive and then from the drive to the new computer.
Copying the whole folder brings with it the iTunes Music folder and also the iTunes Library (iTunes Library.itl in Windows) database file which holds all the information about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). You'll get more information including the Folder/File structure in this article: What are the iTunes library files?
When you copy the iTunes folder make sure you put it into the same location on the new computer. This has to be the exact same place, on a PC this is \Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\My Music\. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will be the same as on the original one Songs, Playlists, Play Counts, Ratings etc. When I moved iTunes a while ago for my daughter I was also using the same version of iTunes, not sure how important that is but it's probably worth keeping them the same.
Your iPod can be used as an external drive and you can move the iTunes folder onto it: How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer