Ipod classic 160 using 30GB laptop

Question

Is there a way to import my extensive cd collection (at least 160GB worth) to my ipod classic 160 using a laptop that has only 30GB? Can I somehow use my 1TB external drive to help get all the music onto my ipod? So far everything I import to itunes goes directly on my laptop which has been quickly overloaded. Can anyone give me an idea of what to do here. This was so easy using non apple mp3. There must be a way!

Answer 1

First, there is no need to convert mp3 files to AAC, iTunes and iPod support mp3 just fine. So, you can rip your CDs in iTunes in the mp3 or AAC format, or any of the formats supported by iTunes.
Second, it sounds like you’re interested in moving your library off of your laptop and onto your external drive, no problem! That makes it easier to help if that is your ultimate goal. But just to make it clear, there are a few considerations you need to be aware of:
a- iTunes has a “Consolidate Library” utility that lets you port all your music files to a new location. Doing this leaves the original music files in place and creates copies in the new location. So, you need to decide if you want to keep the originals or delete them once they are all copied to the external drive. You can make that choice later.
b- When you consolidate your library to your external drive, iTunes will have to manage the organization of the files and folders. So, if you’re using your own way of filing your mp3 files and not letting iTunes manage it, then consolidating your library will copy all your files into the iTunes organization on the external drive (but your original files will remain where they were).
c- Having an iTunes library on an external drive works just fine but there can be a few quirks. If you have a PC, sometimes Windows decides to change the drive letter of your external drive for no apparent reason. Also, if you start iTunes and it can’t find the external drive (disconnected, power off, new drive letter, etc.) then iTunes will open with a default library, which it expects to be on the C:\...\My Music\iTunes location. If you don’t have a library file in that location, then iTunes will create one and open up with a blank library. However, both of these risks can be handled easily and are recoverable.
d- You can have multiple iTunes libraries, such as the one on your external drive and perhaps the original library on your laptop. However, all libraries are independent so when you change one there is no change to the others. If you manage multiple libraries, you need to decide up front which will be your primary library. Since you have a capacity limitation on your laptop, your primary would be the external drive. The reason to decide this is so that (1) if you auto-sync your iPod, you want it to reflect what’s in the primary library, which may be different from the one on your laptop, and (2) when you add new music, make tag changes, make new playlists, etc., you make sure you’re doing that to your primary library so that the changes get put onto your iPod. So, if you decide to keep the original library on your laptop as an auxiliary library, then you should not auto-sync your iPod with that library open since over time it will differ from your primary library on your external drive. Also, when adding new music, do that with your primary library open, not the one kept on your laptop. With some experience, you can learn how to add new music to your external drive, then also add it to your laptop, but I won’t get into that now.
So, if you’re ready to go through with this, follow these steps:
1- Make a backup copy of your "iTunes Library.itl" file. By default, this is located in your C:\...\My Music\iTunes. Keep a copy of this file in a safe place just in case something goes wrong with the consolidation (see step 9 for recovery). You should make a habit of backing this file up anyway since it contains all your playlists, song ratings, and play history.
2- Create a folder on your external drive where you’re going to put your music files. If you have some music already on the external, I don’t recommend putting your new library there, create a separate folder (e.g. E:\iTunes Music). If you already have some music on the external drive that you want in iTunes, you will add those at the end of this process.
3- Start iTunes and go to your iTunes preferences (Edit/Preferences, then click on the Advanced tab). Next to the “iTunes Music folder location” window, click on the “Change” button and navigate to the folder you created in step 2. iTunes will put up a message indicating something like “updating library” but that doesn’t actually move your library.
4- While still looking at your iTunes preferences, make sure these two options are selected: "Keep iTunes music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library". Close the preferences dialog.
5- Select the iTunes command Advanced/Consolidate Library. iTunes will warn you that this is a big change, so let it rip if you're ready. iTunes will copy all your laptop’s library to the new location on your external drive. This may take awhile if you have a large library.
6- When the consolidation is complete, right-click on any song and select Get Info. Check to see that iTunes has the native file stored in the new location on the external drive.
7- This step is optional, but I recommend doing it to help prevent problems with drive letter changes, and it makes your iTunes library completely portable to other Windows PCs running the same version of iTunes as your laptop. Close iTunes and go to the C:\...\My Music\iTunes folder. Move (don’t copy) the "iTunes Library.itl" and "iTunes Music Library.xml" files to your external drive. You can put them anywhere but I recommend a folder that is easy to see and understand (e.g. E:\iTunes Library Files). Now, hold the Shift key while you start iTunes – keep holding the Shift key until you are prompted to “Choose Library” or “Create Library”. Select “Choose Library” and navigate to you put the "iTunes Library.itl" file on the external drive. iTunes will start up as usual. Note that holding the Shift key while you start iTunes is how you toggle between libraries, and how you can create a new (blank) library. Also, iTunes remembers the location of the last library it opened, so you don’t need to use the Shift key to re-open the library you last used.
8- If you had music on the external drive that you want to add to iTunes (now that you have extra capacity on the external drive), then simply drag and drop these files directly into your iTunes library. iTunes will make copies of these songs and organize them in the new folder structure you’ve set up – you can delete the original copies of these songs once you confirm that they’re new location in iTunes is set.
9- If any of the above steps got messed up, or you’re not happy with the results, then simply restore the copy of the "iTunes Library.itl" file you backed up in step 1 (put it back in the same location), then hold the Shift key while you start iTunes and navigate to the original "iTunes Library.itl" file location on your C: drive.
10- If all is well and you don’t want the original files on your laptop, then delete away. If you decide to keep the original files as an alternate library, then do the same as in step 9 to restore the original library. You can then toggle between libraries by holding the Shift key while starting iTunes and selecting the appropriate "iTunes Library.itl" file. Note that to change from one library to another, you need to close iTunes and restart it with the Shift key being held – you cannot change from one library to another with iTunes open. Also, sometimes it helps to put something in each library so that you can easily tell which one you have open. Maybe create a folder in the iTunes source column called "Primary" or "Secondary" so you can tell when you open one library vs. the other.
11- If you launch iTunes expecting it to open the library on your external drive and it comes up with an empty library, or the original library, that may mean that your external drive is not being recognized by your laptop. Check to make sure it is active, then re-start iTunes with the Shift key and select the "iTunes Library.itl" file on the external drive to return to your primary library.
12- If you have other PCs with the same version of iTunes, you can connect your external drive to them and use the Shift key as you launch iTunes to select your library. This makes your library portable to other computers – cool huh?