Is there a way of getting all my songs from my iPod to my itunes, not just the purchased ones?

Question

Basically, our computer crashed not long ago, and since then we have had all the stuff from our old computer taken and put on the admin of a our new computer.  However, my music files seem to have disappeared, including the ones that were in Windows Media Player that were also on my iPod (a nano).  I connected my iPod to iTunes after downloading it from the Apple website, but only the songs I have purchased from iTunes Store have been transfered to the iTunes library.  Is there a way I can retrieve all the other non-Apple files from my iPod to the iTunes library, thus making it safe to sync them both without fear of losing more songs?
Thank you!!

Answer 1

We can't recommend a product, but we can point you to the direction of iLounge which they will know what currenty works to bring all your files off your iDevice back into iTunes.
I also have some recovery options and advice here:
Recovery options:
A: If Windows isn't booting:
You need to boot the computer from a "recovery disk or USB" that has a operating system on it and a graphical user interface to transfer files from your boot drive to a external drive.
I suggest using the Easy USB Installer to install Ubuntu 10.10 onto a 2-4 GB USB key.
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
or
burn a ISO of Ubuntu 10.10 or PartedMagic to a cd-r with ImgBurn or Win 7 right click and burn
You can use Disk Utility in OS X to select the ISO and burn to cd/dvd as well.
Once you have it installed, consult this page for your BIOS boot key to hold to get into the BIOS.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/a/biosaccess_pc.htm
Plug the USB into the back (if possible) of the computer, connect the external drive and enter the BIOS, set the USB (or CD) as first boot and SAVE.
Boot off the USB/CD and "Try Ubuntu/Run from disk" DON'T INSTALL. (Parted Magic loads into RAM and ejects CD)
Once in, go under the menu Places > Computer and transfer your files to the external drive just like you would in Windows, drag and drop.
(If using Parted Magic double click on the Mount Drive left icon twice, use the two GUI windows to transfer files to external drive, unmount drives, log out/quit in the lower left corner menu option)
B: If the computer hardware isn't working, but the drive might still work:
You'll have to remove the power cord and manually extract the hard drive. This might result in some damage.
There is a powered IDE/SATA to USB adapter for sale online for $20 that you can take that internal hard drive and use it like a external drive to access your files from another Windows machine.
C: If your iTunes content is deleted...
It might be recoverable if it hasn't been overwritten yet by fresh data. Undelete software works by reading the 1's and 0's of the files themselves, not what the OS says.
You need to use undelete software pre-installed before the iTunes content was deleted, or while on a bootable cd/USB and a external drive to transfer the recovered files.
You can also install undelete type software on a new machine and USE STEP B above to "undelete" the files and recover them directly to the new computer.
You can't install undelete software or recover files to the same drive your attempting to recover from or it overwrites the deleted data.
D: If the hard drive doesn't work and...
The data isn't worth spending $2000-$3000 in a ATTEMPT at platter dissection recovery, then your finished
If the data on the drive was encrypted, data recovery efforts may be futile, unless it's a encypted file and you transfer it successfuly and have the password to de-crypt it.
E: If you have a "iDevice" with any content
It can be synced back into iTunes, check at iLounge what third party software works reliably now and for your version.
Once you log into your iTunes account, you can sync ONLY iTunes purchased content back from a iDevice
Third party software can recover just about all the items on a iDevice, regardless of it's origin. (can't recommend such software here)
F: If any of the above is too hard, or the data is of "critical importance"
Then seek professional computer or forensic level recovery services.
Get help from someone who has done this sort of thing repeatly and can almost guaranty 100% results.
There is Linux software that can "rip" all data off a iOS device if that level of attention is needed, seek a professional service.
Hope this helps in your data recovery efforts.
Please, backup your data, it's the only thing us IT professionals can't recover.