Is your iPod music list empty or blank in iTunes? Read inside.

I had a problem that at least a few other people on this board have complained about, and never could find a satisfactory answer on these forums and elsewhere. The full problem is as follows:
1. you plug your iPod in.
2. iTunes pops up
3. Under Devices->Music where the iPod icon is, the music list/library is blank or empty, even though you can access everything with no problem on the iPod itself.
4. Plugging iPod into other computers with iTunes has the same problem.
Here's a way to solve it without the extreme system-restore your-iPod-and-copy-everything-back-over "solution" (and I can't use those quotation marks sarcastically enough).
1. Close iTunes.
2. Open Windows Explorer.
3. Browse to whatever drive your iPod has been assigned.
4. Make sure "view hidden files" is checked in explorer, and browse to the hidden folder "X:\iPod_Control\iTunes" where X is the drive letter assigned to your iPod.
5. There you will see files called things like, "iTunesControl", "iTunesDB", "Temp File" and similar. In the "X:\iPod_Control\iTunes" create a directory called "oldITunesFiles" and drag the entire contents of the directory into the folder.*
6. Open iTunes. Volia! Itunes will rebuild your iTunesDB file and your music list will no longer be blank. Why wasn't this refresh functionality built into iTunes again?
* if something goes wrong, take the whole contents of the oldITunesFiles folder and put it back in X:\iPod_Control\iTunes.
I hope this helps somebody, I tore out my hair trying to figure this out for a month.

HI. Yeah I had the same problem as you along with some others such as the ipod constantly disconnecting during upload. Unfortunately I live in the UK where we get ripped off on every type of consumer good and my Belkin card cost me £40 ($60-65).
I have 8 'onboard USBs' and my ipod wouldn't work with any of them! Very annoying but now, like you, I have a fully functional ipod and loving it.

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Connect the iOS device to your computer and restore via iTunes. Place the iOS device in Recovery Mode if necessary to allow the restore.
If recovery mode does not work try DFU mode.
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iTunes: Restoring iOS software
To restore from backup see:
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Is it possible to burn onto CD a 1hour voice recording recorded via your ipod2 directly to a USB external hardrive CD burner attached to your ipod via USB, without having to use itunes or be online (wifi).

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My music library list is the right darkness on my computer screen but when i go to my iPod list (while iPod is connected), I cannot manipulate any of the songs or playlists. Strangely, the colour of this list is a light gray and I'm not sure what that means. Can somebody help? Thanks!

Grey text when you look at the content and a lock symbol at the bottom of the screen just indicates that the iPod is set to update automatically (sync). If you want to access the iPod directly, delete songs from the iPod, drag songs from iTunes etc. you need to change the update setting to "manually manage songs and videos. If you want to manage it manually then connect your iPod and click on the iPod icon in the iTunes source list to bring up the preference tabs in the main pane. In the Summary tab check the box "manually manage music and videos" and click Apply:
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Something to remember about using an iPod in manual mode is that the "Do Not Disconnect" message will remain on the display until you physically eject the device. In that case use the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the Windows system tray on the desktop and check this link for alternative methods:: Safely Disconnect IPod

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I turned on my ipod and discovered that all of my music was gone. (Pictures, etc. are OK. It appears to be only a problem in the music area.)However, when I connected the ipod to my computer I could see that the music is still there, it's just that the ipod doesn't know it. The files have crazy names but can be successfully played via itunes through the computer, although I never know which song I'm choosing. Is there a way to get the ipod to recognize the songs in its music folder? I use an old PC with a small hard drive, so after I copy music to my ipod I delete the songs from the PC library - therefore I can't just copy everything back to the ipod. (i.e., the songs are on the ipod - how do I get the ipod to recognize them? Please tell me there's a way!)

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Check out the instructions/suggestions here.
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Open iTunes and select edit/preferences/advanced/general. Put a check mark in the box marked "copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library" and also "keep iTunes music folder organized", then click 'ok'.
Connect the iPod whilst holding down the shift/ctrl keys to prevent any auto sync, and if you see the dialogue window asking if you want to sync to this itunes library, click 'no'.
Then go to file/add folder, open 'my computer', select your iPod and click 'ok'.
The music files should transfer to your iTunes.
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hi,
my cousin, is having a problem.
all she can tell me is, she plugged her new ipod into pc....and she got some message saying "restore"......she clicked yes........
and now.... her ipod is cleaned out.....no music in it......she had thousands of songs in it......
also..... her itunes library in itunes on her pc...... when she clicks a song, it says unable to locate file.... so no music is playing in itunes.
i think she says most of the music is also wiped from her itunes library.
she checked her itunes location, in my documents etc... and the folder is empty she said.......
although thousands of songs were on her ipod only, and not on her itunes, as she put songs on from her mates libraries, and also her computer died recently and she lost her old library....
sounds bad right?
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I think you've misunderstood. What I mean was to drag a track from iTunes into a folder that is on your desktop as opposed to dragging directly to the desktop.
In any case, I guess you can try deleting your preferences from ~/Library/Preferences to see if that helps. There are three of them…
com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist
com.apple.iTunes.plist
com.apple.iTunesHelper.plist
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Or
See
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or
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paying special attention to item #5
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Ipod music, etc transfer back to computer itunes

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If you are using iTunes version 7 or later, then you can transfer purchased iTunes store music from the iPod to an authorized computer by using the "file/transfer purchases from iPod" menu. Note that the maximum of 5 authorized computers applies here.
For all other non purchased music (your own CDs etc) try this method which works on some Windows PCs.
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See: iPod Disk Use.
Open iTunes and select edit/preferences/advanced/general. Put a check mark in the box marked "copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library" and also "keep iTunes music folder organized", then click 'ok'.
Connect the iPod whilst holding down the shift/ctrl keys to prevent any auto sync, and if you see the dialogue window asking if you want to sync to this itunes library, click 'no'.
Then go to file/add folder, open 'my computer', select your iPod and click 'ok'.
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Music from iPod to computer (using option 2). This a manual method using "hidden folders" and although it works, it can be messy.
Much easier ways are to use one of the many 3rd party programs that copy music from the iPod to the computer.
One of the most recommended is Yamipod. This is a free program that transfers music and playlists etc from iPod back to the computer. However, it does not transfer playcounts/ratings etc.
Another free program is Pod Player.
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Hi CarolNonnen,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like you're looking for more information about selling your original content on iTunes. The webpage below will answer your initial questions and help you start selling your content.
Apple - iTunes - Working with iTunes - Sell Your Content - Music Provider: FAQs
https://www.apple.com/itunes/working-itunes/sell-content/music-faq.html
How much does it cost to sign up to offer my content on iTunes?
Signing up to offer your music on iTunes is free. Additional details on the sales terms are available during the sign-up process.
I hope this helps.
-Jason

Is your iPod music list empty or blank in iTunes? Read inside.

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