Using Ipod to back up Itunes Library

If my PC crashes and I lose all my music files on my PC - can someone tell me how I can get the songs that I have previously syncronised onto my ipod Classic back onto the PC, for future use and management. I am worried that if, for example, I had to reformat my PC's hard drive, when the ipod syncs with the reformatted PC (that doesn't have any songs on it), it will delete all the songs on my ipod, leaving me with no songs. Or is the only alternative to back up the songs from my PC onto CDs? Seems a waste when they appear to already be "backed up" on the ipod, which effectively works as an external hard drive Your help will be much appreciated ! Alan

*I am worried that if, for example, I had to reformat my PC's hard drive, when the ipod syncs with the reformatted PC (that doesn't have any songs on it), it will delete all the songs on my ipod, leaving me with no songs.*
You can use a keyboard command to prevent your iPod auto-syncing with iTunes. While connecting the iPod to the computer on Windows with iTunes 7.3 or later installed hold down the Shift + Ctrl keys together. This will stop the iPod from auto-syncing with iTunes and the iPod will appear in the source list. Wait until you are sure the iPod has mounted, and that it will not auto sync and then you can let the keys go. This may take between 20 to 30 seconds depending on your computer: iTunes - Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows
*Seems a waste when they appear to already be "backed up" on the ipod, which effectively works as an external hard drive*.
Unlike an external drive, you may find you have to restore your iPod to fix a problem with the software, restoring will erase the iPod's drive. If it's your only back up you risk losing everything. I would advise that you get yourself an external hard drive and back your stuff up, relying on an iPod as your sole backup is not a good idea and external drives are comparatively inexpensive these days, you can get loads more storage than you'll get on an iPod for a reasonable outlay.
However if you have any iTunes Music Store purchases the transfer of purchased content from the iPod to authorised computers was introduced with iTunes 7. You'll find details in this article: Copying iTunes Store purchases from your iPod to a computer
You might also be interested in this link: this link: Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide

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I have downloaded itunes onto my newly restored laptop and now the songs that are on my ipod arnt in my itunes library how do i get them back into my itunes library?

my computer had to be restored and i lost everything on my computer and i had to redownload everything including itunes and now the songs that were on my ipod arnt in my itunes library i need to know how i can get them back into my library or if i even can

Download Past Purchases
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
Log into iTunes using the account the Purchase was made with... Click on Buy... and a notice will come up saying you already have it... do you wish to download it again... Click Yes...

HT1329 How can I get the songs on my iPod onto my new iTunes library?

I have an iPod that was synced to another iTunes library on another PC. The PC died and I replaced it with a MacBook Pro but it keeps saying the iPod is synced w/ another iTunes library. How can I get the songs on my iPod on the new iTunes library?

Some of the information below has subsequently appeared in a document by turingtest2: Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
Your i-device was not designed for unique storage of your media. It is not a backup device and media transfer was planned with you maintaining a master copy of your media on a computer which is itself properly backed up against loss. Syncing is one way, computer to device, updating the device content to the content on the computer, not updating or restoring content on a computer. The exception is iTunes Store purchases which can be transferred to a computer.
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 - only purchases from iTunes Store
For transferring other items from an i-device to a computer you will have to use third party commercial software. Examples (check the web for others; this is not an exhaustive listing, nor do I have any idea if they are any good):
- Expod (free) - http://www.headlightsoft.com/expod/ - Mac, universal for 104.+ (newer machines try de-Tune)
- deTune (free) - http://www.headlightsoft.com/detune/ - Mac, 10.5+
- Senuti - http://www.fadingred.com/senuti/
- Phoneview - http://www.ecamm.com/mac/phoneview/
- MusicRescue - http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/products/musicrescue/
- Sharepod (free) - http://download.cnet.com/SharePod/3000-2141_4-10794489.html?tag=mncol;2 - Windows
- Snowfox/iMedia - http://www.mac-videoconverter.com/imedia-transfer-mac.html - Mac & PC
- iexplorer (free) - http://www.macroplant.com/iexplorer/ - Mac&PC
- Yamipod (free) - http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/downloads/ - PC, Linux, Mac [Still updated for use on newer devices? No edits to site since 2010.]
- 2010 Post by Zevoneer: iPod media recovery options - https://discussions.apple.com/message/11624224 - this is an older post and many of the links are also for old posts, so bear this in mind when reading them.
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141 - dates from 2008 and some outdated information now.
Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/ - Information about use in disk mode pertains only to older model iPods.
Get Your Music Off of Your iPod - http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Get_Your_Music_Off_of_Your_iPod - I am not sure but this may only work with some models and not newer Touch, iPhone, or iPad.
Additional information here https://discussions.apple.com/message/18324797

I have an older ipod with a large itunes library and a new ipa 2. the both have the same email but different passwords.Can i sink th old ipod's library ith the new ipad's library?

I have an older ipod with a large itunes library. I have a new ipad2. Both have the same email address but different passwords. Can I merge both itunes libraries?

Not sure if this helps:-
The music files, were they bought from your iTunes account or did someone gift them to you after buying from the iTunes account? If they are yours you can download them again if you clear or de-authorise the ipod, it has to be done by whoever gave you the ipod to do this (the registered owner). If they were bought for you on another itunes account I don't think Apple let you use them as they are copyrighted and they don't belong to you, they belong to the person who bought them. If the music files where ripped from music cd's then click and drag them to a new folder on your desktop and have the person who gave you the ipod to de-authorise and unregister it. Then you re register it and put your files back from your desktop folder in your iTunes folder and synch. Hopefully that would work. Any files which you did not buy, I would not know how get around this, best bet is to take it to you nearest Apple Store and explain that they were gifted to you and ask how you can use them. The best way to gift music files is to buy the gift tokens and give these. Hope above helps.

How do I sync my old ipod to my "new" iTunes library without losing the music I already have loaded onto my iPod?

Hi, so I got my new computer loaded up with iTunes and I want to be able to move my music from my old iPod to my new iTunes library without losing any of the music I already have placed on the iPod. How would I do this? And please I'm not too savvy with the new iTunes layout and such so if you could make this easy in layman's terms that would be great.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
If you purchased all songs in the iTunes Store, plug your iPod to your Mac or PC and iTunes will ask you to transfer purchases.
If you didn't purchase any song or you have non-purchased songs from the iTunes Store, you have to use an application to transfer the songs to iTunes. Here is a list of applications you can use for that > https://discussions.apple.com/message/11319208#11319208

Can I transfer songs FROM my iPod to a new iTunes library with no music yet in my iTunes library, without losing my songs on my ipod

Can I transfer my songs FROM my iPod TO a new iTunes library with no songs in the library, without losing
my song ON my iPod? Hope this isn't confusing.

Make sure all contents are transferred and device is backed:
Transfer purchases
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848
How to backup
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766

How do I sync multiple iPods to the same iTunes Library?

How can I sync multiple iPods to the same iTunes Library?

The same way you sync just one. If y want different media on each iPod then only select the items you want synced to each iPod
iTunes: Syncing media content to iOS devices and iPod
Try syncing using the manual method
Managing content manually on iPhone, iPad, and iPod
Also, I would go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices and check the box that says prevent iPods... for syncing automatically so that you can more easily check what you want syned

How can i transfer my songs on ipod touch back to itunes

how can i transfer my songs on ipod touch back to itunes?

- Transfer iTunes purchases to the new computer by:
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer
- Transfer other music by using a third-party program like on of those discussed here:
newer copy

I upgraded to iTunes 10.5 and now I can't back up iTunes library to disc. In previous versions it was in file library backup to disc. In iTunes 10.5 that is gone!

I upgraded to iTunes 10.5 and now I can't back up iTunes library to disc. In previous versions it was in file>library>backup to disc. In iTunes 10.5 that is gone!

Some of us have our enture itunes library backed up on CD/DVD - what a waste of time and effort as now presumably you can't use these discs to restore itunes on a new computer! WHY NOT APPLE?
Very unimpressed with itunes 10.5/ios5 - wifi tracking apps have been removed from the store (and won't function in ios5), it's impossible to sync photos (I have spent a whole day trying to sync my iphone 3GS with itines 10.5) to no avail and now, no CD backup facility.
I have never had problems with apple before - I was thinking of upgrading my whole system from PC to Mac but now I am doubtful - if this is typical of apple software, I will stay with windows!

Is there a way to sinc songs from your ipod onto a new itunes library

hi, i was wondering if there was a way to sinc songs from your ipod to a new itunes library but from the same account. cause my computer just broke and i lost all my songs from my itunes library that were on my computer and i was wondering if i bought a new computer and downloaded itunes if it was possible to sinc the songs from my ipod to the computer but using the same itunes account from which i previously purchased the songs from

check this post by Zevoneer.

Conneting old iPod to a new iTunes library

My brother got his iPod stolen recently. I have an ancient one, probably one of the first generation iPods, that I never got rid of. I want to give it to him until he can afford a better one.
My concern is how this iPod will recognize his iTunes library. Will the iPod erase his library? Can this be done? Is there anything particular to watch out for? I was just going to hook it up and see what happens but I don't want to wipe all the songs in his iTunes.
There are some songs on the iPod but he doesn't care if those get erased. He just wants to be able to use it with his existing iTunes.
How can I do this?
Message was edited by: kjh22

I have a similar problem. My ipod is not quite so old, it's a 3rd gen. 8G nano, but I can't get it to sync "completely" with my new laptop. I have about 700 songs on the ipod, but only 41 have transferred over. Also, it's going from Windows XP (desktop), to Vista.
Could that be my issue?
If so, how do I get my desktop library onto my laptop?

I lost songs on my itunes library n i have same songs kn my iphone. So how can i get them back to itunes library?

I lost songs on my itunes library n i have same songs kn my iphone. So how can i get them back to itunes library?

See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

Back up itunes library

i've backed up itunes library then went back to update cd using option( only back up items added or changed since last back up)using an unformatted disc or formatted i get messages : please insert isert blank disc or disc is not blank. so either way i can't update the disc. the ony way i found to do it is to use a formatted disc and go to source folder and copy from there. not ideal.

If you want to back up everything to an external drive, copy the entire iTunes folder.
Or you can use any backup program to do the same.
Is it also possible to back everythign up in MP3 format to a CD or DVD?
iTunes prefs -> Advanced - Burning.
Set to Data CD/DVD.
Create a Smart playlist where Kind contains MPEG audio file.
Click Burn.

HT1329 iPod music into new iTunes library?

I recently got divorced and opened my own, new iTunes account. How do I transfer the music on my iPod into my new iTunes library?

How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer using iTunes7
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173
Copying from iPod to Computer threads...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1534227&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=893334&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=797432&#797432
Also these useful internet articles...
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/
http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/02/how-to-get-music-off-your-ipod/
http://playlistmag.com/secrets/2006/12/twowaystreet20/index.php
http://playlistmag.com/help/2005/01/2waystreet/
Patrick

Backing up iTunes library, do I have to separately save all my .mp3s too?

I've backed up my iTunes library to CD, but is that it? It seems too easy (not that I'm complaining if it just is!).
It says there is no need for many discs and it uses only a few (true), but is that just so I know what was in my Library without having to add them all again? If my PC crashes and I lose all the .mp3 files accessed by iTunes, will I somehow have those back too as well as my Library if I open iTunes, put in the backup CDs and go from there? I can't see anywhere where it says I have to ensure all my mp3 files are saved separately.
Thanks.

Without knowing how big your library (database & media) is and how many discs you've used I couldn't tell. However the iTunes built-in backup is probably not as straightforward and reliable as could be wished for. I prefer to clone iTunes folder and all its subfolders.
*Fast backup for iTunes library (Windows Only)*
Grab SyncToy 2.1, a free tool from MS. This can be used to copy your entire iTunes library (& other important data folders) onto another hard drive or network share. You can then use SyncToy periodically to synchronise or echo your library to the backup. A preview will show which files need to be updated giving you a chance to spot unexpected changes and during the run only the new or updated files will be copied saving lots of time. And if your media is all organised below the main iTunes folder then you should also be able to open the backup library on any system running the same version of iTunes.
tt2

Using Ipod to back up Itunes Library

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