Want to sync FROM ipod TO computer w/CD loaded music

Question

This is a strange one. I have what I believe is a first or second generation ipod nano. The ipod and the computer were working wonderfully. We loaded lots of music via CD into the computer and synced w/ the ipod. Then I had to give the computer back to my mother-in-law, so before I gave it to her I wiped out the itunes library on the computer.
NOW, we have the computer back so we can load more music onto the ipod. I simply want to load the music from the ipod TO the itunes library on the computer -- but it won't let me. Is there any way to do this without having to wipe out all the music that is on the ipod and reload manually into the computer, then sync to the ipod??
PLEASE HELP!! The computer in question is a Dell laptop.
Thanks.

Answer 1

For 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.
Find out how to do that here.
How to copy iTunes purchases from an iPod or iPhone to a computer.
For all other non purchased content (your own CDs etc), check out the instructions/suggestions here.
Music from iPod to computer (using option 2). This a manual method using "hidden folders" and although it works, it is a little more involved than other methods.
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 from iPod back to the computer. However, it does not transfer playcounts/ratings etc.
Other free programs are Pod Player, SharePod and Floola and iDump.
If you want to recover just the structure of playlists from the iPod (and not the actual song files themselves), there's iRepo for Windows. which I understand has this feature along with all the standard features for these programs.
iPodRip also has the feature enabling you to reconstruct playlists.
There is also CopyTrans. This does preserve ratings/playcounts etc if those are important to you but this program is not free. It also supports video transfer.
More information is contained here.
Copying content from your iPod to your computer - The Definitive Guide.