iPod questions!?

Question

My husband has an iPod & I am planning on buying one. When I install iTunes, will our music get mixed up?
In addition, how can you transfer music on iTunes from one computer to another (i.e of you were buying a new laptop) without losing all the tunes? As the computer is the primary, doesn't suddenly using another computer as the base for sync have a dreadful effect on the iPod itself? (Friend of ours tried to sync with another computer & lost everything off his iPod - obviously this is the last thing you'd want).

Answer 1

An iPod is a glorified hard drive so you can copy music files from one computer to the next without a major problem if you know where to look. Open the iPod in Windows Explorer (or whatever on a Mac) and look at the folders. I don't remember what folder level they're at, but the folder names will look like 'F0354' or something like that. You'll have a bunch of them. Copy those off your iPod onto the new computer and then add those folders to the music library. Presto! All your songs should now appear.

Answer 2

"When I install iTunes, will our music get mixed up?
iTunes has a feature that allows shared music on only so many iPods.
You should be okay to transfer songs to your new iPod.

In addition, how can you transfer music on iTunes from one computer to another (i.e of you were buying a new laptop) without losing all the tunes?
Assuming both of your computers are Apple, use the firewire cable between the two.
Turn them both on...but hold the "T" key on the computer with the tunes, until the firewire icon shows up on the monitor.
Then new computers' monitor will display an icon of your old computer...open it and transfer the files.

As the computer is the primary, doesn't suddenly using another computer as the base for sync have a dreadful effect on the iPod itself?
Not that I'm aware of...and we have two Apple laptops and two PowerPC Apples.


For further info, go to the Apple support website, both for iPod info and firewire transfer info to make sure all my information is current.

Answer 3

Its best to keep a 1:1 ratio of iPod to PC. I share 1 PC with 2 other iPods and sometimes the playlists do get mixed up. (rare)

Its easy to copy music. When you view the entire library you can burn a CD/DVD (for backup as well) DATA setting only. Don't use audio/mp3 settings. Then copy the music to the new PC. You will need to register the music by logging into iTunes (allowed to register up to 5 times for 5 different PCs)

Have fun with your new laptop and iPod.

Answer 4

To share tunes on 2 ipods on the same computer, create user profiles within windows xp, i.e. useryou and userhusband, itunes will allow you to create 2 libraries, 1 for each user, so this will allow you to synch each ipod. As for 2 computers, the best way of copying the dats is to burn your tunes to cd/dvd as mp3's and copy them onto the new machine, then let the new machine re-index them.
hope this helps :)

Answer 5

Your music will be kept seperate as it brings up your music when you plug the individual ipods in and both are seperate password accounts. You can however share music...
When I had my laptop wiped I lost the purchased music (from itunes) but everything that was saved on my ipod survived...just back up any purchased music onto disc xx

Answer 6

as for sharing itunes, not a prob, you can set up seperate playlists and instruct your ipod to only update from that playlist, my partner and i do it.

yes you can transfer music, there is the long way of using cd's. but you can use your ipod as a sort of memory stick. go to the apple website for exact instructions, but you have to configure your ipod to store music to transfer it.

major tip! if you are no longer using the old computer, dont forget to deactivate and purchased songs on it, remember they can only be activated on 5 computers at a time