How do I keep iTunes from deleting the music off my iPod if I don't have the music anymore?

Question

My old computer got struck by lightning, and unfortunately I didn't back up my library for iTunes.

Is there absolutely ANY way that I could just enter the names of the songs into iTunes so when I plug in my iPod it doesn't delete them all?

I have about 400 songs, so it would be a big job, but it would also be a lot easier than having to copy all the songs off my CDs (as well as lose about $150 in downloaded songs).

Thanks to anyone who can help me out.

Answer 1

This happened to me before, be aware this only works on a windows enabled PC. In iTunes, you can go up to preferences and make sure syncing isn't set to auto. Then plug in you iPod, it should come up in iTunes if you have auto-detect on. After that check the box that says enable disk use. Minimize or close iTunes and bring up your start menu, bring up 'my computer', you should see your hard drive and what ever else you have plugged into your computer. Double-click on you iPod(mass storage device or whatever you decided to name it). You're now in your iPod's files, you should be able to see a folder called iPod_Control(if not go to the upper-right-hand corner Tools<view<view hidden files/folder). Go into the iPod_Control folder then you'll see a folder called Music. Take your music folder and move it where ever you want to move it. Then reload it into your library

I repeat this only works on Windows PCs, and your music will have names like ZLHF, so it was ordered correctly in the iPod, but all the details like album art and the date are still there.

P.S. I'm sorry if I assumed you were computer-illiterate.