If you get a new computer...?

Question

I have two laptops, and one iPod. But if I have songs on my iPod, and I plug it into the other computer, it will erase all the songs on my iPod.

How do I transfer all the songs from my current iTunes on my old computer, to my new computer?

Answer 1

sync with a usb cord

Answer 2

I had the same problem.  iTunes is a great program for keeping track of your songs, making playlists, and copying to your ipod.  However, it is a pain in the *** to move your library--plain and simple.

The easiest way is to get an external hard drive, copy your music files and library to it, then copy that to your new computer.  Here is what you do:

1) go to preferences > Advanced and make sure the "keep itunes organized" and "copy files to music folder" boxes are BOTH checked

2) On the main menu go to Advanced > Consolidate Library

3) Now quit iTunes and connect the external drive.

4) Find your Itunes folder.  This folder is the one that contains everything related to itunes.  Its contents include: a folder containing the actual music files, another folder called "album artwork",  and a "Library.xml" file.  Copy this entire folder to your external drive.

5) Disconnect the drive from your old computer and connect it to the new computer.

6) Now find the itunes folder on your new computer.  make sure the copied itunes folder from your old computer has the EXACT same name as this new folder.  if not, make it so.  Now move the copied itunes folder from your external drive to the location where the new itunes folder resides.  The computer will ask you if you want to replace this folder -- Choose yes.

7) Now launch itunes.  if its a PC hold shift,  if its a mac hold option.  a window will pop up.  you want to "choose library."

8) in the next window, find that library.xml file in your itunes folder and chose it.

NOTE: if you are switching between mac and pc or between pc and mac computers, read and understand this article BEFORE you start: http://lifehacker.com/software/itunes/ge...

thats it. you're finished.  your itunes songs, library, playlists, etc have been moved to your new computer!  Now you can use that external hard drive to back up your itunes music.  Keep it in a safe place.  If your computer ever crashes, you will still have a copy of all your songs stored safely on the external drive.

hope all this helps.  Good luck.  :-)

Answer 3

Your iPod will only do that if you tell it to automatically update to your iTunes.

When in your iTunes click on your iPod on the left, and select the button "manually manage disk."  This will let you simply drag and drop files to your iPod instead of having it automatically update.

This also means that if you get unwanted music (podcasts from class or talk radio) they don't HAVE to go on. But can if you want.

In terms of transferring the songs, the easiest way is to get an external hard drive, or borrow one.  You CAN (though it might be too difficult) connect the two computers via USB or a crossover ethernet.  

You can also pay places like Best Buy or Circuit City to do this, though I don't recommend this because of exorbitant costs.  The best thing to do is to find a friend who is computer savvy to do it :-)  

Answer 4

you will need to have a 3rd party tool to help you copy songs in your ipod to computer as itunes blocks the ipod-to-computer transfer, here is a review of top 5 ipod  copying softwares(windows/mac): http://www.ipodtocomputer.net

Answer 5

I think you can burn it to a CD and move it to the other computer

Answer 6

Or....... forget that iTunes nightmare and download a free,simple drag and drop,iPod manager to do anything you want with your iPod http://www.softpedia.com/get/IPOD-TOOLS/...