Please help me transfer my itunes library to my new laptop

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Gin

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#13584 18-May-2007 18:48

Hi,

I have recently purchased a new laptop and I was wondering if anyone can help me relocate my itunes library from my desktop to my laptop? I have heard i can use my ipod as a hard drive to move it (i have a nano does this still work) but i have no idea how and i can't think of anything worse than having to reload one CD at a time. I have also purchased music from itunes - will this be able to play on my new laptop? I think i read somewhere it wouldn't and if not how do i get around this?

Thanks for all your help in advance - i am still very computer illiterate - Definitley working on it tho :)

Cheers,
Gin

Batman

Mad Scientist
29763 posts

Uber Geek

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#74617 14-Jun-2007 09:14

warning this can mess up your itunes-ipod sync as i do not own one. but you should get the idea and be able to work out how you want it done.

to copy the songs into laptop
either plug in your ipod into laptop
go to folder options and select to reveal hidden files and folders
and in one of the folders all your songs are there
the problem is the files names are all coded so you wont know which file's which
but they're all playable from any mp3 program eg windows media player

if you cant do that then copy the music onto your desktop using above method and transfer music
i dont know if you can sync your ipod to laptop - i dont see why not but then again i dont own one
google?

Nightwyrm

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#74645 14-Jun-2007 12:06

I've got a 5G but the principles should be the same...

To use your iPod as a hard drive:
- Plug your Nano into your desktop and fire up iTunes.
- In the options (this varies depending on iTunes version), select "Enable Disk Use". The iPod will now show as a removable hard drive in My Computer.

Note: Selecting "Manually Manage Songs & Playlists" also enables the iPod to be used this way. I personally have this option on so I don't have to worry about the auto-syncing. This option lets you have total control.

I'm pretty positive moving purchased music is blocked with DRM but you can get around this by burning the tracks to CD, then re-ripping them. It's a pain but this by all accounts is the only way around it.

If what you're after is a way to transfer tracks from the iPod to your PC (i.e. when tracks have been copied to iPod from iTunes), then a NZer has written a handy little freeware program that does this: SharePod. This requires your iPod be set to use as a hard drive, and the application sits on the iPod itself requiring no PC installation - a truly mobile solution.

Of course, if your desktop and laptop both have network ports, you could just connect the two then copy/paste the music over. I've only done this once (after a bit of fumbling) so someone else would be better qualified to instruct you how to network the two together.

joker97: they're all playable from any mp3 program eg windows media player

Not if the tracks have been ripped as AAC format - most players are coming on board with compatability but WMP hasn't as yet.

Post-geek, opinionated mediaphile, and natural born cynic. Jack of all genres, master of none.