Restore iTunes library from iPod
Here's how ot restore your iTunes library from your iPod
Apple doesn't make copying music off an iPod or iPhone easy - has something to do with their relationship with the music companies.
Apple stores the music on iPods in an invisible directory which you will need to access, here's how.
To access that directory, you have to set your iPod to be used in Disk Mode. You can do this in iTunes on your iPod's info page. (To get to the info page, connect your iPod to your PC, then select its icon from the source column on the left.) If iTunes asks you to sync again, select "Cancel." This is important, if you synch your iPod to an empty music library you will erase all the music currently on your iPod.
Then, from the computer's "Start" menu, choose "My Computer." When that window opens, select "Folder Options" from the "Tools" menu.
On the "View" tab of "Folder Options," scroll down and select the box next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders," then click the "OK" button to save your choice and close the window.
Now, back in the "My Computer" window, look for your iPod to show up as a hard drive (probably the E drive). Double-click on the iPod's icon to reveal its contents.
You're looking for a folder called "iPod_Control." Inside will be a folder called "Music." Drag the "Music" folder to your hard drive icon.
Once the copy is complete, open iTunes, and in the "Edit" menu, open the "Preferences" window. In the "Advanced" tab, click to choose "Keep iTunes Music folder organized."
This setting will cause iTunes to copy and organize any music you add to your iTunes library.
Last, from the iTunes "File" menu, choose "Add Folder to Library" and navigate to the "Music" folder you copied. Select the folder, click "OK" and you'll see the music being copied to the iTunes library.
Mac users can download a program such as Pod to Mac, which I found at www.podtomac.com. It's free and makes transferring some or all of your iPod/iPhone's music a snap. There's a free version for Windows there, too.
I am struggling to follow
I am struggling to follow those steps in Windows 2007. Maybe I am just not familiar with it but my computer does not show my iPod as another drive even though I have asked it to show hidden files. Can someone please help? I am getting desperate. Many thanks in advance. Tim
Any similar process for iTouch vs. iPod
After struggling for awhile, I determined these steps cannot be used to recover an iTunes library (music, downloaded apps, etc.) from an iTouch. Is there a way for me to do it myself, or must I purchase a utility program to do it? If so, is there a "best" one? Thanks in advance!
Recover iTunes from an iPod with out wiping the iPod
There's a great article on how to recover an empty iTunes from your loaded iPod.It works, and wont erase the music from your iPod.It lets you copy all your music back from your iPod to your Hard Drive, and import the music in to iTunes.This is great if your computer died, and you have a new one, that you are trying to set up!It lets you get your iTunes back!Here's the link:http://www.bestyoucanget.com/education.htm#Computer_Related_Reference_InformationThis is a godsend!!!
Can I save apps as well??
I'm not too afraid of the music, it's the apps, setttings, and notes I'm worried about. Bought a dictionary app not from the store and so on. Help!
This is the link right to the article to recover iTunes from iPo
http://www.bestyoucanget.com/ipodrecoverypc.htm
Didn't work for me either.
I followed the directions step by step. Didn't work for me either. When I click, "OK" to add the folder to my library, nothing happens. :(
It seems that newer versions
It seems that newer versions of iTunes try to recognize folders copied from iPods and ignore them. I managed to make it work by renaming the filders inside the copied "Music" folder to be longer, like added some characters to the beginning of each. I did not have to rename the music files themselves, just the directories that contained them.
No song titles with MP3 files
Is it possible to do the iTunes-to-iPod restoration such that the correct song titles show up with the MP3 files? I am getting MP3 files where the song titles are showing up as random four-letter strings (though the artist name is there). When they go into iTunes, the correct song title does show up. . . any ideas?
Restore
Thank you so much for this - and to the tip about unchecking the 'hidden' box in the last stage. You have turned my utter despair early this evening into (hopefully) a peaceful night's sleep. I would never have been able to work this out for myself. Thank you.
The Add Folder to Library does not copy
I followed your tip on transferring my ipod to my iTunes library. The final step does not copy. After selecting from file menu "Add Folder to Library: - nothing happens. Any suggestions? I already did the part where I unticked the hidden files thingy.
I'm having the same issue.
I'm having the same issue. Anyone know of a solution?
See answer above to similar
See answer above to similar question, starting with "It seems that newer versions of iTunes..."
iPod touch recovery issues
I can't do this with my iPod touch. The article itself says "will not work for ipod touch or iphone". What the hell am I supposed to do? This is ridiculous, and has happened to me on more than one occasion. I have 60 Cd's that I own and want to put on this damn thing but even if I import them into the library it won't matter because the new library doesn't recognize my iPod. So what should I do here?
Answer
If you read the procedure here http://www.bestyoucanget.com/ipodrecoverypc.htm it tells you after un-checking the hidden box to next, Enable the "Add to Library" setting. This will ensure that iTunes will actually copy the tracks in to its library, instead of referencing them from another location. Hope this answers your question!
how can I restore music from
how can I restore music from itunes back onto my ipod.
Here's how to do the whole thing!!!
There's a whole procedure here!!!http://www.bestyoucanget.com/ipodrecoverypc.htmI think this is what you are looking for.Read the whole thing, for the secrets to recovering your iTunes from your iPod, without losing the music on your iPod.It's not that hard, It costs nothing (It's FREE), and it doesn't require any special software.You just need to know what your doing!This link will tell you all you need to know!
Unhide folder before import
once you've copied the music folder from the ipod to your harddrive you need to right click, go to properties and untick 'hidden' before you can import to itunes.
Brilliant Advice
Thanks everyone and to Cat for knocking down the final hurdle. Shame on all those companies trying to get you to buy software for something you can do yourself free of charge!