You can actually (or could have) transfer the songs from your
Laptop & iPod by using you iPod like a removable
Hard Disk Drive
Here is the Apple sanctioned method:
Note: While you can use the Transfer Purchase From iPod
option under the
File
menu to copy iTunes Store purchases from the iPod to another computer you can't transfer songs from other sources from the iPod library to
iTunes
So you'll need to follow the steps below to use iPod as a hard
disk to transfer music files from one computer to another. This process
will require the use of iTunes 7 on all computers. Any computers
running iTunes 6 or earlier will need to be updated to follow these
steps.
Once you have the files transferred, you'll need to authorize any iTunes Store content. If you won't be using your old computer, you'll want to deauthorize it.
Important:
Windows operating systems don't recognize Mac OS-formatted disks (HFS
or HFS Plus formats), so you can't use a Mac-formatted iPod to move
your music to a Windows PC.
Switch the iPod to manual update and enable disk use The first thing you need to do is make sure have configured your iPod to enable disk use. To do this:
- Open iTunes on your old computer.
- Connect your iPod to your old computer and wait for it to appear in iTunes.
- Select your iPod in the Source pane under the Devices section to display your iPod preferences in the main library window.
- Click the Summary tab in the main iTunes window.
- Click
the Manually manage music button. Changing from automatic updating to
manual puts a check mark by Enable disk use. A message says:
"Disabling automatic update requires manually unmounting the iPod before each disconnect."
If you need to copy from old computer:
Copy iTunes folder to iPod To copy all your music files (including the library file that holds all your playlists and other settings) to your iPod:
- Quit iTunes.
- Locate your iPod:
Mac OS X: On the desktop
Windows: In My Computer
- Locate your iTunes folder:
Mac OS X: /Users/username/Music
Windows: \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
- Drag the iTunes folder to the iPod. This can take a while if you have a lot of songs.
OR
- When the copy completes open iTunes.
- Click on the iPod in the Source pane
- Click the Eject button in the lower right corner of the iTunes window.
- Disconnect the iPod from the computer when the "Do not disconnect" message no longer appears on the iPod screen.
Now:
Copy music to new computer To copy all your music files (including the library file that holds all your playlists and other settings) to your new computer:
- Locate your Music folder (Mac OS X) or your My Music folder (Windows) on your new computer:
Mac OS X: /Users/username/Music
Windows: \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
- Drag the iTunes folder in this location out to the desktop.
From the My Music folder to the Desktop on your new PC
- Locate the iPod on the new computer:
- Mac OS X: On the desktop.
- Windows: In My Computer.
- Double-click on the iPod to open it.
- Drag
the iTunes folder from the iPod to the Music folder (Mac OS X) or My
Music Folder (Windows) on your new computer. This can take a while if
you have a lot of songs.
- Open iTunes
There you go. All
your music, playlists, and other information like play counts and
ratings have all been moved from your old computer to your new one.
If that doesn't cover it fully..... wow!
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