My itunes library is on an external hard drive. telling me itunes cannot add anysongs to the ipod because no songs in playlist can be copied to this ipod How do I transfer songs?

Open up Itunes in the top left hand corner select file from the drop down list select library then you will have options to back up to disc organise library export library import playlist and export playlist
open Itunes in the top left hand corner select file from the drop down list you will see Library click to open then you should see back up to disk then more options back up entire library to disk

other programs you might use to back up your Library
http://download.cnet.com/sharepod/3000-2141_4-10794489.html Back up and restore your iPod or copy music and videos to and from the device. http://download.cnet.com/podtrans/3000-18546_4-75733600.html Transfer music to iPod or copy iPod music to your computer. Freeware

Hope this helps.

How Do I Download Songs Onto My iPod Nano?
IPod Nanos are portable multimedia players that allow you to playback songs and other content (e.g. video) no matter where you go. They come in a variety of memory sizes such as 4GB or 16GB (gigabytes) and work with iTunes to upload songs. ITunes is the iPod default management program which allows you to upload songs to its library, create playlists and sync music on your iPod quickly and easily. This simple process will have you jamming to your favorite songs in no time.


Downloading to an iPod Nano1Connect your iPod Nano to the computer using the USB cable. Launch iTunes if does not automatically launch. When you launch iTunes, it will display your iPod Nano on the left panel.
2Add music to your iTunes library. Click the "File" button on the top menu and click "Add to Library." Locate the song you want to upload to your player and click "Open" to load it to your program.
3Click the "+" button on the lower left panel to create a playlist. Type a name for the playlist and drag the uploaded file to it. To upload additional songs, repeat Step 2 and drag the uploaded additional songs to the created playlist.
4Drag the songs in the playlist up or down to select the order in which the songs will play.
5Sync your iPod Nano. Click the iPod icon on the left panel after importing songs and adding them to the created playlist. Click the "Music" tab and click "Sync music." Click "Select playlists, artists and genres" and select the playlist you created that contains the songs you want to upload. Click "Apply" to automatically sync and download the songs to your iPod Nano.
6Click the "Eject" button and disconnect your iPod from the computer.

Tips & Warnings
Click "Music Store" if you want to purchase a music file. Search for the song on the iTunes store and download it to the iTunes library.

Connect your iPod to your computer with the USB cable that came with your iPod. The iPod screen should say "Do not disconnect".

Your iPod should appear under Devices in the bar to the left.

Decide whether you want to sync your iPod with your iTunes library or manually put songs on your iPod.(nano only)

Syncing your iPod will automatically add all of the songs in your library to your iPod. It will also delete any songs from your iPod that are not in your library. Click on your iPod icon and select Sync in the lower right corner.

If you do not want all the songs in your library on your iPod, make a playlist of all the songs you do want, or decide which playlists you want to include on your iPod.

Click on your iPod icon
On the top bar, click on the button which says "Music"

Make sure the box that says "Sync Music" is checked, then check the box for whether you want your iPod to sync with the entire library or selected playlists. If you click selected playlists, select the playlists you want in the playlists category. For newer iPods you can check which artists are included on your iPod to automatically import all the songs from each selected artist onto your iPod

Hi.
You may transfer the Songs from the Computer to the iPod Device by using the iTunes Application.
However, please feel free to contact for further information about the Application and the detailed steps to transfer the Songs.

if you synch it yes it will wipe it out - you can get software to back your ipod back to your computer so I would personally delete all the play lists and re do it. your music will be in my documents --> music --> itunes so you can re add it that way and re sort the playlists.

If its on mac os then it will be under your music folder ( macintosh hd --> users --> your username --> music --> iTunes

It may be that your itunes library file may have gotten corrupted so once you have gotten it sorted out close down itunes and go back into your music folder and itunes folder and make a backup copy of your itunes library files.

Assuming your not moving your music files around in side of the music or itunes folder it should be fine.

download the latest version of itunes from here
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
Then install the program.
Copy your music over to itunes either by copying your CD's or importing your music that you already have on your computer, you can do this by going to File>add folder to library or add file to library and go to where your music is and import. This will convert your music to be played in itunes and to be recognised by your ipod. Once you have done this, create a playlist of music that you want on your ipod. Go to File>new playlist. and rename the playlist to a name more suitable. Then select which songs you want on your ipod by righ-clicking the song and send to playlist, select the playlist that you just created. Once you have your playlist and are happy that you have all of the songs that you want, plug your ipod into the computer, itunes will pick the ipod up and load the necessary drivers for it. You will notice a little picture of your ipod on the left hand side of the screen, click on it then click on and update your ipod with your playlist.

I hope this helps

If you switch to manual it might be easyer to manage the music.

If you are asking how to add songs to you iPod
(assuming you want to use iTunes)

Sync your iPod with iTunes

1. Connect your iPod to your computer.
2. When the iPod icon appears in the iTunes window (below Devices), select it.
3. If the Summary pane isn't showing, click the Summary tab.
4. To automatically sync your iPod:
   1. Make sure that "Manually manage music" is not selected.
   2. Click the Music tab and do one of the following:
   3. To automatically update your iPod with all the songs and playlists in your library, select "Sync music" and then select "All songs and playlists." iTunes loads the songs and playlists in your iTunes library onto your iPod, and deletes songs from your iPod that aren't in your library.
   4. To automatically update your iPod with only certain playlists, select "Sync music" and "Selected playlists," and then select the playlists you want synchronized.
5. To manually sync your iPod:
   1. Make sure that "Manually manage music" is selected.
   2. Click Music (below Library, on the left side of the iTunes window) and then drag songs and playlists to your iPod.