Uploading an ipod's contents into a new computer's library?

RyRob813 · #1 07-05-2009, 07:18 AM

This question actually has a few points:

I'm currently eating my words about how I've "never had single problem with my macbook," as for the past two days it's been slower than a turtle riding a sloth. I think I have a hardware issue, as it's making some weird noises. At any rate, I'm taking it to the apple store tomorrow in hopes that it's as simple as ordering a new part, with no files affected.

If it's a worst case scenario, and I either A- need a whole new computer, or B- my memory is wiped, I'm going to have a serious issue with my ipod. I'm a music student and CANNOT loose the tracks on my ipod. In my past experience, you can't just put an ipod with files on it into a new computer and put those tracks into the new library; you have to erase the contents of it and upload the "new library", which is nothing, which is STUPID.

My main problem is that only about half of my playlists are from actual cd's I own, which are back at my apartment at school anyway. The rest are either purchases from itunes, cd's I've burned from the school's library, or from friends. To track down all that again would be an absolute nightmare...some of these people don't even live in this country anymore!

I had thought about putting it all on c.d.'s to back it up, but an average blank c.d. is 90 minutes, and according to my itunes I have seven and a half DAYS of music! That would take forever, not to mention I know for a fact that a large portion of that music would come up as "unknown album" in itunes, and I might not know what it is by listening. (I have a lot of tunes for the purpose of needing to learn it for a gig, but not something I listen to consistently.)

So as you can see, I'm in quite the pickle here. The best thing for my peace of mind would be for someone to know how I can upload my ipod's contents to a new library. If not, is there possibly any way I can save my actual itunes library? PLEASE HELP!!!!

Thank you!

Nino Valenti · #2 07-05-2009, 07:24 AM

I believe that there are some programs that will allow you to do that but, as I've also learned the hard way, an external hard drive is a must have to keep back up of everything on a computer.

hover · #3 07-05-2009, 07:27 AM

there are answers to this on the iTunes website. there's a few steps involved.

Hugh9191 · #4 07-05-2009, 07:33 AM

You could use some software like YamiPod which lets you copy the contents of the iPod onto the PC. Although you won't be able to copy any of the tunes bought from iTunes from yamiPod.

Warning: Last time I tried to use yamiPod it wiped the iPods I connected, it copied the music but stopped the iPod recognizing it. The music worked on the computer though.

I would second the need for an external hard disk seeing as they are so cheap. Macs are just as venerable to hardware problems as PCs. It sounds like the hard disk in your MacBook is dying and if they swap that you WILL use all your files.

If you got an external hard disk you could use Time Machine or Carbon Copy to make images of your hard disk for easy recovery.

Nino Valenti · #5 07-05-2009, 07:48 AM

Here is an old thread I found (while searching for something else) and there are a lot of suggestions:

Getting Songs From iPod On To Computer - Help?

JansenW · #6 07-05-2009, 07:55 AM

Are you saying you have lost the data on your MacBook and now only have your music files on your iPod?

I would bring both in with you to the Apple store and see what they can do.

As far as going forward with backup, I would either backup to DVDs (4.7Gb each) or an external hard drive. Last I checked, 500Gb external HDs were about $75.

Hugh9191 · #7 07-05-2009, 08:04 AM

He's saying that his MacBook has gone really slow and is making funny noises (sounds like a hard disk issue to me).

So he could backup.

External hard disks are fairly cheap and would be an excellent investment (specially if you think about how important all the data on your computer is (photo's etc)).

But yea, he should be able to fit that on 2 or 3 dvds.

RyRob813 · #8 07-05-2009, 08:17 AM

Thanks guys, good suggestions here...

Probelms: No DVD burner, so that's not an option.

I would buy something like an external hardrive, but honestly I wouldn't begin to know how to use it, and as pathetic as it sounds, I'm a poor college student, and absolutely every penny counts right now. If it weren't for my extended warranty on my mac, I wouldn't even be getting it fixed.

Just not enough cash for an investment like that. Maybe sometime in the future.

I have found an answer on the apple support site that tells me how to "consolidate" my library and be able to use my ipod as a data disk, so that's the method I'm going to try.

Boy if coming back home for the summer doesn't just keep getting worse and worse

Hugh9191 · #9 07-05-2009, 08:30 AM

No DVD drive?? Which MacBook is it? I thought they all had it except the air.

JansenW · #10 07-05-2009, 08:31 AM

Good to hear you might not loose your music files.

Poor student solution: Use as many CD-Rs as you need at < $0.30 each.

RyRob813 · #11 07-05-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh9191

No DVD drive?? Which MacBook is it? I thought they all had it except the air.

Actually you know I'm just assuming haha, because I thought that was a hardware device. I bought it new in June 08, so it's 2008 13 inch macbook.

I've done the math, and if I used 80 minute CD-R's, I'd need about 135

That's option B. Option A is the step by step process on the support site of how to temporarily have my ipod function as a data disk, and use that to upload my library to a new one. I'm going to call the helpline when I'm off work today and ask them what my best bet is to ensure I don't loose my music.

Right now I'm just hoping it's not even an issue, but I can't take chances!

Thanks for the advice, it's much appreciated!

alapantera · #12 07-05-2009, 09:34 AM

you could just burn the mp3's to data CD's (700 MB per CD). I'm guessing with your library size, you need less than 20. But i'm also guessing that you have a DVD burner on your mac. Most newer computers come with them. If that's the case you'd only need 2 or 3 DVD's to back up your library. When you computer comes back fixed, you just copy them back on to the new hard drive.

Rusty Chainsaw · #13 07-05-2009, 09:40 AM

Get Senuti:

http://www.fadingred.com/senuti/

... allows you to copy all the stuff back from your iPod to your Mac (including playlists). Job done.

The first-gen polycarb MacBooks had some hard drive issues - I ended up having to replace the HD in mine. Luckily, it's pretty simple, since they're designed to have easy access to the HD and RAM. It was a bad batch of drives from Fujitsu, apparently.

MakiSupaStar · #14 07-05-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Chainsaw

Get Senuti:

http://www.fadingred.com/senuti/

... allows you to copy all the stuff back from your iPod to your Mac (including playlists). Job done.

The first-gen polycarb MacBooks had some hard drive issues - I ended up having to replace the HD in mine. Luckily, it's pretty simple, since they're designed to have easy access to the HD and RAM. It was a bad batch of drives from Fujitsu, apparently.

+1. exactly what I was going to say. If you can't remember the name it's iTunes spelled backwards.

RyRob813 · #15 07-05-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Chainsaw

Get Senuti:

http://www.fadingred.com/senuti/

... allows you to copy all the stuff back from your iPod to your Mac (including playlists). Job done.

The first-gen polycarb MacBooks had some hard drive issues - I ended up having to replace the HD in mine. Luckily, it's pretty simple, since they're designed to have easy access to the HD and RAM. It was a bad batch of drives from Fujitsu, apparently.

Just checked out that website. Believe it or not, the newer versions of itunes, (according to the support site) can do the same function, so that's probably what I'll need to do.

Of course we must remember that I'm trying to predict worst case scenario's here, and hopefully it won't become an issue. Stupid worry wart that I am

Ben Lesser · #16 07-05-2009, 10:42 AM

As far as I know, iTunes can only copy stuff off of your iPod that came direct from the iTunes store. That was my experience when I had to get my HD replaced and lost everything. Even though 90% of my iPod was ripped CDs, I was only able to get 4 or 5 back off of the iPod using iTunes recovery feature, because those were the only ones I'd purchased directly through iTunes.

RyRob813 · #17 07-05-2009, 11:13 AM

Thanks again guys, I appreciate the help, but I've finally decided what I'm doing:

I was unaware I actually had a DVD burner! I did the math, and I should only need a few DVD's for my whole library, and with the newest version of itunes, it actually saves all my playlists, ratings and everything; perfect!

So after work today I'm going to pick up some DVD's, and get that library secured!!

daystcity · #18 07-05-2009, 02:48 PM

Those 80 minute cd's are for cd quality music. Itunes uses extremely lossy compression, so unless you have 56 gigabytes of music from itunes, I'd say the 20 cd suggestion is more accurate

Edit: Looks like mp3 is a 12:1 compression ratio, so with half .mp3 and half CD quality looks to be 65 cd's, external hdd is my vote.
I do believe you can have cd quality .mp3 files but I know Itunes doesn't.