For some time I’ve wondered what happens to people with iPods who have a computer die on them. I figured that–logically–there would be a function in iTunes that would allow you to attach the iPod to a new computer and switch the iPod’s authorizations so that it only works with the new computer. Then you could upload the songs from the iPod to the new computer and the old one would be deauthorized.
NOPE.
Not only is there NOT a way to do this, Apple Computers (makers of the ever-so-special Macintosh) has gone OUT OF ITS WAY to PREVENT folks from doing this.
People designed helper programs to allow you to get music off the iPod in such situations, and Apple put its programmers to work disabling the features that the helper programs worked on.
Here’s what the user-championscorporate sellouts at Apple expect to happen if you have a computer die or get stolen or whatever:
- You get a new computer and load iTunes onto it.
- You attach the iPod to the new computer.
- You tell iTunes to switch the iPod’s authorizations to the new computer and authorize iTunes to WIPE OUT ALL THE MUSIC ON THE IPOD!!!
- You spend endless hours re-loading your entire music collection from CD.
- You spend endless dollars re-buying the songs that you previously bought from the iTunes music store.
AS IF!
Fortunately there are still helper applications that will let you do the sensible thing and get the music off the iPod to replace what you lost when your former hard drive was lost or stolen.
But you don’t need them.
I’ve just reanimated an iPod-iTunes relationship without the use of such applications, and I’ll tell you how.
It’s remarkably easy and you don’t need anything other than the iPod, the cable you use to connect it to your computer, and the computer itself.
This is a way you can do it on a new computer running Windows XP. I can’t vouch for how other operating systems work, but there should be parallel procedures. Here goes:
- DO NOT INSTALL ITUNES ON THE NEW COMPUTER (or it will seize control of the iPod each time you plug it in). If you have installed it, uninstall it or otherwise disable it so that it can’t seize control of the iPod.
- Go into Windows Explorer and go to Tools | Folder Options… | View.
- Change your view preferences to "Show hidden files and folders."
- Plug the iPod into the computer.
- Go to My Computer and open the iPod as if it’s a hard drive (it will typically show up as E: or F: or something like that).
- On the iPod open (otherwise hidden) folder called iPod_Control.
- It contains a folder called "Music." It contains a bunch of other folders (starting with names like F00, F01, F02, etc.) with the music files in them.
- Right click the ENTIRE MUSIC FOLDER and select "Send To" then select "My Documents."
- Once it finishes copying over the whole kit and kaboodle, INSTALL ITUNES.
- During the set-up it should ask you whether you want it to search your hard disk for songs. Tell it yes and it will pick up the old library. If for some reason it doesn’t ask this, select File | Add Folder to Library… and then add the entire Music folder.
There are also a few notes that you should be aware of about this procedure:
- Some of the files in your music library will have weird alphanumeric names. For example, a file named YHSD in my music library is actually a version of "Freebird" by the Charlie Daniels Band (which I didn’t even realize that I had). Don’t worry about these weird names. As soon as you import them into iTunes the regular names and file info will show up in your Music Library.
- You will not resurrect your customized playlists by the technique above and will need to re-do them. I assume that there is a way to extract this data from the iPod, but I haven’t figured it out yet. Will update this post if I do.
- If you have rights-controlled content that you’ve resurrected in this way, you’ll be asked for your user name and password for the rights-authorizer. For example, the first time you use iTunes to play something you bought from the iTunes music store it will ask for your Apple ID and password (which you can recover if you’ve forgotten it). It will then send this to the iTunes store to authorize this computer to play stuff you bought in the iTunes music store (you can do this for up to 5 computers). Similarly, I had to give my Audible username and password for it to authorize the computer to play audiobooks I bought at Audible.
THANK YOU for this information. This situation happened to me last year and I DID wipe out my iPod and had to reload my collection (well, I’m STILL reloading it!). Thankfully iTunes Music Store folks were sympathetic and allowed me to redownload the couple dozen songs I had purchased at that time. (Believe me, I truly appreciate that they did that!) I got a stern lecture that I should back up my music downloads [note to self: Back up music downloads!]
‘thann
Jimmy,
my fiance (as of 10/23 btw) had a similar problem. Her windows install was corrupted and we were forced to do a reinstall of the OS. Fortunately her music was on a secondary drive so we still had the music. But she didn’t want to lose her playlists and playcounts. So we asked for help. Fortunately, we managed to save not only her music, we saved her playcounts, playlists, etc.
I don’t know if this would work in your situation, but perhaps it can help someone else. The link to how we did it is here.
Wow, I had no idea that an iPod will work with only one computer. What an incredibly annoying limitation! I can guarantee I’ll never buy one, now that I know that. Is the same true for other brands of mp3 players?
Wow, I had no idea that an iPod will work with only one computer. What an incredibly annoying limitation!
I agree. That’s stupid. And to think I was considering buying one.
Congratulations, Devin!
Excellent information, Jimmy! Very appreciated.
I try to make backup CDs of everything I purchase from iTunes. But sometimes I just buy one song so I’ll wait until I’ve got a whole disc worth of purchased songs before I back them up. I guess that can be a semi-dangerous practice! I consider myself warned!
After the first time something like this happened to me (not with an iPod) I vowed to not use any devices that require DRM (Digital rights management). I had purchased music from Walmart.com and had backed everything up, but alas, it wanted to talk to Walmart to play the songs, and Walmart decided everything was not right! Luckily it was with only a couple of songs. Now when I purchase music online I immediatly burn it to CD in standard music format (you can then play it on a normal CD player), then I rip the CD back to my computer so I can use it without fear of “losing” it when the company does not want to enable the DRM. The new version on my computer now does not need any authorizing. As far as I can tell what I am doing is legal. The only downside is that the quality degrades because of the multiple compression steps.
There are also freeware applications like YamiPod which allow you to copy anything you want to and from the iPod and do other functions like playing songs located on your iPod while connected to another computer.
By the way the iPod with iTunes can be installed on up to five computers for the same music library.
I have owned multiple mp3 players from a MP3-CD one years ago through various flash memory players and now the iPod. The iPod is the best one hands down for its interface and the ability to bookmark files. I listen to a lot of podcasts and books I converted with text 2 speech and the bookmarking works great.
The DRM problems arise with all music players if you buy music off the net. I think DRM is rather stupid since it kind of penalizes those who legally download music. If they are going to share the music they can just rip to a CD then reimport in into DRM-less format. There is some audio loss because of conversion – but it is not exactly audiophiles that are illegally downloading music.
I agree that the iPod’s being dedicated to a single PC is not good for many folks, but I am the “master” of my iPod and I’m the sole person who loads the music and audiobooks onto it. If my son or husband want something, they just tell me, and I load it for them. So it works for me.
I really like the quality and the design, AND it plugs directly into my car stereo system (no staticky iTrip for me).
‘thann
I don’t know what you all are talking about. The Ipod and Itunes allows you to have 5 computers authorized. Songs can be uploaded or downloaded to and from the Ipod.
The bookmark feature is really important for anybody who reads multiple books/podcasts. I have a Rio Karma but when it goes kaput, I’ll probably buy an iPod because iPod is the only line that consistantly (a few of Creative’s line has a bookmark feature but it seems like an overthought and is often written out of updates) uses them. BTW, Rio’s is best but since Rio just went out of business (unless someone buys the Rio line again) I’ll be stuck with an iPod.
BTW, to tell you how good the late Rio’s feature is, it not only allows you to save where you are in a file, it saves where you are in a playlist, whether you are playing the list randomly, etc. I wish somebody does buy Rio’s line and uses their features. It was trully a blessing for those of us who listen to audiobooks.
Glad you posted this, Jimmy. I’ve been waiting for this situation to occur to us, and I always assumed there’d be a fix, which it turns out there is. But now I know for sure and what to do.
I have a question somewhat related to this.
There is a third-party application out there that Apple Doesn’t Want You To Know About Or Use, and they’re always going after the Danish guy who created this program to the extent that he’s a household name among geeks.
It is my only option on Linux to use, to be able to connect to iTunes and BUY songs. (That is, pay, just like everybody else).
Here’s the thing: The program lacks the encryption that the iTunes software slaps on after you buy a song. Apple doesn’t like this. Without encryption, they fear filesharing will result, so as I understand it, they are merely covering their butts.
But we do not fileshare and we do not steal. We’re resolute about this.
What’s the morality of using this program when you know you’re not going to *really* do what Apple doesn’t want you to do, i.e. share/steal?
With this program, my husband and I would have normal, legitimately paid-for music files which we can back up on CD easily or transfer from computer to computer and play, without me missing iTunes. But they’re unencrypted.
For that matter, what about removing encryption after the fact? I think there is a Windows program that does this.
Does “Give unto Caesar–>”Play along with Apple” apply here?
I’m not entirely sure so I just stay on the safe side and don’t use the programs, but I wonder whether there’s some key element I’m missing.
If something would ever happen to my husband’s computer, it’d be ideal to keep his songs on mine and be able to play them, especially if he decided indefinitely, not to get a new computer.
Yet another reason not to buy an iPod. I was actually thinking about getting one a while back, until I talked to someone who had one. He told me the battery lasts only so long, then you have to send the entire unit back to Apple and pay them $100 for the new battery! When I buy a product, I want to just buy the product. I don’t want to keep paying for it for years to come. Normal battery costs I can handle, but the iPod battery situation is just unnacceptable.
Joy,
There are many companies that sell replacement battery kits for the iPod for a very reasonble price along with instruction on how to do-it-yourself.
Besides the Apple battery replacement fee is no 59 dollars not 100.
Besides are there any mp3 players with an internal hard drive that does not use an internal battery that is not easily replaced.
Try using digital download services that sell mp3s: higher quality and with NO DRM!
http://www.emusic.com
http://www.audiolunchbox.com
Unfortunately, the selection’s not as good as iTunes or Wal-Mart.