Moving iTunes question

[Rebecki]

Currently my computer is running on Vista. I hate Vista. DH is going to re-install XP, but I'm not sure how to move my iTunes music/podcasts/etc. from Vista to XP.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

[Pacman]

Best thing to do would be burn it all to CDs, since that will remove all the DRM that iTunes stuff comes infected with. Then just transfer them back from the CDs once you've installed XP.

[Rebecki]

Well, that's part of the reason why I'm moving back to XP from Vista. Vista won't recognize my cd burner/player (among other things it won't do).

Can I just load everything onto my iPod, then when we reinstall XP and reload iTunes just download it all back into iTunes?

[Pacman]

Can I just load everything onto my iPod, then when we reinstall XP and reload iTunes just download it all back into iTunes?

IIRC, iTunes and iPods are very restricted in what they can do. I don't think you can add tracks to a PC from an iPod. Someone who owns one might be able to confirm that one way or another. I've never owned an iPod, i've always gone for more user-friendly mp3 players.

If you can't use your optical drive then your options start diminishing. Do you have another machine available? Perhaps you or someone you know has a laptop? You should be able to transfer the music from one machine to the other over your home network. If you don't have a network at home (ie: you don't connect through a router) then you can network two computers together with something called a crossover ethernet cable.

Otherwise some other options including uploading the mp3s to some online storage or using some removable storage. You can buy external hard drives. They can be expensive, but you can make one yourself quite cheaply by getting an old second hand internal hard drive and putting it in a cheap device called a drive caddy.

Btw, since you're changing the operating system on your machine anyway, have you considered Linux? It's free, and far more secure than either XP or Vista.

[In His Service]

There is a way to back up to an ipod and then re-install from it. Goto Apples Help forums. They should be able to answer this one with certainty.

Agape!

Edit: Just found this link on the apple support page. This is for transferring FROM your ipod to your computer:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848

Here's another:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329

Hope these help!

Agape!

[Rebecki]

Thank you! Those links are a great help!

:)

[trandraskell]

there are programs out there that allow you to use you ipod as a backup that is what I have done. THey are listed under IPod mangaer. THere are programs like yamipod. media monkey that allow you pull your music back from the ipod. Your ipod does need to be in disk mode. when i get home today I will post what program i use i don't have it on me