New PC - iPod sync concern

[Deleted User]

Hi guys,

Asking for a friend - I would never own an 'iDevice'

So basically they have a new PC; their former, family-setup was recently retired and they're concerned that when they plug their iPod Touch, iPod Nano into the new machine, and sync with iTunes, their extensive device libraries will be lost. In particular, they're worried about retaining custom playlists etc.

The last time I owned anything Apple, an iPhone 4S, I had a similar issue - hard drive went down, I used an app called Sharepod. I was able to use my device like a removable storage device, amazing, and simply copy my library, photo's (pre-cloud) and files etc. just like a NORMAL device. That was 2011, what's the score now?

They've got 60% of their library on the new machine from a backup (not an iTunes backup) but the rest, and the custom playlists etc. are only on their devices.

Thoughts?

tgon

I’ve never lost anything off iTunes from upgrading my iDevices or PC. The playlists will be on the hard drive rather than iCloud (unless they’ve bought further storage and placed them there) so essential a separate backup is done (to a memory stick for example) the copy back once the new PC is set up.

[Deleted User]

tgon wrote: »

I’ve never lost anything off iTunes from upgrading my iDevices or PC. The playlists will be on the hard drive rather than iCloud (unless they’ve bought further storage and placed them there) so essential a separate backup is done (to a memory stick for example) the copy back once the new PC is set up.

Fair point, but the computer, minus the hard drive is in the great electronics scrap yard in the sky... the hard would have been smashed to bits - knowing the owner! Their prerogative, I'm just involved in sorting out of the mess.

Like I said in my OP, I would never even own an Apple device

Think I've sussed it now, they're going to have pay for some software that views their devices in the normal way that Windows does and copy all their stuff off from there - then re-sync through iTunes.

mksysb

If the old hard disk is still ok, just buy a caddy, so they can plug it into the new computer via the usb port.

almillar

they're concerned that when they plug their iPod Touch, iPod Nano into the new machine, and sync with iTunes, their extensive device libraries will be lost

Your Library is not on the iPods, it's on your computer. Where's the old computer? The iPods should have all, or parts of the Library, synced over. Backup and restore your iTunes library onto the new computer, and you're grand. iTunes might want to delete and resync the iPods, but there you go.

but the computer, minus the hard drive is in the great electronics scrap yard in the sky... the hard would have been smashed to bits - knowing the owner! They're prerogative, I'm just involved in sorting out of the mess.

Idiotic to move computer without a thought of moving anything over from the old one.

It's been a long time for me but there's a tool called 'yamipod' that might be able to rescue the music. Don't spend any money yet!

davidwatts

Can't they just connect to the new computer and set itunes to not automatically sync with the device? I've got an old ipod that's still got tunes and playlists on from my first laptop and I've never lost anything from that library when connecting it to 3 subsequent laptops.

[Deleted User]

Right, bit of progress today. Think things are generally alright but one thing I noticed; the device playlists (v. important) are on the device but aren't in iTunes after disconnect?

I'm really not an Apple user so I'm in the dark here but apparently, on their last setup up the playlists remained in iTunes after the devices we disconnected, they were able to work on them and then sync them to the device the next time there was a connection.

Any ideas on that?

almillar

I don't know how you did it, but Playlists should be showing in iTunes, without any device connected. Maybe there area device only playlists, and maybe you can copy them to your main iTunes library on the computer. But again, that's the wrong way round.

davidwatts

Just been playing around with my ipad and laptop (albeit not currently using the one with any music stored on it from cd, it's just got purchased music). Can create playlists on the ipad, edit them on it and delete them. Can't copy them from the ipad to the laptop though.

Conclusion, you can create a playlist on your computer then add it to your device.

You can create a playlist on your device but itunes will not allow you to copy it onto your computer (or to copy tracks that are only on your device onto your computer).

So, if you want to get stuff from the device onto the computer you're presumably looking at additional 3rd party software and there ends my knowledge and experience. (Google "copy playlist from iphone to itunes" and see if anything helps.)

almillar

^ Hopefully yamipod which I mentioned above, is still a thing, and free! It can get all the music, and I'd be surprised if it can't grab playlists too.

another_casualty

Have you tried going onto your computers hard disk and seeing if there's a folder which says" music "? Possibly in the applications folder