[GutnherGoltz]

My wife and I both have iPod minis, and we just got a new computer today. Problem is, I don't know how to transfer our old libraries to our new computer. Every time we hook up our iPods, it gives us a message along the lines of:"This iPod is linked to another computer. Would you like to erase your iPod memory and load this library too it?" We have songs we have purchased online, and DO NOT want too lose. Any help would be greatly appreciated...

[icruise]

Do you still have your old computer that has your music on it? Can you connect it to your new one somehow?

[ramberk]

Here's what I think you should do...

Replace the "Music" folder in your new computer with a copy of your old "Music" folder from your old computer. Open up iTunes-- if you copied everything correctly and if you keep all of your music in your Music folder, then your new computer should have all of your music and all of your settings, playlists, ratings and misc. information. If your new computer is a mirror copy of your old computer in regards to iTunes and music, now feel free to hook up your iPod minis to the new computers. It doesn't matter if your iPod minis get reformatted because they will be reformatted exactly as you had it before.

If you have any other questions, post them. I have another suggestion. If you have a lot of music and/or important files, get an external hard drive and routine back up your data onto this external hard drive. I actually don't keep my music on my laptop hard drive but instead keep it on an external hard drive. That way I can easily hook up any computer with firewire with my music. But that just suits my needs.

[GutnherGoltz]

Okay, here is the problem. My new computer had iTunes already installed on it, but it was not linked too my iPod; therefore I would get a message when I hooked up my iPod that said my iPod is linked to another library; would I like too cahnge the link to this library and replace (delete) the songs on my iPod with the new library? I finally got fed up and said yes. I had my iPod linked too a new library. Everything was okay. THEN my wife decides she's going to reload iTunes from the disc that came with her iPodShe didn't do something right, and it wouldn't start up iTunes at all. So I reinstalled iTunes from MY iPod disc, and now I am back at square one. I have my entire music library on iPod mini, and have a version of iTunes that is NOT linked to my iPod mini. Is there anyway to link my iPod to my new library without loosing my library on iPod? By the way, I have an HP, not a Mac....

[icruise]

Originally Posted by GutnherGoltz

By the way, I have an HP, not a Mac....

Well, there's your problem right there.

It sounds like you want to get your music off of your iPod and on to your new computer. There are a number of freeware and shareware tools available that can do this (not from Apple though). I don't know of a specific Windows program to point you to, but I'm sure a Google search can help you out.

[Steve]

I've used iPod->Folder on numerous occasions and it's done exactly what you're looking for.