[omicronlyrae]

(Original post by wizard710)
This really needs to be publicised more

i can't do any more. it's as public as it will ever be, if people don't read it now there's really nothing i can do.

[butterfly_girl_5]

(Original post by olileauk)
There have been a great deal of threads on this topic.

This is how, for Windows XP and Vista

NOTE: apparently this does not apply to the iPod Touch, only Classic, Nano, and previous generation iPods.

First, show hidden files:

how to show hidden files

to do this, open (My) Documents, then [on XP] click Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files and folders; [on Vista] click Organise > Folder and Search Options > View > Show hidden files and folders

Then go into (My) Computer > name of your iPod > System (on newer iPods, the folder is named iPod_Control), then copy the "music" folder to any location. Your desktop is probably easiest.

Once this is done, go to the folder you've just copied, press CTRL-A, then right click a folder and select properties. Untick "hidden", click OK.

Then open iTunes, go to edit > preferences > advanced > check the "Keep iTunes Music folder organised" and "Copy files to iTunes Music library on import" boxes and then import the music folder you copied across.

The reason behind doing this is that music is placed onto your iPod in random folders in a random order but all ID3 tagging is left in place, so importing them into your library fixes the mess for you automatically and gets your music back too. To clarify, this means all your music is organised and named according to ID3 tags, so when it all gets re-imported, all the files re-gain their correct names and are put in the right folders.

________________________________ _________________


On a related note regarding rescuing lost iTunes purchases:

ive done all of this- but I still cant see how I copy the music
firstly, it said for me to open the ipod_control folder windows needed to know which programme I used or something?? so i selected itunes (none of the others fitted at all)
secondly, some of the boxes you said to tick or untick are already ticked or unticked...
I dont think im doing it right- can you help?

[omicronlyrae]

if the tickboxes are already in the correct state as i mention above, then you don't need to do anything to them.

regarding getting into the 'ipod control' folder, there shouldn't be anything needed to open it, it's just a regular hidden folder. Did you do the step about showing hidden files?

[butterfly_girl_5]

(Original post by olileauk)
if the tickboxes are already in the correct state as i mention above, then you don't need to do anything to them.

regarding getting into the 'ipod control' folder, there shouldn't be anything needed to open it, it's just a regular hidden folder. Did you do the step about showing hidden files?

yes- i did my best to follow your instructions exactly- perhaps im not copying it right? It only lets me send it to my documents or copy & paste onto my desktop when it has 'the right programme'

now a windows popped up saying:

'Your ipod must be reformatted, so that it can be used by Windows. Would you like iTunes to restore/renew your iPod now?' (its in german- if the words arent exact)

[omicronlyrae]

right. because a lot of people are lost on getting to the hidden part of their iPod, i've made a handy video!

Bear in mind this is Vista, using a new iPod, and my iPod is called CORO. The video starts just after i've opened 'Computer'.

NOTE: you need flash player (From Here) to view this video.

http://www.olilea.co.uk/files/ipod.swf.html

if anyone has a problem with the video, please post here.

[wizard710]

(Original post by butterfly_girl_5)
yes- i did my best to follow your instructions exactly- perhaps im not copying it right? It only lets me send it to my documents or copy & paste onto my desktop when it has 'the right programme'

now a windows popped up saying:

'Your ipod must be reformatted, so that it can be used by Windows. Would you like iTunes to restore/renew your iPod now?' (its in german- if the words arent exact)

Have you previously used your iPod on a Mac?

[butterfly_girl_5]

(Original post by wizard710)
Have you previously used your iPod on a Mac?

my roomate put all my songs onto his apple laptop using sharepod or something similar- do you think this is the problem?

[wizard710]

(Original post by butterfly_girl_5)
my roomate put all my songs onto his apple laptop using sharepod or something similar- do you think this is the problem?

Windows uses the NTFS drive format and Mac uses a different one cos it can't recognises NTFS and it appears that windows can't recognise the Mac drive format (HFS) and so it will need to format it to work with windows. Google it and see what it comes up with and you could also do me a favour by opening my computer, finding said iPod, right click>properties and can you post a screenshot of it?

[butterfly_girl_5]

(Original post by wizard710)
Windows uses the NTFS drive format and Mac uses a different one cos it can't recognises NTFS and it appears that windows can't recognise the Mac drive format (HFS) and so it will need to format it to work with windows. Google it and see what it comes up with and you could also do me a favour by opening my computer, finding said iPod, right click>properties and can you post a screenshot of it?

you'll have to give me instructions on how to get and post a screenshot

I tried formatting it to NTFS- but it said it would have to wipe all the information off the ipod to do so- if this is the case, how did my roomate reformat it to fit with his mac?
is there any way I can format it back without losing all my music?

[spikeymike]

Press the Screenshot button on your keyboard and paste it into paint and save it

Above insert button?

[wizard710]

(Original post by butterfly_girl_5)
you'll have to give me instructions on how to get and post a screenshot

I tried formatting it to NTFS- but it said it would have to wipe all the information off the ipod to do so- if this is the case, how did my roomate reformat it to fit with his mac?
is there any way I can format it back without losing all my music?

Dunno, maybe mac can recognise NTFS but windows can't recognise HFS drives

[james99]

(Original post by wizard710)
Dunno, maybe mac can recognise NTFS but windows can't recognise HFS drives

Yep, you're right. Macs can read (but not write to) NTFS drives but Windows cannot read or write to HFS. Unfortunately there is no way to reformat the drive without deleting everything on it. You will have to transfer all your music on to a USB stick, reformat it using Windows, and then put your music back on the ipod. That's why I never connect my iPod to anyone else's computer, because it invariably tends to muck things up somehow!

[butterfly_girl_5]

wait- now it says the format is FAT32..
and I found a buttom randomly that had 'hidden' ticked- so Ive unticked that
Im going to try again and see if it works now...

[butterfly_girl_5]

(Original post by olileauk)
Then open iTunes, go to edit > preferences > advanced > check the "Keep iTunes Music folder organised" and "Copy files to iTunes Music library on import" boxes and then import the music folder you copied across.

ok- the red- it doesnt have on my itunes- could it be 'Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to Library' is the same thing?
blue- sorry- you'll have to explain to me how to do that
I guess you meant file>import> desktop>music file
which i did- it says:
The file '_Music' cannot be imported because it does not appear to be a valid exported file

[wizard710]

(Original post by butterfly_girl_5)
ok- the red- it doesnt have on my itunes- could it be 'Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to Library' is the same thing?
blue- sorry- you'll have to explain to me how to do that
I guess you meant file>import> desktop>music file
which i did- it says:
The file '_Music' cannot be imported because it does not appear to be a valid exported file

What it means is File>Add folder to Library

But before that you need to have these boxes ticked

[butterfly_girl_5]

(Original post by wizard710)
What it means is File>Add folder to Library

both boxes are ticked
I did the add folders thing- nothings seems to be happening though

[wizard710]

(Original post by butterfly_girl_5)
both boxes are ticked
I did the add folders thing- nothings seems to be happening though

Dunno what to do then sorry

[omicronlyrae]

(Original post by butterfly_girl_5)
ok- the red- it doesnt have on my itunes- could it be 'Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to Library' is the same thing?
blue- sorry- you'll have to explain to me how to do that
I guess you meant file>import> desktop>music file
which i did- it says:
The file '_Music' cannot be imported because it does not appear to be a valid exported file

did you make sure that the folder and all inside it are no longer hidden?

[omicronlyrae]

Right, FAO anyone who cares, tomorrow i'm going to make a video of this so you can see how it is done. That should hopefully stop people being confused over what to do. =)

[wizard710]

(Original post by olileauk)
Right, FAO anyone who cares, tomorrow i'm going to make a video of this so you can see how it is done. That should hopefully stop people being confused over what to do. =)

Oh yeah good idea