Question about iTunes

I'm about to re-format my Hard Drive, and I have all of my Documents, Pictures and everything else I need on my USB Drive, but my iTunes Library won't fit. My friend said he might lend me his External Hard Drive, but there's a chance it won't happen.

You can just keep it on your iPod. When you put the songs onto your new computer, you're going to need to authorize the computer to use them. It's free, but you can only authorize three computers (I believe).

You can redownload purchases from the iTunes store, but you can't copy music from your iPod back over to another computer.  I've heard that there are utilities available to do this, though.

Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. I'll wait for my friends answer, but in case it's still a no-go, nice to know I won't loose everything.

Yeah, just disable the auto syncing, and you can drag and drop files into the ipod on itunes and then delete them from your computer and they'll stay on your ipod. Although to get them back onto your computer you can't use itunes, but there are downloadable programs that can do that for you.

"MB said:

"You can redownload purchases from the iTunes store, but you can't copy music from your iPod back over to another computer.  I've heard that there are utilities available to do this, though."

I've done it before though."

Look up, I was editing when you replied.  I'm pretty sure that even with iTunes store purchases that they are redownloaded through the store and not copied from your iPod.

It's not a different computer. My same one, I'm just reformatting it.

"It's not a different computer. My same one, I'm just reformatting it.

Shouldn't make a difference, right?

"

No. Mostly CD's

"You can just keep it on your iPod. When you put the songs onto your new computer, you're going to need to authorize the computer to use them. It's free, but you can only authorize three computers (I believe)."

On an authorized computer, iTunes will copy any iTunes Store purchased items back into a library that does not have them.  This does nothing for items bought from other stores or imported from CDs.

That said, if you put your iPod in disk mode, you can easily access all the songs.  Access the iPod like you would an external harddrive, and then open up one of the hidden folders (it'll be the largest one).  All the file names will have been changed due to how files are structured on the iPod, but iTunes will still be able to read all of the tags correctly.  You can simply copy this folder of music to your computer and then re-import it into the new install of iTunes.  NOTE: the iPod Touch and the iPhone do not have a normal disk mode, and thus this won't work with them.

Alternatively, there are several 3rd party applications to remove music.  The program I have had the most success with is YamiPod, which can be download from free.  A quick Google search should get you a link.  You also might want to check out iLounge.com.  Its a large website dedicated to iPods and should be able to help you further if you need it.

I believe you can actually de-authorize computers in order to make sure you still have that 5 limit intact. Otherwise you're going to get screwed over time as you get new computers, etc your music will be invalid.

Well, until the DRM is totally gone for iTunes music that is.