Before you go any further, make sure to back up all the music and any other
files on your iPod.
If your iPod syncs up with iTunes automatically,
backing up is simple. In fact, you're already done. Your iTunes library and your
iPod library should be identical, so you can transfer all your tunes from iTunes
to iPod if anything goes awry.
However, if you're like me, you may have
your iPod configured for manual updates. I have two computers with different
iTunes libraries, and I like to pick and choose songs from both libraries for my
iPod. As such, my iPod's library isn't replicated by either of my iTunes
libraries; it's a hodgepodge of songs from both machines.
Luckily for me, and for anyone else who manages their iPod manually, there are ways to create a
backup directly from your iPod. We recommend the following iPod backup utilities
to keep your playlists safe if any data goes missing.
- For Windows XP machines, CopyPod
and iPod
Agent are downloadable apps that let you copy music from your iPod to your
hard drive. Both applications are free to try.
- For Mac OS X machines, music editor James Kim recommends PodWorks
or iPod
Access.
