User vs. Apple Device (iPad, iPod, etc.)

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

Maybe some have dealt with this, maybe not. If you own an iPod, or iPad, etc., and you have music files on them and haven't ever synced up with your iTunes account on your computer, you're going to be in for a nasty shock as iTunes will report to you that it'll completely erase everything on your device and sync it with the existing library on your computer.

That's if you have previously synced with another computer.

Well, what if you've synced your device with a computer, it crashes, and you have to do a Factory Restore to bring the computer back? Then as far as the iPod is concerned, it's a brand new computer and you'll get the "Erase" error, warning you of the impending deletions on your device should you choose to sync a previously synced iPod.

This happened to my sister. She had over 1600 songs on her iPod classic. Her laptop died. Her fiance revived the laptop, but the iPod was threatening to delete her music files should they sync up.

I know this is a long shot, but if this happens to you, all is not lost. There are 3rd party programs out there that will let you copy the files right off the iPod and straight into your iTunes library. Or else save them to a file to your desktop.

Picky buggars. I know how to do it if anyone ever encounters this situation in the future!

Big J

[Steve]

There's a way to turn off auto-sync somewhere in the iTunes settings. I'd recommend flipping that switch.

There used to be a way to access files on any iPod through a PC, but Apple seems to be hiding it better now. Which is stupid.

[Sky]

Yeah, I hadn't upgraded my iPhone's OS for months because version 4.0 required a full wipe and resync, and my old hard disk had died along with everything saved in iTunes.

Once iTunes notified me that I was running an unlicensed operating system (apparently their cycle of obsolescence is 1 major version) I just jail broke my phone, pulled the music off, loaded it into iTunes, and rebricked to the latest version. But yes, Apple tries to be clever, and I wish they would stop.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

You and me both. But we both know that Apple is not gonna do that. Whatever they can do to make more $$$. Fortunately, where there's a will, there's a way to get around it.

I personally don't use the file-sharing sites anymore. I get all my music from iTunes, but I'll be damned if I pay for the same song twice. I've shared my library with my wife and she's shared hers with me.

Big J

[Sheri]

Under Preferences - Devices click Prevent iPods, etc. from auto syncing may help you out.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

I definitely prefer to handle syncing of my music files myself. I'm a control freak. :)

But what if your iPod already has music on it and you want to save it before an iTunes sync wipes it out?

[Sheri]

If you give me some time, I imagine I can find the answers for you. Usually I preset the preferences and then it doesn't wipe anything out. I also seem to recall (haven't done my iPod in ages because my iPhone has an iPod in it) but it seems to me before you sync you can backup and then it will restore. Also, you s/b able to control the whole process via the preferences.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

Yes, you can if you have access to the computer which has been synced to the iPod.

If, however, the iPod has already been synced with a laptop. That laptop is thereby linked to that iPod. Since each iPod can only be synced with one computer, as soon as you try to sync to another, it'll tell you that to associate the new computer with the iPod will cause everything on the iPod to be erased and synced with what's on he computer.

I can understand its a licensing issue, but there are legit situations that can arise in which one can theoretically lose all of their music even though they've already purchased it.

[Sheri]

Hmmm, write Apple Support and ask them if there is a way to do this without the erasure?

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

There isn't. I've searched this particular subject numerous times, both for myself and my clients.

Fortunately, 3rd party software exists that does the job.