Just ran into a big problem with iTunes now... 3/4 of my Music Library was deleted... luckily, all my songs and playlists are still in my iPod. I read from a past thread that I can transfer all my music files back to my computer via Senuti or Podworks, but I'm not sure I want to connect my iPod to the computer yet 'cause it might automatically update and erase all my songs (leaving me with NOTHING!!!). How can I make sure that iTunes won't automatically update my iPod when I do connect it? I'm using a 2nd Gen 10GB iPod with a Powerbook just in case that information is useful. Thanks to anyone who can offer some advice!
If your iPod preferences in iTunes is like the attached image below, then you'll be fine. If it's not, then you will most likely lose songs in your iPod. The problem is, you can only tell by plugging the iPod in. Here's what I would do: 1. Quit iTunes. 2. Plug the iPod in, force quit iTunes when it tries to start (don't allow it to start!). 3. Use PodWorks and copy all the songs in your iPod into a temporary directory in your computer (so you have a backup). 4. Launch iTunes. 5. If you notice that it is updating the iPod (that means it's deleting the songs), immediately click on the little 'x' in the iTunes status window to stop it. Depending on how fast you are, you may lose some songs. 6. Whatever song you think you have lost, you can restore from the backup directory you created. 7. Open the preferences as set the Manually manage songs and playlists to avoid having this problem again in the future. [Edited on 5-5-2005 by elbertc]
It was my fault. (BOO!!!) I was so OC over iTunes that I accidentally dragged my music folder to the desktop and thought it was just a duplicate, so I deleted it. While the files were being trashed I realized I wasn't gonna get my songs back. Thanks Elbert, for the help! I followed similar steps, but was able to find instructions from Senuti's help menu. If this happens to anybody, I highly recommend using SENUTI. I stayed up 'til 7am restoring everything, but I got all the songs back (except the free downloads that my iPod couldn't read... but, who cares... haha). My iPod's back to normal!
