Old iPod

October 8, 2007 11:16 AM

I just purchased a new IPod and want to give my old fourth generation away to a co-worker.

The old iPod has songs that I imported from cds and purchased from iTunes. If I don't erase the music from the iPod, will my co-worker be able to transfer them to his iTunes? What else do I need to do on my end to allow it to work for my co-worker?

posted by lola to computers & internet (12 comments total)

I believe that when he plugs it into his computer, the default behavior is to sync libraries. (Read: 'wipe the iPod')

I also recall there is a way to prevent this.
posted by Comrade_robot at 11:22 AM on October 8, 2007

It is not possible to transfer music from an iPod to your iTunes library without third-party software. If your colleague is on a Mac they can use Senuti. I'm sure somebody here can recommend some Windows software which works the same way.
posted by sveskemus at 11:23 AM on October 8, 2007

On lack of preview: iTunes will ask whether or not to sync the iPod's library when it sees it for the first time. Just say no.
posted by sveskemus at 11:24 AM on October 8, 2007

Oh, and if you want your co-worker to be able to play the music you've bought on iTunes you have to enter your iTunes password on their computer to allow it. iTunes will ask for this password the first time you try to play a song with DRM on it as far as I remember.
posted by sveskemus at 11:29 AM on October 8, 2007

I like EphPod for Windows.
posted by olinerd at 11:33 AM on October 8, 2007

If by prevent you mean erase the iPod, then yes there is a way. With your iPod attached, select reset iPod in iTunes.
posted by Gungho at 11:33 AM on October 8, 2007

To download music from an iPod into iTunes, I use Music Rescue. As you are about to learn, Apple makes this a very difficult process, mainly to avoid piracy hassles. You can learn more about the various workarounds at iLounge.org or other iPod forums.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 12:13 PM on October 8, 2007

It's very easy to transfer music from an iPod to a computer--I did this when I got my new computer so that I wouldn't have to re-import all of the CD's to iTunes. I believe you put the iPod in disk mode, copy the iTunes library folder from your computer to the iPod, and then do the opposite on the new computer.

As far as the purchased music, I don't have any idea.
posted by DMan at 12:14 PM on October 8, 2007

One more question, do I have to unauthorize the old iPod from my iTunes?
posted by lola at 12:21 PM on October 8, 2007

When your co worker plugs in, itunes will say "this ipod is associated with a different computer. Wanna sync with this one?" He says yes and voila, itunes deletes all your music and will sync with his.

Here's what you should do. Plug in this ipod, enable disk use, and then go through explorer (assuming your on windows) and delete everything off the ipod. Then just give it to him to enjoy.
posted by special-k at 1:42 PM on October 8, 2007

You don't have to unauthorize the old iPod from iTunes. It's only computers that you have to deauthorize when you're not going to use them anymore.
posted by Lucinda at 1:42 PM on October 8, 2007

One more question, do I have to unauthorize the old iPod from my iTunes?

No. Only computers are authorized (limited to 5) not ipods. So no deauthorization necessary.
posted by special-k at 1:43 PM on October 8, 2007