How to grab music off an iPod?

December 8, 2006 7:07 PM

Gah! How do I grab music off an iPod after losing the original music files?

Help me Obi Wans! A few months ago I reformatted my friend's laptop and backed up her files, including the contents of her iTunes library. I've found everything but the music files.

Her iPod, of course, has the music, but I think her iTunes is set to automatically update her iPod, which of course, is set to a different, now non-existent (thanks to the reformat) library. IIRC iTunes is very pissy about this kind of thing, and I don't want it to erase her iPod of the existing music.

How do I save her music, get it on her laptop and save face at the same time?

I am a very bad friend :(

Win XP, I think iTunes 7 (or the build shortly before 7 was released), and a 5th generation iPod are the specs in question.

posted by missed to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

You might want to look at this previous question.
posted by vacapinta at 7:13 PM on December 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

Disable Autosync and view iPod in disc mode. Use explorer (viewing hidden files/folders) and poke around the iPod a bit, and there they'll be. Easy.
posted by MadamM at 7:53 PM on December 8, 2006

Lifehacker: How to copy songs from your iPod to your PC

(basically what MadamM said)
posted by caddis at 8:21 PM on December 8, 2006

I don't have a windows box handy but I should think you'd be able to simplify step two somewhat - try using the search for files & folders widget to find all the mp3s on the ipod (they'll be in numerous folders) and it should spit out one giant list. Then you could copy them somewhere else all in one go.
posted by mce at 8:54 PM on December 8, 2006

I would use YamiPod.

From the site (these are just a few):
# mp3 and AAC files can be copied to/from iPod
# read/write access to mp3 id3 and AAC infos
# advanced song import/export settings
# 2 restore features
# remove duplicated tracks
# find lost music files
# PC to iPod synchronization
posted by niles at 9:01 PM on December 8, 2006

This is a great question. What is the process for doing this on a Mac?
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 8:20 AM on December 9, 2006

I've used Floola to get a few songs off my iPod and onto my brother's iBook.

It's cross-platform..
posted by unmake at 1:29 PM on December 9, 2006

I use iPod Access.
posted by ottereroticist at 9:21 PM on December 9, 2006

I use sharepod (for windows) - you can put all the files needed to run it on your iPod, and therefore (by running it directly off the ipod in disk mode) use it to share your iPod's music with anyone with a PC.
It exports playlists or individual songs, and no digging through the folder structure.
posted by bashos_frog at 7:28 AM on December 17, 2006