Exact Steps to enable disk use and transfer files

[Malfy]

I've searched here far and wide and have not come up with answers to what I want.

I have a 20gb iPod on a Windows XP machine. In a week or two I plan to reformat my HDD and I'm planning on using my iPod's free space as an external HDD. I have never used the Disk Use feature on iPods, so I want to prevent any problems before using it.

I was going to be using yamiPod. I downloaded it, opened it while having iTunes opened after enabling disk use, and it told me to close iTunes. So I exited yamiPod, ejected my iPod through iTunes, close iTunes, and opened it back up, but I realized my iPod, though connected to my PC through USB 2.0 cables, was not being recognized by neither my PC nor yamiPod.

I'm hesitant to close iTunes without ejecting my iPod from iTunes first, so this is where I need help.

I'd like to know what I should do now. Open iTunes, let my iPod be recognized by both my PC and iTunes, and then just close iTunes, or what? I have no idea.....any help is appreciated.

[snowdog99]

With the iPod connected, in iTunes click Edit>Preferences - click the iPod tab and check the "Enable disk mode" box.

It is quite safe to close iTunes with the iPod connected. When you're ready to disconnect the iPod just use the "safely remove hardware" icon in the task bar.

[Malfy]

Well, thanks, but I went ahead and did it anyway and I've got it all figured out now except for one thing.

When I reformat and wish to unload all of my iPod's contents to my PC, will I be able to access the hard drive "area" of my iPod without having to install the iPod software, firmware, and iTunes beforehand?