My hard drive had to be replaced :(

[sana_suz]

Hi

A few weeks ago my laptop crashed so I took it to the pc store and they said the only way of repairing it was by ripping out my old hardrive and replacing it with a new one. They told me I'd lose everything, but caught between a rock and hard place it was my only option, plus I had all the CD's to re-install everything..

So I get my laptop back, everything's good, re-install the stuff that I lost including itunes. Before all this stuff happened I had (or so I thought), backed up all my ipod songs etc on DVD, however after I installed itunes, I popped the DVD in, and I had obviously completely screwed it up as there was nothing there! :shake: :o

After many tears and a stiff drink, I just kind of let go and thought, well I'll just have burn all my CD's onto ipod again (this may take weeks) and download the stuff I had previously.

But it's not that simple. Before I plugged in my ipod I had all my original songs and downloads..they had just been lost on itunes. When I plugged in I got some messages and I know, I am stupid, but I can't remember what they were, something about did I wish to replace something...I clicked yes which I now know was the wrong move!! I probably could have salvaged all my tunes if I hadn't done that.

So now it's like whenever I put on itunes and plug in my pod it's like itunes thinks there are two programs running -- the old one with all my old songs on and the new one where I have begun downloading again (does that make any sense?) It's proving problematic as whenever I try to go and disconnect my pod from itunes I get a message saying another program is running on itunes so I can't disconnect. So I just end up having to disconnect by just pulling the plug. AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOOD!! :shake:

I don't know what to do...I was hoping that someone might be able to tell me how to go about starting afresh with my ipod. Even if it means I lose all the songs I have currently burned..I just want to start anew !

please help me and poor ipod!

thanks
suz x

[honeybee1236]

Use the Updater (www.apple.com/ipod/download) and restore the iPod. This will set it back to factory settings.

1-The DVD with the songs on it place it in the computer drive and go to my computer and open up the dvd drive while the disk is in the drive. Then look to see if you can see the files. If so, drag then off of the disk onto your desktop and you'll have your songs back. Just because it doesn't show in iTunes doesn't mean the songs are not on the disk. They might be there. Check first.

2- Data Recovery - If you haven't overwritten the iPod hard drive then you can use a data recovery option to salvage the songs. You can see this thread on the topic: How to recover lost data/files in your iPod (http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45619) Also, YamiPod and SharePod will do data recovery and are freeware. Links are posted here. (http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71349)