Reformating PC, will my iPod get reformatted too?

[Sreo]

I am needing to reformat my WinXP PC and I'm wanting to use my iPod as a back up drive for it. My fear is that when I reinstall the iPod software that it will reformat the iPod thus taking away not only my 5 GB of songs but probably about 4 GB of backed up data.

Is there a way to make sure that I don't loose everything when I back up and still use my iPod as a place to store all of my songs and data without needing to burn it all to CD-Rs?

[SouthsideIrish]

Yes, don't run the updater, and make sure iTunes is not set to autosync.

Bill

[armless]

if you have lots of playcounts and stuff, make a backup of your itunes library.xml file

[anderslimpar]

i'm going to do the same as well.

i take it windows XP will recognise the ipod as a firewire drive on a clean install, so i can copy across files that way? i am slightly paranoid about losing all my files and music..

[ashawley]

Just make sure not to install any of the software from the Apple CD and you'll be fine. That has a setup program on it that formats the iPod's drive which you don't need to do since you've already done that.

So, here are the steps you want to follow when formatting your computer's hard drive:

1. Backup the iTunes 4 Music Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml files. These are your library from iTunes. If you back them up and you make sure that the path to your music files is exactly the same after your reinstall everything, then you can just plop these files into your iTunes music folder and you won't lose anything

2. Backup any relevant files to the iPod that you want to keep from your computer

3. Reformat the PC

4. Connect the iPod--DO NOT install any Apple software, none is needed. It will show up as a drive in My Computer, copy over you backed up files.

5. Download and install iTunes, make sure that you configure it just as your old version of iTunes was configured in the sense that you have your iTunes music folder in the same place and your music files in the same place.

6. Copy the iTunes library files referenced above to you iTunes music folder. Then open iTunes.

7. Make sure that your tunes and ratings and everything show up fine in iTunes. Try and play a song or two, make sure iTunes can play them. Only then should you attempt to sync your iPod.

8. If you want, you can download and install the Updater (http://www.apple.com/ipod/download) program and install it, just don't run it. You only need it if you need to restore your iPod.

That should do it.

Adam

Adam

[Kingtut]

Thanks ashawley - that's exactly the information I was looking for.

Rather than trying to replicate the paths to where the original music files were after the format, would it be easier to consolidate my music library before I format the PC's hard drive?

[anderslimpar]

thanks so much for your help - going to give it a go now.

should be back soon. hopefully.