Moving i-tunes library from defunct hardrive (old laptop now dead) to new replacement laptop

[Panfriedstardust]

It's a bit of a bugger. The laptop I dropped had my i-tunes library on it, and the hard drive is now inaccessible ( no power to laptop, which is now on otehr side of country). I have some memory that you can transfer your i-tunes library from one pc to another, but I recall this was from one pc that you have, or can access, to a new one.
Also, how will my i-pod/new laptop be able to 'synch' as they haven't been formally introduced before, and so why should they be able ot recognise each other?

any notes would be appreciated.
thanks

you mean....this is beyond the powers of MN....

um, a computer place might be able to retrieve your itunes library from the old hard drive?

ipods cops ok with new computers - it will obv ask if you want ot sync with new itunes library (which you don't - this will wipe your ipod of all material)

you can get programmes which take the stuff off your ipod and put it into your itunes library - name escapes em for now, but could look it up later. I googled it for a friend, who had stuff on her ipod that her sister had put on when she bought it for her, and so obv did not 'own' in her itunes library.

a simple download later, and she was sorted - audiobooks and music off ipod and then she was able to shift it from her hard drive into her itunes - bob's your uncle.

so I need to get the programme off interweb, download the i-tunes software and then plug my i-pod into laptop. Is there an 'authorised puter' consdieration to make?

so you have a new laptop?

yes, download itunes onto it - don't do anything else at this point.

is it an option to get a computer place to try to retrieve old itunes library? or do you have everything on your ipod anyway?

will look up the programme thingy, hang on

this is what my friend used. it owrked fine.

I think (there used to be... no idea if still the same) you have 2 options: the free route, which is limited to a few transfers/day, or pay (was about £20 iirc) for teh programme and do the lot in one go - all depends on how much you have to transfer.

disclaimer: there si probably a better way of doing all this, I am totally non-techy, and this is the way I found to do it when my even-less-techy-than-me friend asked me

thanks silverfrog - yes the old hard drive is somewhere in darkest Norfolk and I am having a new wizzy-wizzy one delivered today. (insurance job). So after a couple of hours of caressing it I will need to get the i-tunes thing going sans my old library...I just do NOT want to plug my pod into new laptop and have it wipped....