Transfering iTunes to a new computer

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We really need a new computer, there's so much wrong with this one...but I've persuaded DH to hold off until I can figure out how not to lose all my iTunes tracks.

The old computer doesn't have a CD Rewriter, so what Apple suggest about copying the library to CD and then transfering it won't work.

It took so long to build up my music collection, I really don't want to lose it all and have to start again, there must be some way around this?! Please help!

Do you have any external media at all? A plug in disk drive? A USB stick?

You could use that by plugging it in and dragging the songs from iTunes onto the device. Or if it's big enough (a plug in disk drive) you could move the whole lot at once (and there's an easier way of doing this than through iTunes, ask if you want more info).

If you can get both machines at the same time you should also be able to network them together and transfer the files that way. The method of doing so will depend a lot on which Operating System you use, so if you want more info let us know which and people will help.

Thanks for reply! I've tried a USB stick, but could only get around 10 songs on it so I'd have to buy loads. I could invest in a plug in drive, that might be a good option. If you could tell me how to move the whole lot in one good it would be good.

THe OS we currently have is Windows, but I'm not sure which version since we've had to re-boot it a couple of times and didn't have the original CDs so had to use whatever we could borrow - I think it's Windows 2000, but there's a chance it's 98, it's certainly no newer than 2000. When we get a new one it'll be whatever Windows they're currently giving away with new computers - I guess 7?

The other problem is that when I put the songs on a USB stick, some of them come up with a padlock icon, I guess this means they're somehow locked? If so, is there any way to transfer them or are they tied to that iTunes account only?

Thank you again for any help you can offer and sorry for my IT-illiteracy!

Do you have an iPod?

You can register up to 5 machines to your iTunes account. Fill your iPod up on the old machine, and all purchased items will synch directly to the new one when you attach it.

Alternatively, do you have wifi? On my Macs it is easy to transfer data via the wifi system using something called Migration Assistant. I am sure that there will be a microsoft equivalent...

..your iPod can also be used to tranfer non iTunes store items by using it as an external hard drive.

Just click the boxes on iTunes when your iPod is connected that say 'enable disc use' and 'manually manage music'

Not all iPods can work as external disk drives, the touch can't for example.

However if that option is there that could provide an easy way of doing things.

You'd need a lot of space on the iPod though, each track would be stored twice, once in the "iPod" area and once in the "external disk" area.

...also when you plug that iPod into the other computer for the first time and if you allow iTunes to automatically manage your music I think it will trash the music area of the iPod.

So when you plug it in the first time and the dialog pops up asking the question make sure you manually manage things.

On Windows it's also pretty easily to actually see the music area of the iPod. However it's in quite a complicated format. The directory and file names are all mangled up. You can get free software to help with working that out though.

Two windows machines should be able to network together pretty easily so if you can't use your iPod as an external disk or don't have the space then it might be worth waiting until you have both machines in the house together and then move the music over.

This might be the answer, thank you all! The iPod is just over half full. If this would work, I could easily delete a couple of CDs' worth of tracks and then re-add them when we get the new machine.

So (please explain gently for the hard of thinking), what would I do once I got the new machine? Download iTunes from scratch, register the same email address & say 'no' to syncing (since presumably if I sync with an empty iTunes, it will just empty the iPod)?

What type of iPod is it?

I think a Nano, although it doesn't look much like the ones online. It's definitely not shuffle, classic or touch and it holds 2000 songs, so I think it must be nano.

Have checked and current OS is Windows XP, but with Office 2000 (which is why I got confused), so this should work ok. Thanks everyone, particularly BadgersPaws!

I "think" that the Nano can work as an external disk....

As a first thing try following method #1 in these instructions....

www.metaphoriclabs.com/articles/5-ways-to-copy-music-off-your-ipod-windows-mac-os-x/