when you hook it up, you can turn OFF the sync thing, so if/when she gets a computer, it will not sync and wipe it. I believe (and it's been awhile since I connected a virgin pod up) the first time it's hooked to a computer, itunes asks "This is a new gizmo, do you want to sync it to your library" (but slightly more apple phrasing).

ah okay. Although the important thing is that she not wipe it before her wedding and that's next weekend and there's no way she'll get a computer before that! Also, i'm going to put the playlist on my iPod and bring that so we have a back up just in case.

"This is a new gizmo, do you want to sync it to your library" (but slightly more apple phrasing).

Yes, basically, that's what happens. Although at some point I did something where it stopped asking me that question, and I *couldn't* synch it. But I haven't stopped trying to fix that problem.

Although at some point I did something where it stopped asking me that question, and I *couldn't* synch it.

My guess is that you set the iPod's preferences to manually update rather than synching automatically -- handy if you regularly use the 'pod with multiple computers, not so much otherwise.

My guess is that you set the iPod's preferences to manually update rather than synching automatically

That sounds right. I've been trying a lot of crap to get the stuff off my iPod before erasing it. If anyone has had success (and I mean, actually made it work) with getting everything off their iPod and onto a PC (not just purchases, I know how that works), suggestions are welcome.

I was mostly successful by transferring the itunes library as a data object onto my harddrive. (Following instructions like the ones found here: [link] The drawback is that you lose the metadata (song, artist, title info) but you get most of it back when you grab that library in iTunes again (I have a few orphan songs that I don't recognize.) I did seem to lose a few songs entirely, however.

I tried something similar, and I got the music onto my hard drive, but I couldn't get iTunes to add it to the library. I might try it again without iTunes installed, though-- thanks, Sue. The other problem here is that I'm doing it with Vista, so it's hard to tell if my problems are Vista-related.

I think I may have completely replaced what was on my iTunes on my PC with the library from my iPod. (I was worried about a total iPod failure and I knew what was on my desktop was duplicated on the computer.)

The other thing I did was rename the hidden music folder, and called it iTunes backup.

Wow, this is harsh. A C-Net editorial saying Microsoft must abandon Vista before it's too late....

[link]

Having not used Vista, I can't say if things are as bad as he says... maybe his annoyance level reached the breaking point.

For the first time on any operating system, we're not even allowed to backup our favorite movies?

Yeah, I remember the first time I backed up a movie on my Commodore. Or was it when I was using Win 3.1? Never did I think a time would come that I couldn't back up my own movies. I mean, backing up movies makes so much sense, and really, who doesn't?

It's a very clumsily written piece. I felt I was listening to him talk, and not in a good way.

As for the content--dunno. I have no interest in running Vista at this time, but the moment MS stops polarising people the earth will reverse its rotation about its axis.

Oy.