Hi, vendome605.
If you're having problems transferring music from several computers to
your iPod, the cause is probably that you told the iPod to
automatically update your iPod when you plug it in. While this is the
easiest and most convienient option, it unfortunately doesn't work
with multiple computers, since when you connect to a new machine, it
will erase all the music already stored on the iPod's hard disk to
ensure that your computer's music folder and the iPod's music folder
are identical.
The solution to this problem is simply to select 'manual update' when
you connect the iPod to your computers, and copy over the music files
individually. To quote from Apple's tech info library (at
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60920):
"Question 15: I have a computer at home and one at work. Can I update
my iPod music collection from more than one Mac?
Answer: Yes. When you first connect iPod to your Mac, iPod recognizes
that Mac as its "home" computer. Each time you connect, iPod
automatically downloads the music library stored on it. When you
connect iPod to a different Mac, iPod asks for permission before
updating, or synchronizing, with this music library. If you choose
automatic update, your iPod recognizes the second Mac as its home
computer, and breaks the link with the original Mac. If you do not
choose automatic update, iPod switches to manual update mode, allowing
you to selectively drag songs, albums, or playlists from the second
computer to your iPod. Synchronization occurs only in one direction,
from your Mac to your iPod. This means you cannot transfer music,
automatically or manually, from your iPod to a computer, and you
cannot use iPod to copy a music library from one computer to another."
As this mentions, you cannot (easily) copy music from the iPod to your
computer, due to concerns about copyright infringement.
You should be able to copy other types of file to and from the iPod's
disk using several computers simply by plugging it in and dragging
files from and to the iPod's hard disk.
A couple of sites you might find interesting:
iPodlounge.com (various hints, tips, and how to access the hidden
breakout game):
http://www.ipodlounge.com/
http://www.ipodlounge.com/tips.asp
iPodhacks.com:
http://www.ipodhacks.com/
You might also want to try these searches for more information:
'ipod multiple computers music':
://www.google.com/language_tools?q=ipod+multiple+computers+music&newwindow=1
'ipod tips':
://www.google.com/search?q=ipod+tips
I hope this helps, you lucky iPod owner... ;-)
--wildeeo |
