I want to download music from napster or itunes to my ipod.  Windows
is downloading my music to windows metafile format and I cannot
convert it to mp3 or wav successfully.  I have tried using a converter
program to change the format of my files from wmf to mp3 but i cannot
copy them to ipod.  i tried using itunes but it would not let me log
on and said my internet connection prevents a link.  i am frustrated
because ipod is supposed to work well with windows but the barriers
just keep popping up, and it seems hopeless.

Hello Swimmom26

The problem you are having is because of the copy protection mechanism
on the files you are downloading and the incompatibility of the files
with iTunes.

The music files you can download from Napster are all Windows Media
Audio (WMA) files whilst the files you download from iTunes are either
AAC or MP3 files.  Additionally the WMA files that you download from
Napster are copyright protected.  This copy protection mechanism is
called Digital Rights Management (DRM).

When you buy a track from Napster with the standard subscription a
license is granted to you to allow you the rights to *play* that track
in the Napster software, it does not give you the right to *copy* that
music onto a CD or to another format.  For the right to copy the track
to CD or a portable player there is an additional fee (the cost of
which is dependent on the country you are downloading from, for
instance it is 99 pence in the UK).

If you do not have the rights to copy the track to your portable
player you will also not be able to convert the track to an MP3 or WAV
file.

The DRM is the reason that Napster and iTunes are now allowed to sell
tracks in the way they are doing as it gives the music companies a way
of protecting their copyright on the music which the other file
download software packages did not.

iTunes, the application, does recognise WMA files and will convert
them to AAC format when you transfer them across.  Unfortunately
iTunes will *not* recognise the protected WMA format files and will
not transfer them to your iPod.

In brief, your problems are all arising therefore from the copy
protection that is placed on the file.  You will need to contact
Napster and iTunes directly to buy the licence to be able to copy
these tracks onto your iPod.

If you have any further questions on this subject please ask for
clarification and I will do my best to help.

Useful links:
http://www.copyprotectedwma.com/
http://www.audiotoolsdirect.com/faqs.shtml#a6
http://www.apple.com/itunes/import.html
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
http://www.napster.co.uk/what_is_napster.html
http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/printthread.php?t=2460

this was terrific, thanks!

Thanks for the 5-star rating and the tip!  They are much appreciated.