Manual Transfer of music from iPod To PC
A few weeks ago I had decided to format my PC and start with a lovely clean version of Windows Vista x64 (I know it's not the latest, but I can't afford Windows 7 just yet). After installing all the windows updates and adding my critical programs, I installed iTunes to put all my 'bangin' tunes from my iPod back onto the smooth running PC.

What a surprise it was to find that iTunes doesn't actually allow transfer of iPod material back to your PC, so once it again it was back to trawling the Internet to find some free software. Out of the several applications, reported as FREE these were all trial versions with limited or no functionality until I opened up my wallet and spent my hard earned cash.

So with no free (Full Functionality) software I went back to basics and found how to manually transfer the music. The following instructions will give you step-by-step advice on how to achieve this copy...

Instructions (XP/Vista)

  1. Connect your iPod to your PC, via the USB Connector.
  2. In windows explorer click on the attached device drive i.e. My IPod (G:\).
  3. In windows explorer menu bar, select TOOLS --> Folder Options.
  4. Select 'View' Tab.
  5. Click 'Show hidden files and folders', select OK.
  6. In Windows Explorer select previously hidden directory called "G:\iPod_Control\Music".
  7. From each of the directories named F00, F01, F02 etc copy the contained files to you PC music directory.
  8. Disconnect your iPod from your PC.
  9. Start-up iTunes.
  10. In iTunes menu bar, select FILE --> Add folder to library.
  11. Sit back and listen to your favourite tunes on your PC once again.

Instructions (Windows 7)
  1. Open Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization and click 'Show hidden files and folders'.
  2. Click the 'View' tab.
  3. Select 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives'.
  4. Click 'OK'.
  5. Close Control Panel.
  6. Connect your iPod to your PC, via the USB Connector.
  7. In windows explorer click on the attached device drive i.e. My IPod (G:\).
  8. In Windows Explorer select previously hidden directory called "G:\iPod_Control\Music".
  9. From each of the directories named F00, F01, F02 etc copy the contained files to you PC music directory.
  10. Disconnect your iPod from your PC.
  11. Start-up iTunes.
  12. In iTunes menu bar, select FILE --> Add folder to library.
  13. Sit back and listen to your favourite tunes on your PC once again.