Backing up iTunes playlists...

[johnjohn320]

Probably a dumb question, but I've been away from computers for awhile. I want to wipe my laptop's hard drive (too overrun with spyware, etc). The only thing making me reluctant to do so is my iTunes playlist for my iPod...it's about 2 gigs of music so far that has taken me some time to rip from my CDs. Is there a function of the iPod that I'm unaware of that would allow me to import my playlist from my iPod back onto my computer? If not, any suggestions for efficiently backing all this stuff up? I also don't want to blow everything that's on my iPod that first time I plug it back into my reformatted machine.

And yes, I know I'm an idiot. Life's stressful lately, cut me some slack.

 

[mcvickj]

I would also be interested in hearing an answer to this. Last time I wanted to nuke my machine I copied my entire iPod on one of my drives to back it up. The reason I did this is because after you reinstall iTunes it will nuke your iPod if your letting iTunes manage the iPod and keeping things synced.

 

[randomlinh]

if your music directory structure does not change, jsut export the playlists and reimport them. if it does change.. i think you're SOL.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Does this help johnjohn320?

iTunes 4: How to backup and restore playlists

 

[johnjohn320]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Does this help johnjohn320?

iTunes 4: How to backup and restore playlists

Sort of, but I just don't know what I'm going to do with 2 gigs of data...

 

[randomlinh]

stuff them on CD's, it's only 4 you have to burn

 

[johnjohn320]

Originally posted by: lnguyen
stuff them on CD's, it's only 4 you have to burn

Yeah, but doesn't it save my playlist as one big file? I dunno...I have to run but i'll check it out later...

 

[randomlinh]

umm... I'm not sure you understand what you can do.

First export the playlists.
Then burn the mp3s, and be sure the note the directory structure, you will need to recreate it exactly.
Format, install.
copy mp3's back over, add back to the itunes library
import playlist.

the playlist itself is a text file pointing to where the mp3's are, exporting does not copy out your mp3's.