Retrieve files from Shuffle when computer dies?
Here's my story: a few weeks ago my PBG4 LCD screen died. Instead of spending the money to replace the screen, I bought a new PBG4. Now when I plug my shuffle into the new PB it pops up a window asking if I want to replace the contents of my shuffle with my new itunes library (which has nothing in it, b/c it's new!). When I click, "no", it ejects my shuffle immediately.
I would really like to have my songs back, as they are all songs I've purchased from itunes. Is there: a) any way to re-download tunes you've purchased from itunes; b) some way that I can retrieve my songs from this shuffle and sync them with my new PB; or c) try to retrieve my itunes library from the hard drive of my old PB without needing its LCD display?
If anyone knows of a fix for this problem, please let me know. I'm kind-of in limbo here until I figure something out... the music is on my shuffle for me to listen to, but I can't sync it will my PB b/c it wants to replace the contents of my shuffle w/ my new (empty) itunes library. ...and stupid me, I never burned a CD of my purchased songs before my PB died. I guess I learned that lesson the hard way. arrgh...
# 1 Re: Retrieve files from Shuffle when computer dies?
there are ways, but i am only familiar with windows. i would maybe ask in one of the 2 mac specific forums
http://forums.ilounge.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=13
or
http://forums.ilounge.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=10
or if you have access to a windows computer, i could help you out.
zip22 at 2007-11-15 12:53:28 >
# 2 Re: Retrieve files from Shuffle when computer dies?
Actually I do have access to a Windows computer, so your help is most welcome!
# 3 Re: Retrieve files from Shuffle when computer dies?
first question: on your shuffle, did you have it set up to allow files ("Enable disk use" option checked)? - if you did, you would know it. by default it is off.
if yes, then follow my post here http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115218
what i would do, is instead of importing the files into itunes, just burn the unhidden music folder to a cd, then put that in your pb and import into the library on that.
if no and itunes is installed, then you it will be a little trickier. do these steps first:
-press ctrl-alt-del all at the same time to open the task manager
-go to the "processes" tab
-find ituneshelper.exe and press the "End Task" button - click ok when it asks you if you're sure
-now plug in the ipod and follow the directions in that other thread
if no and itunes is not installed, it should just be the same as my first "if yes" part.
what you basically want to do is just copy the music folder on the ipod. the problem is, itunes has a service that prevents the shuffle from showing up as a drive (unless you enabled disk use) which is why i told you to stop that process. then you have to change the hidden file settings, then you can copy the folder over, change it to unhidden and then burn that to a cd (or you could now wipe your ipod with itunes, make it store data, and then put the music folder on as data). then import the files into your pb (make sure its set to copy files to the library). then you're all good
sorry, its a little wordy. you may like to use some other software, but i typically don't find any of the software very friendly either. posting in those mac forums might still be a good idea, as someone might have a much easier solution.
zip22 at 2007-11-15 12:55:29 >
# 4 Re: Retrieve files from Shuffle when computer dies?
Ok, having some issues...
I do not have 'disk use' enabled on my shuffle... now, even when I try to 'end task' on the ituneshelper.exe and plug in my shuffle, it does not recognize it as a drive and keeps asking if I want to replace the songs with the new itunes library. when i click 'no', that's the end of it... i'm not sure how to get the computer to recognize the shuffle as a drive. what am i doing wrong here?
thanks for your help.
# 5 Re: Retrieve files from Shuffle when computer dies?
This is a tricky one because generally itunes takes over when the shuffle is plugged in, it often disables direct access via a drive letter in file explorer in the process.
You could try uninstalling itunes before plugging the shuffle in, but its hard to say if this would fix it, plus its a hassle.
If you have access to another machine that does not have itunes installed that might work, it does for me. For example if I plug the shuffle into my work machine it will appear as a flash drive.
Even when you finally get to the files you will not find all those nice file names as stored in itunes. When your tracks get copied to the shuffle they are allocated numbered names and it won't be obvious that they are your music files.
