How To Backup Music From iPod To Computer

If you want to back up files from your computer but haven't bothered to go out and buy an external hard drive yet, you might not have to look farther than your pocket. If you already own an iPod, it can easily double as an external hard drive in a pinch.

Here's how to use your iPod to back up your files.

1. Connect you iPod to your computer.

2. If your iPod pops up in the "My Computer" folder on a PC or in the "Finder" on a Mac. You're all set. Just open the iPod icon and drag files in.

3. If it doesn't show up in either of those places, open iTunes if it hasn't opened already.

4. Select the iPod icon from under "DEVICES" in the source pane.

5. Click the Summary tab.

6. For most iPod models (except iPod shuffle):
Select "Enable disk use" or "Manually manage songs and playlists." Either one will allow you to use iPod as a drive. If you select "Manually manage songs and playlists," iTunes won't automatically update iPod with the iTunes library. If you want iTunes to automatically update your iPod, select "Enable disk use" instead.

For iPod shuffle:
Click the "Enable disk use" checkbox and set the Storage Allocation slider to indicate the amount you want to be used by audio files and the amount you want to be used for data files.

7. The iPod disk icon appears on the desktop and in Finder windows, and in My Computer/Computer in Windows. Double-click the icon and drag files to or from iPod's window to copy them.

8. Make sure to eject iPod before disconnecting it from your computer. Tip: The iPod display will say "Do Not Disconnect" when disk use is enabled (iPod shuffle's status light will continue to blink orange until after it is ejected). These are reminders for you to eject iPod first.