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Dear friends,

My wife bought my stepdaughter's 80gb iPod and gave it to me as an early Christmas gift. The problem is, the instruction manual is missing and I don't know how to load any songs onto it. I tried downloading iTunes and used it to copy my MP3s from my computer onto it, but it still isn't reading them. HELP! Can anyone tell me how to load MP3s to an iPod so that the damn thing will actually play them?

Thanks a million,
Shades

Are you using a Windows computer? How old is the iPod Classic?

Make sure that you have the most recent version of iTunes downloaded on your computer. You should then be able to plug in the iPod and iTunes will guide you through the process.

You can also call Apple and they will walk you through the process step by step.

I'm using Linux (unfortunately).

I've downloaded and installed iTunes, but whenever I activate it, it says "iTunes was not installed properly. You will not be able to rip or burn CDs. Please re-install iTunes" or something like that.

I tried to reinstall it. I downloaded the file from the iTunes website to my desktop, but when I double-click it, absolutely nothing happens.

After that first warning screen, though, I can still go to iTunes without a problem. There's just no menu option or button that says "Transfer music to your iPod" or something like that. WTF??

God, I hate Linux. I've also decided that I hate the iPod, too. There isn't even a volume dial on the goddamn thing!

Let me see if I can help you Shades.

Plug in the iPod to any USB port on your computer, and launch iTunes.

In the lefthand side panel there should be something that says "_____ iPod" (for example Shades' iPod, if you've given it a name) with an eject symbol next to it. That means your iPod is connected and is being recognized by iTunes.

Above that, at the top of the side panel, is an area called "library." When you first installed iTunes, it probably asked you if you would like iTunes to manage your music. If you said yes, then there should be music in this "library" section. If not, there won't be anything in there. To add music to the library section, simply drag and drop your media files into the white space to the right of the side panel.

Now, to get the contents of your library copied onto your iPod, just click on "library" in the side panel and hold, and then drag it down to where it says "_____ iPod." Your music will then transfer to the iPod. Once it's done, click the eject button, and voila...you've got music.

If you don't want the contents of your entire "library" section on your iPod, then you can just go through the list, highlight what you do want, and drag those down to "_____ iPod." Pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

And the volume controls on the iPod are handled by swiping your finger clockwise (to raise the volume) around the scroll wheel. Anti-clockwise to lower the volume.

If iTunes is not reading your music files, they may be in an improper format (which I doubt). Just try "dragging and dropping" your files into the "library" section.

Shades,

This article might be of interest to you if you haven't fixed your problem already:

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8160

Jeneum wrote:In the lefthand side panel there should be something that says "_____ iPod" (for example Shades' iPod, if you've given it a name) with an eject symbol next to it. That means your iPod is connected and is being recognized by iTunes.

Nope. No "____ iPod," no eject button. Although it did ask me what I wanted to name my iPod back when I first plugged it in, it hasn't displayed anything since then.

If iTunes is not reading your music files, they may be in an improper format (which I doubt). Just try "dragging and dropping" your files into the "library" section.

It seems to be detecting SOME of my music files, but not anywhere near all of them. I only have a little less than 2 gb of music, though.

I understood the rest of your instructions. . . thanks. But I guess if it isn't seeing my iPod, then I can't drag-and-drop anything into it.

Eric wrote:This article might be of interest to you if you haven't fixed your problem already:

I read/scanned the article, and I was completely lost. I have no clue how to do any of that stuff. In fact, I haven't been that lost since high school geometry.

Sorry Shades, I don't know anything about Linux, so I don't know what to to tell you. If you have access to another computer with a normal operating system I'm pretty sure you won't have any problems loading your music.

Do you know how hard it is to find a record player that has a setting for 78 rpm records these days?

Never had a problem with i tunes or the ipod. But I do not give good instructions over the phone. Have and Ipad now and it is cool too.

Go to an Apple store if there is one near you and get some help there.

Jason Bourne wrote:Go to an Apple store if there is one near you and get some help there.

Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. Although, I didn't think they had Apple-product specific stores out there.