Preparing your iPod without losing songs

The goal of these instructions is to change the preferences on your iPod without allowing iTunes to sync the iPod. If you follow the instructions below, you should have no problems.

Trick iTunes into not recognizing your iPod

  1. Quit iTunes if it is open.
  2. Move the folder "iTunes" within your "Music" folder to your desktop. If the folder does not exist, you do not need to follow these instructions. Your iPod will not be linked with your iTunes library.

Change your iPod's preferences

  1. Launch iTunes. (Note: Don't be alarmed when all of your songs don't show up in iTunes. Everything will be restored by the end of these instructions.)
  2. Plug in your iPod.
  3. You will be asked if you want to link your iPod with the current iTunes library. Make sure you click "No."
  4. In the bottom right corner of iTunes there is a button with an image of an iPod. Clicking that button reveals the iPod's options.
  5. Find the "Manually manage songs and playlists" and enable it. This should enable disk use, too, but it will ensure that the iPod doesn't get linked with this library.
  6. Find the "Enable disk use" and "Open iTunes when the iPod is attached" options.
  7. Make sure disk use is enabled and opening iTunes is not.
  8. Eject your iPod. (Note: with disk use enabled you will now have to manually eject your iPod like a CD every time before you disconnect it.)
  9. Disconnect your iPod. (Note: Make sure your iPod is not displaying "Do not disconnect" before disconnecting.)
  10. Quit iTunes.

Restore your library

  1. iTunes cannot be running for a successful restore of your library. Make sure you have quit iTunes.
  2. Move the "iTunes" folder that is on your desktop (from earlier) into your "Music" folder.
  3. When asked if you want to replace the folder that already exists, click replace.

Ready to use

The iPod's preferences have now been successfully changed, and it is ready to be used with Senuti. You can plug in your iPod and launch Senuti. After you are finished copying the songs that you need to be copied, you can change your preferences in iTunes to have your iPod automatically update if you want, but leave disk use on and auto-launch off.