The easiest way to back up the music on your iPod is to use the
iTunes music library as your starting point. Just make sure
you sync your iPod with iTunes before you start so that you have
all your music in both places. Then, when you're ready to
back your music up, disconnect your iPod from your computer, make
sure iTunes is open, and go through the following steps:
1. Go to the File menu at the upper left-hand
corner of your screen, and select Back Up To Disc from the
drop-down menu.
2. If this is the first time you're backing up
your music, choose "Back up entire iTunes library and playlists"
from the dialog box that appears. If you've backed up before
and just want to back up the new material, choose "Only back up
items added or changed since last backup." Once you've made
your selection, click "Back Up" in the lower right-hand corner of
the dialog box.
3. Insert a blank CD or DVD into your CD or DVD
drive, and watch iTunes start the burning process. Chances
are, your library won't all fit on one CD or DVD, but that's not a
problem. When the dialog box appears and asks you if you want
to back up to multiple discs, click "Data Discs" to continue, and
then insert blank discs when you are prompted to do so.
When the last disc ejects, your entire library is safely backed
up.
Restoring your music from the back-up discs is easy. Just pop
your disc into your drive, and iTunes will ask you if you want to
restore from this disc. Click "Restore," and your library
will be repopulated with your archived music.
Click
here for more tips on how to get the most out of your iPod.
