Instructions via Lifehacker.

fyi: totally not a nooby question. it's more difficult than it should be. especially considering, ya know, you own your ipod and should be able to move your music back and forth easily and however you wish.

Thanks jrossi, but my computer doesn't show a "Portable Media Device" option under the control panel. The comp says the iPod is connected and working properly, but the only options I have are .txt files and the like.

I tried this program, but it only allows you to download all your songs, and I really don't want to wait for 1200+ songs to transfer only to delete them.

And I know what you mean, fs. This thing should work like a giant flash drive, no? I guess not. I just meant noob in the sense that this is the first time I've tried it and it's completely counterintuitive to what I thought it would be.

I guess I'll just re-rip the songs that I need again. Blah.

Tried this?

I have also used iPod Rip once successfully. I have also tried it on another computer and it did not work.

his thing should work like a giant flash drive, no? I guess not.

Yeah, that's why I decided not to get an iPod. No hating or anything, but my mp3 player is just a flash drive, with a microchip, a display, and some speakers. I may not be able to create smart playlists on the fly, but I can get songs onto and off of it easily.

Thanks danf. I'm halfway out the door for the day, but I'll try that when I get back to the house.

his thing should work like a giant flash drive, no? I guess not.

Yeah, that's why I decided not to get an iPod.

Likewise. Mine's a 60GB model that just shows up as a drive and you can add, subtract, or rearrange files on it just like any drive. Very handy when traveling and you want to swap songs with friends. (Except I usually do more giving than getting since my have ipods and can't get their music back out of them... see step 1)