iTunes library and external HDD

[Chubby Cox]

Hi everyone-

I have a 5G iPod, a G4 Powerbook and a firewire external hard drive. To free up disk space on my Powerbook, I was considering moving my iTunes library over to the external drive (and updating all settings/preferences accordingly). I was wondering, though- what would happen if I then connected my iPod (to charge it, for instance) and my external drive wasn't connected? Would it just give me a message, or would it erase everything on my iPod so that I'd have to copy it all back over the next time I connect the external drive?

Thanks!

 

[Eraserhead]

It sometimes deletes everything and sometimes doesn't, it depends if iTunes realises the songs are missing or not I think, you can always use manual syncing.

 

[twoodcc]

yeah, you would have to use manual syncing

 

[jTreu]

i was thinking of doing a set up like this for my ibook, you can still play songs on itunes without the hd being conenct with it set up like this right?

 

[balamw]

i was thinking of doing a set up like this for my ibook, you can still play songs on itunes without the hd being conenct with it set up like this right?

In manual sync mode, yes.

To the OP, all iPods still charge over Firewire, but no data unless it's a 4G or older. So a simple workaround is to get a FW dock cable and charge with that so there's no risk of data corruption. Another plus is that the iPod charges faster than over USB...

B

 

[kyleaa]

In manual sync mode, yes.

I don't think you understood jTreu's post - he is asking if he has all of his music on an external hard drive, and then disconnects the drive, if he can play music in itunes that resides on the disconnected drive, and I can see no reason why this wouldn't be a resounding "no". Correct me if I am wrong, I am just not seeing this as being correct.

 

[balamw]

Correct me if I am wrong, I am just not seeing this as being correct.

In manual sync mode you can play the songs directly from the iPod via iTunes.

B

 

[Chubby Cox]

Cool...thanks for the help, guys

 

[Eraserhead]

To be honest Apple really need to get iTunes to handle external drives properly, and let you play music on your iPod if that's plugged in but your external isn't.

 

[killmoms]

To be honest Apple really need to get iTunes to handle external drives properly, and let you play music on your iPod if that's plugged in but your external isn't.

But the iPod IS an external hard drive. Why play off that external HD instead of the other?

You have to decide what matters more—having your music without having to connect something, or having space. If you decide for the latter, move your music library to an external and just accept that it's not quite as convenient. S'what I did. (Of course, come springtime, it'll move onto a tricked out Mac Pro, and then I won't give a damn one way or the other.)

 

[Eraserhead]

But the iPod IS an external hard drive. Why play off that external HD instead of the other?

Because it's smaller in size (and doesn't require a power outlet.) also my library's too big to fit on my Macbook HD with all the other stuff I need.

 

[Thanatoast]

It would be great if they created a way to plug an external HDD into the Airport Express and had it be a network iTunes library, or even just storage. One would think that with the limited upgrade options for HDD's (post-purchase), that creating an easy way to store massive amounts of media for iTunes to access (Steve's obvious goal) would be a priority.

 

[Le Big Mac]

To be honest Apple really need to get iTunes to handle external drives properly, and let you play music on your iPod if that's plugged in but your external isn't.

I'm not sure what external drives have to do with that question. Apple should allow iTunes to play what's on your iPod if it's connected. Period.

And to avoid the DRM problems, they could still block syncing from iPod to computer (and I know there's lots of 3d party apps that allow this).