How to Sync an iPod Without Deleting the Music?

If your computer has crashed, if you've purchased a new computer or if you're plugging your iPod into your friend's computer, the iPod will be synced with a different version of iTunes than what was used to add music to that iPod. When this occurs, all the music on that particular iPod will automatically be deleted. This can be an annoyance regardless of how many songs are on the iPod. But by using My Computer together with iTunes, you can sync an iPod without deleting the music on the iPod.1

1. Begin by clicking "Start" on the task bar and then opening "My Computer." Click "Tools." Select "Folder Options." Then click the "View" tab. Scroll down the list in the middle of the window until you come upon "Show hidden files and folders." Click on this option, then click "OK." Keep My Computer open.
2. Plug the iPod you wish to sync into the computer. Open iTunes.
3. Click the icon for your iPod located on the left side of iTunes. A box may appear asking if you wish to sync the iPod. Exit this box without clicking "Yes," or the music on the iPod will be deleted.
4. Click on the "Enable disk use" option at the bottom of the iTunes screen.
5. Go back to My Computer. You should see the name of your iPod and an icon for the device located under "Devices with Removable Storage."
6. Double-click the iPod icon in My Computer.
7. Open the "iPod_Control" folder, then open the Music folder.
8. Highlight and select each of the folders found in the Music folder. Then copy each of these folders.
9. Paste all of the folders you copied from the previous step to your desktop. You can then minimize the My Computer window.
10. Click "File" in iTunes. Choose "Add Folder to Library." Select one of the folders you pasted onto the desktop. The songs in that folder will then be added to the iTunes library. Do this for every folder you pasted onto the desktop.
11. Disconnect the iPod from the computer. Wait about 10 seconds, then reconnect the iPod. If the message asking whether you wish to sync the iPod appears again, click "Yes" to sync the iPod. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
12. Click "File." Select "Sync iPod." The iPod will then sync without any music being deleted from the device.