Spectacularly stupid syncing question

[dwoog]

Forgive my idiocy. I'm new to iTunes. I had about 50 songs on iTunes on my work computer (most from my CDs, a few purchased). I synced them with my iPod Shuffle. When I restarted my computer, my entire iTunes program was erased -- that's something that IT does, apparently, to prevent overuse of iTunes. So now I'll use my home computer for iTunes/Shuffle.

My question: If there are no songs in my iTunes, will my computer sync by erasing everything that's on my Shuffle? In other words, does syncing work both ways, or only one?

[Griffinaz]

One way (from iTunes to the device). If your company erased the iTunes program it is possible that they did not delete the actual music files themselves and maybe you could zip them up into moderately small files and copy them to a sharing site online (or a personal webpage that you may have) and then retrieve them at home to resync to the device.

[dwoog]

Good advice - THANKS!

[acosmichippo]

also keep in mind that itunes won't sync an ipod to a new library without asking you first. If you want to make doubly sure, go to tools->syncing, and check the "disable automatic syncing for all iphones and ipods" box.

[dwoog]

THANKS -- I saw somewhere (erroneously, I'm sure) that I should DE-select that box. That seems counterintuitive -- it should definitely be checked, right?

[acosmichippo]

i keep mine unchecked, because i only want my things to sync when i tell them to sync. I'm a control freak like that. If you would rather not mess with it, and let iTunes handle it, then don't check the box.

It doesn't HAVE to be one way or another.

[dwoog]

[quote=acosmichippo;222236]i keep mine unchecked, because i only want my things to sync when i tell them to sync. I'm a control freak like that. If you would rather not mess with it, and let iTunes handle it, then don't check the box.

Hi Mitch:

Sorry, I'm confused by your answer. First you said you keep the box unchecked, because you want to control the syncing. Then you said that to let iTunes handle it, the box should also be unchecked. Which is it? THANKS

[acosmichippo]

I said "if you would rather not mess with it... then don't check the box". This will let iTunes handle your syncing, which means it will sync every time you plug in your ipod.

i don't like this, so i uncheck the box.

it doesn't have to be one way or the other... just user preference.

[acosmichippo]

oh, by the way, my name is not mitch... that is just a quote in my signature.

My name is Erik.