How do I convert win iPod to mac?

[Chic0]

Hi guys and gals

After months of getting really pissed off with my PC I’ve finally seen sense and bought a Powerbook.

I was wondering if you guys could help me out though. I have a windows iPod 2Gen and would like to use it now with my Powerbook. Will it be just as simple as connecting it to powerbook and formatting the drive so I can convert it to a mac iPod? Please help.

C

[haiggy]

You can probably convert your iPod by opening the "iPod Software" available at <http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/> and clicking on "Restore".

Now, before you try this, I'm not sure you can convert them back that easily, so if you pick mac, I think that's the way it will end up, because both disk formats will be recognized by the Mac OS, but Windows can't read HFS+ or the Unix filesystem (to my knowledge), and therefore won't be able to see your iPod to format it. (That is just a guess, and may not be the case.)

[MBHockey]

That makes sense, but i can tell you from experience that it works both ways. Not sure why though.

[btoth]

You can erase it and reformat it to Mac format by running the iPod software installer on the Mac. First you may want to copy all the music tracks off the drive (very easy to do if it's formated as Windows because the files aren't hidden from you). You're PC probably won't be able to read the iPod as a disk drive anymore though like mentioned above, Windows isn't compatible with anything natively. iTunes will still sync with a Windows formatted iPod I believe and you can copy Mac files to a Windows formatted iPod too.

[Chic0]

cheers for the help guys. i think i'll use the restore command in the updater. I know it will only then work with macs but that's ok. If I need to convert it back afterwards I've heard it is possible to do this.

Thanks