I can't back up my vintage 30G iPod in iTunes. The "devices->back up" option is disabled.

I too have this issue. Since the computer being used and the old iPod were never used together or to sync the iTunes library to that ipod, now when trying to do so from iTunes Library...

I get the warning stating:

Are you sure you want to remove existing music, movies, and TV shows from this iPod and sync with this iTunes library? Music, movies, and TV shows synced to “ipod” from other iTunes libraries will be removed and items will be synced from this iTunes library.

Therefore can't backup an old ipod with iTunes as the backup option isn't available:

And can't sync as by hitting the Sync button on the music, movies, podcast, etc sections of the ipod won't start copying files from the iPod to the iTunes library

All out of options I guess?

Thanks!

The problem with this approach assumes a sync from iTunes library to the iPod (by the way is a vintage 30GB not a touch). The problem is that nothing can be done to get the songs on the iPod sync'ed to the iTunes library. That's the case of where a new mac needs to be used with the old iPod. As far as I know it's not possible unless using some 3rd party program to get the music of the iPod and onto the mac. Do correct me if I am wrong, but that seems to be the case. That's extremely annoying and careless on Apple's part.

That backup command is only for iOS devices, such as iPhone and iPod touch. iPods are already backed up, by definition if you use automatic syncing, because everything on the iPod is already in your iTunes library. I see from that image that you do NOT have the Manually manage music and videos setting checked, so you are all set. When you get an iPod touch, just sync the same songs (or any set of songs) to the iPod touch from your iTunes library. Everything on the old iPod should be there.

(If you use the Manually manage music setting, then it's possible there are songs on the iPod that are not in your iTunes library.)

Well, I think my info is correct, and everything on your old iPod is already in your iTunes library. So, you don't have to do anything with your old iPod. You just asked the "wrong" question... 🙂

I think you need to set up automatic syncing for the iPod touch. "Syncing" doesn't do that much if nothing is set up to sync.

Select the iPod touch in iTunes. There is a row of "tabs" (starting with Summary). Click on Music there. This is the Music tab, where you tell iTunes how to sync the iPod with songs. Sync Music is checkmarked for automatic syncing of songs.

If your entire iTunes music library can fit on the iPod touch, you can choose to sync Entire music library. Then, everything in your iTunes music library is synced to the iPod touch. Your old iPod is probably set up this way. However, an iPod touch does a lot more, such as run apps and play videos nicely, so even if it fits, you may not want to sync your entire iTunes music library, to have space for those other things.

Therefore, you can choose to sync Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres. Create your selection of songs below. For example, if you want to keep it simple, create a new regular playlist in iTunes and call it something like "iPod songs." Put ALL songs you want on the iPod on that playlist. Back on the Music tab, find and checkmark that new playlist under Playlists.

NOTE: You can set up automatic syncing for the other types of iTunes media, such as Podcasts, Movies, TV Shows, Books, etc., on the other tabs with those names.

When you click Apply, your selections on the Music tab (and other tabs) sync to the iPod, replacing its current content. Going forward, any library changes that are related to the settings on the Music tab (and other tabs) sync automatically when you connect the iPod, or when you click Sync. So, if there is a playlist with your "iPod songs," you can just update that playlist (add and remove songs) whenever you want, even when the iPod touch is not connected; iTunes automatically updates the iPod with the same changes at the next opportunity.

Hey, Apple (Mac OS X) is UNIX at its heart, so you should be an "Apple aficionado." 🙂

You can still run Terminal and do the command line stuff... 🙂 It's kinda cool watching a vi "master" type...