At some point most people have needed to transfer files from one computer to another. Floppy drives are virtually obsolete. Not all computers have a CD burner and unless you use a re-writable CD you can only use it for files one time. So how can you do it? Ever thought of using your iPod? Few people realize the iPod can be used for much more than listening to songs and watching videos. The device can also be used as a hard drive to store every kind of file you will need. Here are a few tips on how to use your iPod as a hard drive.



First, connect your iPod to your computer. Once the iPod has been connected open the iTunes window. Then open the iPod preferences window. In the iPod preferences window you can select Manually manage songs and playlists or Enable disk use. If you would like to use your iPod for disk storage and you would still like for iTunes to automatically update your iPod library then choose Enable disk use. This will allow your iPod to store files and play music.

Once you have set up your iPod to store files you can drag the files you want to store into the iPod window. When you have finished moving the files click the iPod eject button in the lower-right corner of the iTunes window. The iPod screen will show Ok to disconnect when it is safe to unplug it.

You can also use your iPod as a hard drive without using the iTunes window. First connect your iPod to the computer that has the files you would like to store. Then go to My Computer. You will see the iPod listed as an available drive. Double click the drive and copy the files you want to store into the root folder. Alternatively, you can create a separate folder for storing your files to avoid confusing your files with the files the iPod needs to operate. Do not put anything in the folder labeled iPod_Control because that folder contains music and video files and information required for the iPod to read music and video files correctly.

If you are using your iPod without having iTunes running you will need to manually disconnect the iPod from the system. Open My Computer. Browse to the drive that lists your iPod. Select the drive and drag it to the recycle bin. Once the drive has been deleted, you can safely detach your iPod from the computer. Avoid detaching your iPod from the computer with going through these steps first. Doing so can result in corruption of important files.

The iPod shuffle can also be used for storing files. Using a USB flash drive does this. To configure the iPod shuffle to store files, open the iPod preferences window from within iTunes. In the iPod preferences window use the slider to choose how much of the drive you would like to use for storing files and how much you would like to use for storing songs. You can add files in two ways. The first way is to drag and drop the icon for the file you would like to add onto the iPod folder in the iTunes screen. The second way is to navigate to the iPod drive through My Computer and add file. If you have the file open you can save it to the iPod by going to File, Save As. In the location window click on My Computer and select the iPod drive.

The iPod shuffle must be removed in a similar way to a regular iPod. If you are working through the iTunes window click the iPod eject button in the lower-right corner of the window. When the iPod screen shows Ok to disconnect you can safely remove your iPod. You can also remove the iPod shuffle if you are not working in iTunes by deleting the drive icon from the My Computer folder. As with a regular iPod, be careful not to detach the iPod shuffle from computer without first removing it in one of the two ways described above.

Hassle no more with emailing files to yourself in order to access them from another location. As long as you have your iPod and the USB cord or your iPod shuffle, you can access and store all the files you need.