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General discussion

Windows/Mac networking question

Jan 15, 2006 7:30AM PST

OK, my wife and I recently got new iPods, so we've spent the last few weeks ripping our sizable CD collections. I bought a 250GB Firewire drive (connected to my Mac) primarily for MP3 storage. My thought was that we both could access our library on this drive. I would do it locally, she would do it through Windows to Mac networking.

I've successfully created a user account for her, and she's able to log in to my machine with no problems, but I can't seem to get her access to the firewire drive. I tried creating an alias to the iTunes Music Folder on this drive, and to the drive itself, but Windows doesn't appear to know what to do with alias files (I get a ''what application does this file open with'' dialog). I'd really like to get this working, does anyone have any ideas? I don't have the internal drive space to copy the library over to her account, and I can't think of any other way to direct her account to the external drive than making an alias. Help! Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Close, but no cigar
Jan 15, 2006 8:20AM PST

This idea is not going to work for you.
The PC needs it own copy of iTunes and it's own library of tracks for the iPod to connect to. It will not connect to the Mac library over the network.
You can, however, share your Mac library tracks with the PC by choosing the Sharing Tab in iTunes preferences. On the PC, inside iTunes, do the same but also choose "Look for shared music".
This will enable the PC to share the Mac library and the Mac to share the PC library.
You should be able to sync both the iPods on the Mac.

Any help?

P

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It can be done
Jan 17, 2006 3:03AM PST

You can just have the music on one computer and share it in the network but, you could let each computer have its own "Virtual Copy." The easiest way to do this would be to buy a NAS (Network Attached Storage) Device beacuse then you can dump all of your mp3's on to it and on the windows "Map Network Drive" and on the Mac connect to server/find it under the network tab. Once that is complete go to itunes on each pc and open all the songs from that device. Now, this will enable you to play music, copy to CD/DVD, and copy it to an iPod. The NAS will also allow you to save other files to it without taking up hard drive space on your computer. Now the only down side is that when you are not connected to the network you will not be able to play the songs Sad ,but as long as u have a iPod then that wil be no problem.


Ian

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The other downside
Jan 17, 2006 8:42AM PST

is that it will cost you money to do it this way.
It is certainly an idea though


P