Marlene - Sorry, I should have been more clear. If your iPod dies and you have deleted the music files you're screwed if you didn't back up your music files.
OR
If you delete a song from the computer and your iPod is set to automatically update when connected, you can lose songs.
OR
Like when I went from PC to a Mac I had to get a "ripper" to get files off iPod, then make data cd's (not audio cd's) to load files to Mac.
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