Installing the iPod’s Software on a Windows PC (Part 1)

If you have installed even one application from a CD, you won’t have any trouble with the iPod CD, as the following steps will confirm:

1. Insert the Installation CD in your computer. The disc will be mounted on your computer, the software will begin to run, and the Choose Setup Language dialog box will appear.
2. Choose the language you want to use on the drop-down list and click OK. Because I am linguistically challenged and can only read English, that is the language I use throughout this book. They say music is the universal language (I think it is math myself) and so iTunes can use many different languages. You can choose the language that works best for you. After you click OK, the InstallShield Wizard window will appear, and you can watch the initial installation process. When that is complete, you will see the iPod for Windows dialog box or the iPod mini for Windows dialog box.
3. Click Install. The iPod Serial Number dialog box will appear.
4. Enter your iPod’s serial number, which can be found on the back of your iPod, and click Next. You will see the Select Country or Region dialog box.
5. Select the country or region that is most applicable to you and click Next. You will see the Registration Information dialog box.
6. Complete your registration information. Most of it is optional; however, you do have to provide at least a name and an email address. When you are done, click Next. You will see the second screen in the registration process.
7. Complete the fields about where you will use the iPod and what best describes what you do, if you’d like to. These are both optional. (Speaking of which, given how easily you can carry an iPod around with you, which is the whole point, how much sense does a question about where you will use it make?)
8. If you want to receive email from Apple, click the Yes radio button, or click No if you don’t want to receive email.
9. Click Next. You will see the iPod configuration screen. This screen asks you to choose whether or not you want to configure your iPod now. In order to configure your iPod, it must be connected to your computer.
10. 10. Click Cancel to skip the iPod configuration step for now (you’ll learn how to do this later in this chapter). The installer will do its work, and you can watch its progress in the resulting windows. When the process is complete, you will see the InstallShield Wizard for iTunes window.
11. Read the information in the installer window and click Next.
12. If you have a lot of time and patience, read the license agreement; when you are done (if you are like me, you will realize it is incomprehensible and will just assume you aren’t giving away your first born), click Yes.
13. In the resulting Information window, you can read information about iTunes, such as what it can do and what you need to install it. When you are done reading, click Next. You’ll see the iTunes for Windows Setup Type dialog box.
14. Check the following options to make them active or uncheck them to make them inactive: Install desktop shortcuts—This option places a shortcut to iTunes on your desktop. Unless you don’t like desktop shortcuts for some reason, you should usually leave this option checked.
15. Use iTunes as the default player for audio files—This option causes iTunes to be used to play most audio files that you will access on the Internet, CDs, and so on. If you prefer to use another application, uncheck this check box. However, I recommend that you leave it checked; you can always change the default application to be something else after you have become comfortable with iTunes.
16. Use QuickTime as the default player for media files—If you choose this option, the QuickTime Player application will be used when you view video or other multimedia content. Just like the previous option, if you prefer to use a different application, uncheck this check box.
17. Click Next. You’ll see the Choose Destination Location dialog box.
18. If you don’t want to accept the default installation location (which is C:\Program Files\iTunes\), click the Browse button and choose the location you do want to use. Then click Next. You’ll see a window advertising the iPod.
19. Click Next. As the installer starts to work, you will see the Setup Status window. This window provides you with information about the installation process. When the process is complete, you will see the Installation Successful window.
20. Click Finish to restart your computer and complete the installation process. When your computer restarts, iTunes will be ready for you and your iPod.