How do I prevent the songs on my iPod from getting deleted?

http://www.zolved.com/synapse/view_content/5698/How_to_delete_songs_from_iTunes_but_not_from_your_iPod_

Problem

You want to remove a song on your computer, but keep it on your iPod. That's not really a problem. The actual problem is that Apple set up iTunes to automatically make the iPod's content match the iTunes content (generally called syncing or auto sync). With the advent of the 80 gig iPod, many people will be using the iPod to free up space on their computer.

You need to set up iTunes to "Manually manage songs and playlist." Here's how to do that.

Solution 1 - Songs on iPod are also in iTunes

If you still have the songs on the iPod and in iTunes (i.e. iTunes content is the same as iPod content), do the following:

1. Connect your iPod to the computer and open iTunes (if it doesn't open automatically)

2. In the Source list, on the left, click on the iPod under DEVICES.


3. For iTunes 7, under the Summary tab, scroll down and check "Manually manage music and videos.".



Note: For iTunes 6, from the top menu, select Edit > Preferences > iPod (tab). Select " Manually manage songs and playlist".

Solution 2 - Songs on iPod are not in iTunes

If you don't have the songs in iTunes, and you want to keep them on the iPod, you need to stop the auto-sync:

To connect the iPod without iTunes doing the auto-sync.

1. Hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys while connecting the iPod to your computer. Don't let go of Shift+Ctrl.

2. If iTunes doesn't open automatically open after connecting the iPod, open iTunes. Don't let go of Shift+Ctrl.

3. Wait until the iPod comes up in the Source list under DEVICES (it may take awhile, but don't let go of Shift+Ctrl)

4. For iTunes 7, under the Summary tab, scroll down and check "Manually manage music and videos."

Using "Manually manage":

• To add new music to the iPod, you will now have to drag those onto the iPod from the iTunes music list.
• After a song is on the iPod (to confirm, eject the iPod and listen to the song), you can now delete it from iTunes.