moved over to a new PC, and managed to lose the files for about 90% of my music collection (they pre-dated me ripping using iTunes, so weren't in the iTunes folder that I transferred to the new PC).

The tracks are still listed in iTunes but are unplayable because the files aren't there, however the files are all still on my iPod, sooooo, if I sync my iPod, will it:

a) remove the tracks from the iPod
b) copy the tracks from the iPod back into the iTunes library
c) shout at me
d) other?

I'd probably say A out of those options.

A few years back I used a third party app to grab the music off an iPod mini, but I'm not sure what's available with modern iPods. Maybe look in to that, or just risk it, sync it with iTunes and then re-rip all your CDs again

Problem has now changed slightly. I've recovered all the files, but they're now in the wrong location and I can't put them in the right place because of the way I partioned my hard drive (meh). Any way I can point iTunes in the right direction for the whole lot, rather than having to manually edit the location for each track (there are about 3000!)?

sorted it by using a mklink command to make a link from the old music folder to the new one, so iTunes thinks the music is in the right place even though it isn't

pffft itunes.