WMA Files on IPOD

I am currently looking to purchase a new MP3 Player and am considering an IPOD. My concern is that I have a around 30gb of music currently stored on my PC Hard Drive, mainly in the WMA format. Would it be possible to transfer these files to an IPOD.

No.

However, as long as they are unprotected WMA files (DRM-free) then iTunes, which you'll have to use to sync your iPod, will convert them into an iPod-compatible format for you.

I was also worried about this; the majority of my music is in protected WMA format. Obviously itunes doesn't convert this-is there any way apart from ripping all my CDs again (which would take a long long time) to convert my music to an ipod friendly format?
Many thanks,
Matt

Hi Nate

Thanks for the quick response. I suspected I may have problems. Would I be able to play my existing files on an alternative suppliers player such as a Creative Zen or Sony Walkman which I believe support WMA formats.

Also, is there any way I can confirm if the existing files are DRM Protected as they are a mixture of my own CD rips and some others copied from friends.

Hi Connors,
I just discovered that if you go into windows media player, you can select an option to display extra columns- you can select one which shows whether the files are protected or not. Unfortunately the majority of my music IS protected. Does any one out there know the best way to convert protected wma to mp3 or AAC (is there any software or anything?).
Cheers

Hi,
Over the weekend i tried a few of the free protected WMA-mp3 software programmes that are available, but didn't find one that worked. Anyone got any reccomendations? Don't mind paying too much if it means it will work.
Thanks guys

If your files are in protected WMA format, they're probably compatible with players from Creative, Sony and SanDisk. These players support Microsoft's PlayForSure DRM system usually, which is the technology causing you the problems you're experiencing.

I'm afraid that I can't advise you on software that strips this DRM, as it's illegal. The easiest way is, I'm afraid, to burn CDs and rip the music back. But you will also lose audio quality, and as it's already low to begin with, this isn't a perfect solution.

Thanks Nate, sorry didn't release it was illegal. It seems crazy, as i have already bought all these CDs so surely i should be able to convert them to exactly what i want. Oh well, thanks for the advice.
Cheers

if you have them on cd then just import the cd into itunes. itunes will rip it as an m4a file and save it in your itunes library