Back up iTunes purchases to external hard drive

Can someone please tell me how to back up just my iTunes purchases to an external hard drive? I don't want to save my whole iTunes library.

Well, I have Vista, but Im assuming the processes will be similar.
You can attach your external hard drive, make a folder in it. Then, open up iTunes and bring up the "Purchased" playlist.
Do select all (thats option+A for Mac's right?) and then, simply drag all of those purchases right onto the folder in your external. Then bam, the items will start to transfer, might take a while if you have lots of purchases.

Similar Messages

  • Backing up iTunes Purchases to External Hard Drive

    I tried to download the 2.0 upgrade for my touch last week. It completely crashed my system. Corrupted my user log in on Windows. I was able to transfer my purchases from my touch back to my computer, but I'm wanting to back up my purchases to an external hard drive before I try to download the 2.0 upgrade again, in the event it crashes my pc AND my touch. I've read the info on backing up to disc, but unfortunately my pc is on the out, and the cd burner isn't functioning properly. Any suggestions? Is the backup file a document? Can I export my library to a desktop file, and then send it to the external hard drive? Any help would be appreciated greatly!

    Open the folder \Documents and Settings\yourname\My Documents\My Music\iTunes where yourname is the name of your Windows 2000 or XP user account, and drag the purchased content to the external drive as you would any other file. If you're using Windows Vista, look in the \Users\ folder for your iTunes library, or right-click a song, get info for it, and look at its location. Rented movies won't have a listed location.
    (34411)

  • Re: Best Way to (Continuously) Back up iTunes Library to External Hard Drive

    Hello friends :
    My iTunes music library is getting rather large and I feel it's time to "properly" back it up to an external hard drive.
    I understand that you can back up your iTunes music folder to an external hard drive by the simple old "click and drag" approach using Windows Explorer.
    What I'd like to know is ... after intially copying the entire iTunes music folder onto the external drive, how can I achieve regular back-ups where only the files, playlists, etc. that have changed since the last back up are then added to the external drive . . . rather than having to copy the entire rather large folder all over again (and again)?
    Hopefully, you know what I mean!  Thanks for your help.

    The first time I backed up my iTunes on an external drive, it took a 1 hour +. Do I basically need to start over on my external hard drive? Or is there an easier/faster way?
    Yes there is a faster way.
    Check this out -> Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy
    Don't change the library location or hold Option to update the backup on the external.

  • How to back up iTunes Library on external hard drive & computer, after purchasing new music?

    I keep my iTunes library on my computer's hard drive and also backed up on an external hard drive. I have added more music to my library since my previous back up, and I want to back up the new music to my external drive.
    What's the best way to do this?

    The first time I backed up my iTunes on an external drive, it took a 1 hour +. Do I basically need to start over on my external hard drive? Or is there an easier/faster way?
    Yes there is a faster way.
    Check this out -> Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy
    Don't change the library location or hold Option to update the backup on the external.

  • Backing up iTunes to an external hard drive

    One more question from me. Previously, I'd used the official iTunes backup feature, through the "file" menu.
    However, I've recently purchased a 500GB external hard drive, and I'd rather back up to there than have dozens of DVDs lying around.
    How do I do this? iTunes only gives you the option, when you select backup, to insert a CD or DVD. Is it a matter of simply copying my iTunes folder over to that external drive?
    If that's the case, then how would I "restore" it when the time comes that I need it? Simply by replacing the Library file on the C: drive with the backup version I had on the external drive? Because if I were to use the "restore" feature in the menu, I'm assuming it would want me to insert CDs or DVDs.
    Apple really should make this easier.
    Thanks.

    I am working on trtansfering the itunes files and my music library to and external hard drive - XHD (WD, 750GB). I have transfered the files and the music library to my XHD but when I delete music selections from the cumputer c drive, the XHD updates it's files with the reduced music selection. I have also tried the to back-up the files by giong to start, accessories, system, etc, but I do not have an op[tion to back-up files. All that I have as faras options are the file and settings transfer. Please Help. -Hmanrose-

  • How do I back up iTunes audio to external hard drive

    I want to store my audio books currently in iTunes to WD Passport 120G external drive but when I export them they appear as encoded text. How do I get them stored so I can bring them back into iTunes to listen or download to my iPod.

    Outside iTunes, copy the files to the external hard drive. If you have not done it already it might be a good idea to backup to external drive anything purchased from iTunes also.
    Audiobooks are generally stored under the authors name in the iTunes folders.
    Message was edited by: camoracer

  • Backing Up iTunes Library On External Hard Drive

    Iv'e just bought and installed a LaCie Hard Drive for my mac.
    As I have a library of 62gig I want to make a back-up just in case something went wrong and I lost the lot!
    Does anyone know if there is an easy way to transfer the files to the hard drive, I have tried to highlight and drag the files to the hard drive folder but this will take forever, if you highlight too many items the computer just freezes.
    Any help would be great, Brian.

    The link William provided is about Windows computers. It will tell you the principles and the importance of backing up specific files.
    If all your music is on your internal HD in the 'iTunes Music' folder (default setting), just drag the iTunes folder (in ~/Users/YourUsername/Music to the external HD.
    This way, also your 'iTunes Library' file is copied.
    If your ext. HD has a Firewire connection, it will copy about 1GB/min.
    To make regular incremental backups, you have to use a 3rd party backup application.
    M

  • My iTunes on my external hard drive

    I've been getting messages that my startup disk is full. I have an external hard drive and I was wondering if I can put my iTunes library on the external hard drive. All of the articles I've seen on the board here concern backing up iTunes on to external hard drive. However is it possible for me to put my library on only the external hard drive and not on my computer so I can free up space?
    Thanks!

    Yeah, that's my question too... My Linkstation LAN disk holds all of my iTunes collection, but whenever my computer goes to sleep and wakes up again, the mount to the LAN disk is broken temporarily, causing iTunes to constantly be reverting to it's default file location on the Macintosh HD (internal). This is horribly irritating. Every day, sometimes several times a day, I have to keep going back into the settings, changing it back, then manually copying all the file it accidentally put onto the internal drive back to the LAN disk, then going in and resetting the pointers on each individual file in iTunes to the external location. If I try using the consolidate library, for some reason it starts re-copying my entire 500+GB library from the beginning. Arghh. I want iTunes to stop defaulting back to the internal drive without asking me. Is there a way to set that?

  • I have backed up my lap top including itunes to an external hard drive, everything is on the external device, but I can't play my purchased movies from it?

    I have backed up my lap top including itunes to an external hard drive, everything is on the external device, but I can't play my purchased movies from it?

    Why can't the media be played?  Any errors?
    Was it actually backed up to the External drive or moved to the external drive?  Sounds more like the latter which could potentially cause issues depend on how it was moved.

  • I had to reformat my computer and put my Itunes on an external hard drive.  Once I fixed my computer and put Itunes back I can't itunes to open on my PC.  I see it but it appears locked now.

    I reformed my PC and placed my Itunes on a external hard drive.  I have moved them back to the PC but can not open.  How are i get my Itunes working I can see them in my files but they are locked.

    I'm sure when it was taken to reformat, he just put everything from my computer onto the external.  I know he did't save them to any back up disc's.  When he moved everything back is when I lost my Itunes library and it only shows as that XML.  I do have an old back up I can restore most.
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  • HT1391 I had all of my music on an external hard drive that failed. I have iTunes Match so all of my music was synced with the "cloud". How do I now download and save all of my music back down on a new external hard drive?

    I had all of my music on an external hard drive that crashed. I have iTunes Match so all of my music was synced in the cloud. How do I now re-load my music back down onto a new external hard drive?

    Hey Rbe58!
    I believe this question can be answered by the information in the following article:
    iTunes 11 for Windows: Access all your music anytime, anywhere with iTunes Match
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ph12492
    Play or download songs from iCloud
    You can play songs directly from iCloud, or you can download songs so you can play them when you’re not connected to the Internet.
    If a song is available in iCloud, it has a Download button next to it.
    To play the song, double-click it.
    To download the song, click the Download button.
    After you download a song to a computer, it remains in the computer’s iTunes library, even if you turn off iTunes Match.
    To only display downloaded songs in your iTunes library, choose View > Hide Music in the Cloud. This also hides any previous iTunes Store purchases you haven’t downloaded.
    For information about downloading and playing songs on an iOS device, see the documentation for the device.
    Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities!
    Cheers,
    Braden

  • How do I back up my itunes to an external hard drive and restore from same if necessary

    How do I back up my entire itunes to an external hard drive and restore from same if necessary.
    Thanks

    This is where iTunes stores backups for different operating systems: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946
    I do not use a Windows machine, have a Windows Vista Dell I rarely startup now.  But, from what I remember with Win boxes is, you will have to create on the external hard drive a file system like that one iTunes normally uses, and then in the iTunes preferences or control panel edit the location for the storage to specify the name of the external hard drive, or its letter code, with the name of that file system you created on the exernal drive.
    I would also move all of the files from the internal file system to the external since you have now told iTunes that is where they are...before deleting from the internal drive, test iTunes to see that it goes where you want it to go.

  • I need recommendations in purchasing an external hard drive, to back up everything in my computer. What brand and Size?

    I have a mid 2010 iMac, version 10.8.2, memory 4GB, 1TB sata disk.
    Apple sent me an e-mail last year stating that my imac maybe affected to a recall. They said I have to back up my computer before sending it in to them. So its a great excuse to purchase an external hard drive.
    But I am clueless. I would like to know what brand and size of memory is recommened for my imac and my needs. I will be mostly be backing up homevideos and alot of pictures, music, and some documents.
    If someone could also explain about time machine? I guess its a whole separte thing from your media. I also would like to keep it affordable. I just purchased an external hard drive from www.macmall.com Seagate Backup Plus 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Drive - Black (STBU1000100).
    But I don't know if that was a really great choice because for it to work with time machine I have to reformat certain things, and Im not sure if I would like to have that hassle.
    I also wanted to know whats the difference between usb 3.0 and firewire. I read some forums saying that if you are to transfer videos you need to use firewire, and some agreed disagreed. Is that true?
    Please help!?
    I definitely would like to know what brands of external hard drives are highly recommended and good at price. The one I purchased is it any good?
    Thank you!
    -wjrlelidepaula

    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
    http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?id=10554
    http://www.newertech.com/storage/

  • HT201250 can i back up my iTunes on one external hard drive to another external hard drive through time machine?

    I have my itunes on an external hard drive which I use on my macbook. Can I back these files up through time machine onto a second external hard drive?

    For TM yes, for another backup program running on the mac yes. You can avoid the NTFS issue by installing a NTFS driver in your mac: there are two proven ones: Paragon and NTFS-3G. These drivers make it possible for a mac to read and write NTFS formatted drives.
    But it will not help TM (I am not 100% sure about that), but other backup apps it will help.

  • Backing up entire iTunes Library on external hard drive?

    I have recently purchased an external hard drive to backup all media on my computer (photos, music etc).
    However, having searched apple.com for backup advice, the only instructions available refer to creating backup discs on an a CD.
    I have already copied my Itunes Library to the external hard drive. However, please can someone confirm that this is sufficient and if, in the event that everything goes wrong, the $800 of music that I have from iTunes won't disappear.
    Thanks for you help

    Unfortunately the iTunes backup only works with DVD/CDs.
    You can simply copy your iTunes directory to the external disk, or you can use backup software outside iTunes to manage it for you. If you have XP pro you already have a backup program. If you have the home edition, it has to be installed from the Windows CD if you got one with your PC.
    There is a good article on backup here:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1522195&#1522195

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