Getting my music

Question

Hello,
I recently had to reformat my hd. Because of that, I had to reinstall everything including Itunes. How do I get Itunes to import or consolidate (or whatever you call it) all my music I backed up on another hd. I tried going to file/library/organize library to consolidate but Itunes wouldn't do anything--literally. No windows opened up to tell me Itunes was searching for my music. Can someone help?
Thanks In Advance,
kk
P.S. I would like my email to be notified when someone answers this question but I can't find any box to check for that or any info at all about that.

Answer 1

How do I get Itunes to import or consolidate (or whatever you call it) all my music I backed up on another hd.
Did you just back up the music files (e.g. the mp3's and m4a's) or did you back up the iTunes library, too. If you backed up your library and music, copy that stuff (the library and the music files) back, and then open up iTunes. If iTunes isn't opening up the library that you copied to your local hard disk, you can hold down shift key while opening iTunes, and it will prompt you for the library file, at which point you can select the one you just copied back.
If you just backed up the music and not the library, then you just need to import the music files into to your existing iTunes library (which presumably has nothing in it right now), copying the files to you local hard disk in the process. I'd suggest going to iTunes' Preferences, select "Advanced", make sure to check "Copy files to iTunes Media Folder when adding to Library". Then, back in iTunes, select "Add Folder to Library", select the folder with your music backup, and it will copy it to your new iTunes installation's default iTunes Media folder.
I tried going to file/library/organize library to consolidate but Itunes wouldn't do anything--literally.
That consolidate feature is for organizing music that is already added to your iTunes library, but might not be in the right folder on the hard disk. But if you don't have any music in your iTunes Library, that command won't do anything
P.S. I would like my email to be notified when someone answers this question but I can't find any box to check for that or any info at all about that.
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