Help with iTunes library

Hi there,
I've been having some problems with my iTunes library and I really need help.
It all started when I wanted to restore my iphone because it being slow!! It then said that there wasn't enough space on the hard drive. So in my infinite cleverness (that I don't have!!) I'm not really sure what I did. But I accidentally deleted all my music files and then from the recycle bin I've got them back but they aren't in album folders anymore it's just one long list of songs.
My iTunes library is empty of all things so if i add these files to iTunes will it arrange them into it (not in iTunes program) but in the windows folder? Does iTunes copy the original music file to the 'iTunes media' file?
If so what's the best settings for iTunes?
Store the original music files on c: or external HD and then do i need to choose the organize and copy setting on iTunes? and if so, where too?
So the c: drive is full and the d: has got some stuff but not sure what it is. But it has 90 odd gb of free space!!
The laptop is 4 years old so it's full of crap. Basically!!
Please help.

Using iTunes, you cannot sync from the iPod to your computer. If you want the songs on both computers, you will have to manually copy all your songs to the other computer, add them to that iTunes library, then sync.
Alternatively, you can manually manage the iPod, which will let you play the songs on the computer without the songs (only when the iPod is connected), but you will not be able to copy them into your iTunes music library using iTunes alone.

Similar Messages

Help with iTunes library on external hard drive

Hi!
I have a new computer and I don't want to put anything in it but the programs I need. When it comes to movies, music, etc. I have an external hard drive.
Now, I want my iTunes to read the music from that hard drive, and, when I download something (more music, podcasts, apps, etc.) I'd like them to go straight to the folder "iTunes" that I created in that hard drive.
I had a look at a few pages and people where only talking about creating back-ups, but I don't need that, because I have a second HD that I'll use for that.
Someone told me to do this:
Go to the File Menu, then choose Add Folder to Library. Then navigate to your external drive and folder where your music is to add it. Then all you have to do is download your new stuff to that folder.
I did that and the podcasts I had in the external HD showed up there, but when I downloaded a new one, it downloaded onto my computer. What I want to do is have my iTunes library on an external HD and when I download from iTunes I want it to go straight to that external HD so I don't clog up my computer.
I have iTunes 10.6. something =)
Thank youuuuu very much!!!! =)

As long as you don't have an existing library that is synced with a device or holds oodles of carefully crafted playlists, ratings etc. then...
Hold down shift as you start iTunes. You should get an option to choose or create a library. Click create, browse to root of the external drive and click save so that your library is say X:\iTunes where X: is the letter of your external drive. All new content downloaded to the library will stay on the external drive.
See this user tip for a backup strategy.
tt2

Please help with itunes library

Recently my PC died on me. I have all of my itunes library on an external drive and fortuntately made a copy of the itunes folder under C;\ users\ music, etc. In the past after a major hardware upgrade (ie hard drive) I just replace the C;\ users\ music, etc. with the copy of the iTunes folder and would change the iTunes media folder location to the external drive (G:\iTunes Media\iTunes Media folder) which worked in the past. I thought it had worked but after going through my playlists none of the songs worked! What have I done wrong? I have over 77,000 songs that I have made playlists and genius playlists. The system I had was windows 7 and now using my sons unused pc with Vista.
Please assist me if you can.
Thanks

This is very confussing. As I said, I thought it had worked when I tested just the top three songs in my music library. Wanted to clarify that why I went to the playlists it does not play as well as beyond the few three songs I tested. The original Drive letter was T;\ but when I connected it to my sons pc it was G:\ for some reason. I changed it to T:\ and when I changed the media location to reflect the change it asked me ""Would you like iTunes to move and rename the files in your new iTunes Music folder to match the "Keep iTunes Music folder organized" . I always had keep my itunes organized but the fact that it asked again I wasnt sure what to answer (Yes or No). in anycase, my music playlists did work but found a few that do not or the songs are missing under the playlists. Whats going on here?

Need help with itunes library/music. please see inside

So there's a long story to this one but to make it as short as possible:
At one point I wasn't able to open iTunes on my desktop (something about a .itl file or whatever) so I made a new desktop to be used specifically for iTunes. I don't remember how I copied all the songs to that desktop (I have a program called TuneTransfer but for whatever reason it won't work now).
My problem is that now, for whatever reason, iTunes started working on my original desktop and I would like to get rid of the other one. What is the easiet way to transfer all of my songs from one desktop to the other?

I've been an iTunes user for a long time now and have finally decided to do some proper file management
Don't. Once the files are added to the iTunes library, any direct touching the files withing Windows will only mess things up.
Can someone explain to me the difference between the various fields when sorting multiple files in an album, under "Info" or "Sorting".
Do the fields under the tab "Sorting" override those in "Info" or is it the opposite?
The former. They override it for purposes of sorting within the iTunes application. They do not affect the file structure.

Can anyone help with iTunes library not showing on iOS devices?

I cannot view my iTunes library on my iOS devices. The tabs that used to be at the bottom of both the music and video apps are no longer there. My appleTV sees it just fine though. I have tried turning home-sharing off and back on againon both the computer and iOS devices. Quitting apps on the iOS devices, and exiting iTunes on my mac, and restarting them again. Nothing has worked so far. All I get when I bring up either app is "No Content" and the store button. This started before the iOS 7 update. Has anyone seen this yet? Is there a fix for it? Thanks!

I used to see that in iOS6 once in a while. Close the apps and reboot the iPad and then look in the apps again. You know how to close the apps so close them first.
Reboot the iPad by holding down on the sleep and home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider if it appears on the screen - let go of the buttons. Let the iPad start up.

Help with iTunes Library and External Music Management

Okay, this nightmare has been getting worse and worse over the past few weeks so let's break it down so people can understand what I'm trying to do.
1) I have music on both my internal laptop drive and external drives.
2) I want to have two libraries, one for the internal drive featuring all the music on my internal drive (and possibly some stuff on the external since that's how it currently is), and the other which is ALL my music from all my drives.
3) I want all new podcasts/itunes store content to save to my external drive.
4) I want the iTunes music folder to reflect which library I'm running (that is to say, if I am in my internal library, the iTunes music folder would be on the internal drive so if anything is copied to "itunes music library" it would copy to my internal, if on the external drive the itunes folder would be on the external drive and anything copied would end up there)
5) I want iTunes to keep each library organized.
6) for my External library I would LOVE to keep all my playlists, and iTunes store purchases in the library (something that didn't happen when I created a new library)
IS THIS POSSIBLE!?!
Basically here's what i did in the past. created a new library on the external and added all my music on the external to it. this caused it to organize everything fairly nicely. I then copied imported the XML data from my old internal library so I would get my playlists and iTunes store stuff to show up, along with anything on the internal drive. this cause MAJOR duplication issues (i have 3 copies of songs now in my external drive which Im going to have to sort through). I tried multiple libraries but everytime I switch back and forth my iTunes music folder keeps changing. (ie. the folder location will carry over to any library - not stick to just the one) This is a HUGE pain in the ###.
Basically, if I'm on the road I want to be able to open iTunes, it automatically launch my internal library which has everything in my internal drive, know that the music folder is "my username/music", and then when I come back home and able to plug into my external drive be able to launch that external library and it know that my music folder should now be "externaldrive/music".
i cannot seem to get iTunes to save this folder preference PER library. is this even possible!?! I just want this stupid thing to work!
Message was edited by: ehmjay

As long as you don't have an existing library that is synced with a device or holds oodles of carefully crafted playlists, ratings etc. then...
Hold down shift as you start iTunes. You should get an option to choose or create a library. Click create, browse to root of the external drive and click save so that your library is say X:\iTunes where X: is the letter of your external drive. All new content downloaded to the library will stay on the external drive.
See this user tip for a backup strategy.
tt2

Need Help with iTunes Library in New OS

Hi.
I just switched operating systems from Windows XP 32-bit on a spinning drive to Windows 7 64-bit on a solid-state drive.
I keep my iTunes data on an external drive with the path M:\data\iTunes. I have organize files on, but all the music is in the iTunes folder and not in a music sub-folder.
When I set the path in the new OS and add the library the files all show up, but about half of the art is missing and none of the music will play because the file isn't where iTunes expects it to be. Podcasts won't play, either, and audiobooks aren't showing up at all..
I'm thinking this might be happening because iTunes is expecting the music, podcasts, and books to be in the "proper" subfolders.
Ideas, anyone? How can I fix?

Select a track and press CTRL+I to Get Info. Look at the location given on the summary tab. It should begin with file://localhost. Where is the file really? In some cases it may be possible to move the folders around so that the media is where iTunes expects to find it.
Alternatively you could move things into a more typical layout as shown in this diagram on the right.
And then use my script FindTracks to fix the broken links. I'd suggest you move the iTunes folder to the root of the drive first. See also my post on making a split library portable for background.
tt2

HT1349 How do I get help with Itunes when I dont have a serial number for a Mac because I am not using a Mac???????

I just want to get some help using itunes. I have downladed music - paid for music, and can't get it into itunes. When I used th e'support' thing it just wanted to know my Mac serial numbers!! I don't have a Mac I hace a standard non Mac PC. So why can't I get help with itunes? Its taken me half an hour to get into this support thing because every single name I chose was taken!!!! Its just a nightmare. I hate it!
And now it tells me I must 'choose a community' and itunes isn;t listed! It gets worse! So I chose any community because this is just a never ending nightmare. 40 minutes ago now I clicked on support for itunes and I ended up here!

Thanks again. I bought two albums. I've no idea what I use to open a zip file. I just tell it to open and it ususally does but this time Windows media player won't do it!
I am in the UK and its 23.43 so I have to give up and go to bed now. As I said I have had no probes with Amazon downloads. I did email CD baby for help but they just sent the links that you offered earlier.
I have tried to burn to CD so I can listen that way but though I go through all the motions I can't add the tracks to the burn list by copying and pasting, and I can't 'drag the tracks here' beacuse the tracks aren't showing, just the whole album folder. It looks like this:
SO02294360-catherinefeeny12-mp3 (1).zip
file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/SO02294360-catherinefeeny12-mp3.zip
Show in folderRemove from list
Have to give up for today and go to bed but your responses are very much appreciated. Thank you

Cannot contact Apple, need help with iTunes & Registration?

1, The number provided does not work outside the US.
2, The number for Thailand doesn't work either.
Serial number: C02KJ0xxxxxxx
Technical Support says is Expired ???
3, Can can tech support be expired on a 3 day old machine?
4, Why won't it register on the website?
What a nightmare. I want to register my 3 day old computer but you say tech support has expired.
I'm in Thailand and cannot call your support number. Its the number is incorrect.
Really need some help with iTunes can someone help me? OK to pay but I really really need some support.
Jason

First, have you moved or renamed the iTunes or iTunes Music folders, or any of the folder or track files in those folders, since iTunes last worked correctly?

Help please - itunes library empty after sync with iPod

Please help if you can.
Plugged in iPod to charge, iTunes opened and said ipod associated with another library. I obviously took the wrong option as now all my music has gone, play lists, purchased music included. Music store still has correct account no though. Everything is on my ipod but nowhere else. If you know how I can get it back, I would be most grateful.
RoseieAnnie
ipod nano Windows XP ipod nano

There is a manual method of accessing the iPod's hard drive and copying songs back to iTunes on Windows posted in this thread: MacMuse - iPod to iTunes
If you prefer something more automated then there are a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve the music files and playlists from your iPod, this is just a selection. Have a look at the web pages and documentation for these, they are generally quite straightforward.
iPod Access Mac and Windows Versions
YamiPod Mac and Windows Versions
PodUtil Mac and Windows Versions
iPodCopy Mac and Windows Versions
PodPlayer Windows Only
iGadget Windows Only

Help with iTunes 2.0.4 and library on networked Mac

Hello, I was given an old Powermac G3 (blue and white). It's running Mac OS 9 and iTunes 2.0.4. I have it hooked up in my garage. I want to listen to my iTunes while I'm out there working on stuff. My iTunes library is on my MacBook Pro in the house. I cannot get the G3 to see my iTunes library, or my MBP. I have sharing enabled on my MBP. Both computers have internet access through the network, and I have no issues using my iPhone 5 with my MBP. I don't understand what's going on, but I would love to get the garage computer working! Help, please!

What kind of networking? When I think of G3s I do not think of wireless capability, so do you have some kind of Ethernet LAN? Can the G3 "see" the Macbook Pro for anything?
What kind of sharing? General file sharing? iTunes Library sharing (again not sure when this came in and if it was present with iTunes 2)?

HT1329 i try to sync my ipods music to my new laptop and tells me that it will remove all of my ipod and replace with itunes library(which is blank) pleas help

I just got a new laptop and i have an ipod touch 4th gen, and i want to sync my music, and it told me its gonna delete all the music from my ipod if i proceed and it will replace it with whats in the library, yet nothing is in the library.. I just want to make it quick and easy, put whats on my ipod(music, apps etc.) move it to itunes so its on both my ipod and my itunes library, someone please help me

See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

Help with iTunes Shared Library (Vista and OS X)

I am trying to share my Vista-based iTunes library with my new iMac. I have an issue now that iTunes does not let me select the shared iTunes library that resides on the PC. The following is how things are set up
1) I've moved all of my PC-based music, my iTunes Library (.itl) file and the cover art to an external HD on my Vista PC.
2) I've set permissions on all of the Vista files (music, library, art) to be read/write for available to all connected users.
3) I have also mounted the PC-based external drive on my iMac. Permissions seem to be ok, as when I view files via the Finder, they are visable and accessible.
4) However, when I try to open iTunes on iMac to change the shared library (using the OPTION key), the iTunes Library.itl file on the hard drive is completely greyed out. No matter how I change permissions or sharing on the Vista machine, I cannot seem to select the shared library.
5) Interesting that I HAVE successfully accessed the same library through another Windows-based machine (Windows XP). In that instance I can access the network drive and select the iTunes Library.itl file no problem. Music streams fine after I do that. Also, from my iMac I am able to create files in the same directory where the iTunes files reside (using program like Text Editor) so it seems I do have write access and permissions to the directory.
Any clue why this is happening? It seems like iTunes is the one program that is not picking up the permissions from the iMac, but other Mac programs are. It's driving me a little nuts at this point. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thx

Bump. Same issue. Help please.

Help Please! Computer With iTune Library Died

My computer (XP) died which had my primary itune library. I was able to copy the content of the hard drive off the computer and load it on my laptop (Vista). How can I transfer the itune files and recreate my itune library on the new laptop? Thanks in advance for someones assistance.

Hey there,
So you have all your music on your iPod still? If so, you should be able to copy the music from your iPod to iTunes.
Hey there,
There are several ways you can pull the music off your iPod and onto iTunes.
There is a very direct method, which I personally prefer, but there are also numerous third party applications, which will help you accomplish the task as well. The link below provides step-by-step instructions for the direct method as well as a few third party applications if you choose to go that route instead. You can also do a simple google search for "copy music from iPod to computer" and you should receive a number of sites that can help you out.
When you plug it in, make sure to hit cancel if it opens up iTunes and asks you if you would like to transfer purchses, or erase and sync.
[5 Ways to Copy Music OFF your iPod and onto iTunes|http://www.metaphoriclabs.com/articles/5-ways-to-copy-music-off-your-ipo d-windows-mac-os-x>
B-rock

Help....my PC crashed, along with iTunes Library

But I bought a new MacBook Air, but with empty itune library.
I have all my music, video, etc, still in my iphone4. How can I import all my contact from my iphone into the new Itunes library?
I no longer have access to my old iTunes library. What do I do?
Thanks

Now you know why it is worth spending an extra $100 for a backup drive.
Your i-device was not designed for unique storage of your media. It is not a backup device and media transfer is designed with you maintaining a master copy of your media on a computer which is itself properly backed up against loss. Syncing is one way, computer to device, updating the device content to the content on the computer, not updating or restoring content on a computer. The exception is purchased content.
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 - only media purchased from iTunes Store
For transferring other items from an i-device to a computer you will have to use third party commercial software. Examples (check the web for others; this is not an exhaustive listing, nor do I have any idea if they are any good):
- Senuti - http://www.fadingred.com/senuti/
- Phoneview - http://www.ecamm.com/mac/phoneview/
- MusicRescue - http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/products/musicrescue/ - Mac & Windows
- Sharepod (free) - http://download.cnet.com/SharePod/3000-2141_4-10794489.html?tag=mncol;2 - Windows
- Snowfox/iMedia - http://www.mac-videoconverter.com/imedia-transfer-mac.html - Mac & PC
- iexplorer (free) - http://www.macroplant.com/iexplorer/ - Mac&PC
- Yamipod (free) - http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/downloads/ - PC, Linux, Mac [Still updated for use on newer devices? No edits to site since 2010.]
- 2010 Post by Zevoneer: iPod media recovery options - https://discussions.apple.com/message/11624224 - this is an older post and many of the links are also for old posts, so bear this in mind when reading them.
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141 - dates from 2008 and some outdated information now.
Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/ - Information about use in disk mode pertains only to older model iPods.
Get Your Music Off of Your iPod - http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Get_Your_Music_Off_of_Your_iPod - I am not sure but this may only work with some models and not newer Touch, iPhone, or iPad.
Additional information here https://discussions.apple.com/message/18324797

Help with iTunes library

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