Multiple iTunes Libraries on same computer?

Hi,
My wife, daughter, and I all have ipods, each uses a different computer, my wife and I each use our laptops, and daughter uses the home desktop. Recently, the desktop has crashed and looks like we might need to re-format the drive (i.e. lose everything) and re-install Windows XP. She's got all her music on her iPod but unfortunately, no back up on a CD or DVD. Is there some way to re-create a new library for her from her iPod on to either of our laptops without causing conflicts with our existing iTunes libraries which are totally different. I.E. will the "sync" function work to recreate a library on a hard drive vs. going the other way around as usual.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

To create or access a second (or more) library, hold down the Shift key in Windows when launching iTunes. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to the other Library.
Note: You can only have one Library open at a time and iTunes will default to the last library opened if you don't use the keyboard command to choose one. The new library will be empty until you add content to it. To get back to your original library you need to close iTunes and open it again while holding down the shift key, this time choose to open an existing library and navigate to its location: Using multiple iTunes libraries -Windows
iTunes will only let you copy your purchases directly from an iPod to the computer, you'll find details in this article: Copying iTunes Store purchases from your iPod or iPhone to a computer
For everything else (music from CDs, other downloads and including iTunes purchases) there are a number of third party utilities that you can use to retrieve the music files and playlists from your iPod. You'll find that they have varying degrees of functionality and some will transfer movies, videos, photos, podcasts and games as well. You can read reviews and comparisons of some of them here:
Wired News - Rescue Your Stranded Tunes
Comparison of iPod managers
A selection of iPod to iTunes utilities:
TuneJack Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
SharePod Windows Only (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod2PC Windows Only
iDump Windows Only
YamiPod Mac and Windows
iPod Music Liberator Mac & Windows
Floola Mac & Windows
iPodRip Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Music Liberator Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
Music Rescue Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iGadget Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iRepo Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
iPod Access Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
TouchCopy Mac & Windows (iPhone and iPod Touch compatible)
There's also a manual method of copying songs from your iPod to a Mac or PC. The procedure is a bit involved and won't recover playlists but if you're interested it's available on page 2 at this link: Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide

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Multiple itunes libraries on same computer and removable hard drives

I have multiple itunes libraries, one resides on my internal hard drive on my computer and the other on a removable hard drive that I pug into the ocmputer via a USB cable, can itunes recognize both libraries at once, and how do I get it to do that?

That *****, apple should add a feature that allows multiple libraries.....hopefully they will in thenext release of iTunes.

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I hope someone can help me! How do i set up two different libraries on the same computer for two different ipods? My ipod is on a computer i no longer have and I'm trying to put it on a computer that has a different ipod on it. My ipod appears in Windows as (H) and not in itunes.
I've tried all the tips I found already with no luck!

if the computer cannot be turned on, one option would be to remove the hard drive and put it in an external enclosure that can be connected to the working computer.

Syncing and streaming from different itunes libraries on same computer

First, I came across a thread saying that it is possible to sync and stream from the same itunes library, but Apple technical support says this is not possible and the thread didn't explain how this is done. I know you can still stream music from a library that is synced with the ATV by using Airtunes, but you can't stream movies through Airtunes. If there's a way to sync and stream movies through the ATV from the same itunes library, can someone please let me know how to do it?
If this is not possible, does anyone know if it's possible to sync to one library and stream from another on the same computer? I tried this last night and for a second I thought it worked because my itunes was listed on the ATV twice (once as syncing and the other as streaming) but then when I switched back to the library that the ATV was supposed to be synced with, that library disappeared from the ATV and I lost all of the media on the ATV. (As a side note, when I started syncing again, the ATV showed that it still had all of the media on there, but itunes showed that there was nothing and started copying everything again - very annoying).
This is an issue for me because I only have one computer and all of my media on an external harddrive. I like having my music synced with the ATV but my movies will not fit on the ATV so I would prefer to just stream those rather than have to delete and add movies everytime I want to watch something different. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

missed a very important step necessary to achieve this, in the summary tab in iTunes there is a check box... "show only synced items".. if you uncheck that box then unsynced items will will appear on the appleTV menus and when you click on them they will be streamed... this gives you the sync and stream from the same library part of what the OP wants.
the other part of the puzzle is to let items inside and outside of the iTunes Folder exist in the iTunes library... the library is file that contains all the files that you see in itunes... files don't need to be in the iTunes folder to be in the itunes library though..
the trick here is that when you drag the files from your external (the ones you don't want on your computer) and into iTunes... press option as you drag and the files will be added to the iTunes library (a reference/path to them really) but the files will not be copied to the iTunes folder... when iTunes looks for that file (to play it directly or to stream or sync to appleTV) it looks at the reference and says.. hey i can get this file here (on your external) and goes and fetches it.
on a PC you press SHIFT as you drag into iTunes so the item(s) don't get copied to the iTunes folder.. no OPTION key on PCs.
Message was edited by: tmartine

How to manage different iTunes Libraries from same computer

I have my own AppleID, iCloud account, iTunes Match account and my own Library.
But I have just one computer and one AppleTV.
How do I manage my granddaughters accounts, so they can listen to their own libraries on their iPod touch?
I don't want to mess up login to iTunes with another AppleID and then having to wait 60 or 90 days to log back int.

The best way is to create ther own accounts on your Mac. Method 1 in the following:
How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer

HT3819 If there are multiple iTunes libraries on one computer, will I be able to only sync my own?

I have a shared computer where my iTunes is at because until now I didn't have the right memory or speed to have iTunes on my previous laptops. I just want to make sure that if I use Home Sharing that I will only be able to sync my library to my laptop, and not my brothers as well.

MaddyBT wrote:
I just want to make sure that if I use Home Sharing that I will only be able to sync my library to my laptop,
Sync your library to your laptop from where?
Wiht Home Sharing enabled, you will be able to see all other libraries opened ont eh same network and authorized for Home Sharing with the same account.

Multiple iTunes Libraries on one computer?

I'm a newbie and have what is probably a very simple question, but I'm confused. Both my boyfriend and I have iPods. What we're doing now is he's got his iTunes library on the laptop (syncing and charging on the laptop), and I have mine on the desktop (syncing and charging on the desktop).
We're going on vacation and we would both like access to our libraries on the laptop while on vacation. Can you maintain two libraries on a single computer? How do I manage two different iPods on one computer?
Thanks

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

Ow do I set up multiple itunes libraries on one computer?

I already have itunes set up on my desktop. My daughter library was set up on my laptop, which is no longer working (the whole lap top). I want to be able to set up another library on the desktiop to manage her library. Can I do this and then sync? If so, can you share how to please?! THANKS!

How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer
What is the best way to manage multiple...: Apple Support Communities
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

Multiple itunes accounts on same computer

I have an itunes account that is already set up for my ipod and the music that I like and it works fine. No real problems yet!
I just bought my husband his own ipod and he would like his own totally seperate account on itunes. I thought this would be pretty simple and just logged on to the computer under his account and tried to download itunes under his email address and yet after it says itunes installation is complete, when I open up itunes, MY account pops up!
How in the world do I do this so when itunes is opened up it will be under his own account?
Hope this makes sense! I am pretty new to all of this!
Thank you!
Windows XP

In windows goto Control panel>User accounts>Change the way users log on and off and UNCHECK "Fast user switching"
After that you can overlook how to share one PC with multiple ipods here. Theres 2 methods for this but since you and the hubby already have 2 user accounts, you'll be doing method 1
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300432

Multiple iTunes Libraries with same media folder

I have an iTunes library on a 2TB Time Capsule that I share with my family. However, only one person can load the library at the same time, and everyone has to see each other's playlists/ratings/etc. What I am trying to do is have 4 libraries (one for each person) that all access the same Media folder, so that whenever someone adds music/movies/apps/etc. anyone can access all of it. Is this possible?

To be honest with you I have only synced a device once, 5 years ago, but I thought you could sync individual playlists from a single library. In other words, make a playlist for each device.

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I have somehow managed to create libraries of music/podcasts/videos in 5 different places on my iMac. I would like to consolidate all of them into one spot that can be shared by all accounts. Is there a way to merge them easily, that is without copying song by song or rewriting the entire library, potentially losing some files that are more current? For example, I have 3 folders of the Killers, only 1 of which has all downloaded songs. Thanks.

If you want to do it that way, each person should have their own computer login which will give each person their own iTunes library.
This would be far easier than using multiple iTunes libraries in one computer login.
To do different content on each device, select the device in iTUnes (menu View > Show sidebar), click the tabs acroos top and select what you want to sync to that device. Do the saem for all devices.

Can Multiple ipods use the same computer/itunes program

I recently purchased two ipods for different family members. Can both be used on the same computer. I seem to remember seeing a blurb in the user agreement for itunes that said the program was only for one ipod. Can anyone elaborate?

When the iPods belong to different people, there are basically three ways of using multiple iPods on a computer and these involve:
a) Sharing a single iTunes library
b) Creating Multiple Libraries in a single user account
c) Creating multiple user accounts.
Note: When you are sharing an iTunes library, you don't have to set each iPod to update in the same manner, you can mix and match from the options below as each iPod has it's own update settings
Sharing a Library and/or User Account
If you want to share the one library, you can set either or all of the iPods so that they only get updated with only certain playlists (you can update from more than one if you wish): Loading songs onto iPod automatically - Windows
Choosing the update option "Sync Music - Selected playlists" allows you to create a playlist specifically for the iPod and drag the tracks you want into it. If you tire of the list and want to change it, you just add or remove the songs you don't want. The ones you take out out remain in the library to be used some other time if you choose. You can read more about playlists at these links:
iTunes: Creating playlists of your favorite songs
How to create a Smart Playlist with iTunes
Or you can choose to update any or all of the iPods manually and just drag whatever content you want to them: Managing content manually on iPod
Loading the iPod shuffle differs slightly but it can still be used with the others, for details have a look at this page: Loading songs onto iPod shuffle - Windows
Multiple Libraries
It's also possible to have multiple libraries in a single account. To create or access a second (or more) library, hold down the Option key (or Shift key in Windows) when launching iTunes 7. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to the other Library.
Note: You can only have one Library open at a time and iTunes will default to the last library opened if you don't use the keyboard command to choose one. This can prove tricky when using multiple iPods, if you don't use the keyboard command you can risk syncing to the wrong library: Using multiple iTunes libraries -Windows
*Separate User Accounts*
Another option is to create a separate User account for each person on your PC or Mac. Different accounts by definition would give you completely separate libraries. Each account has it's own iTunes folder, Library and iTunes Music folder and you load it with CDs etc just as you did with your original one. The iPod can be set to update however the owner chooses, sync all, manual or sync specific playlists
I don't use Windows so I can't give you a step by step on that one, however I can point you to another web page which should help you out. You can read about Windows user accounts here: Create A New User Account In Vista

Can I have several itunes libraries on one computer at the same time?

can I have several itunes libraries on one computer at the same time?

Thank Niel
I have already got a library hosted on another computer and have homeshared my apple id for my home laptop, but I'm not sure what to do there after - any help would be appreciated! I' worried I make my husband's library disappear......

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I found some steps to consolidate music from different computers onto one but I'm not sure that the same steps apply to my situation. Here are the links that I was looking at in eHow: http://www.ehow.com/how_5704389_consolidate-multiple-itunes-libraries.html and http://www.ehow.com/how_8149083_can-itunes-libraries-two-computers.html.
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Itunes libraries make my brain hurt!

Import everything into one library and then dedupe it.
tt2

How do I put 2 iTunes libraries on 1 computer

I have two people using one computer. How can I put 2 iTunes libraries on one computer?

My husband and I each have our own iTunes accounts/libraries on the same computer. The way we accomplished this was by having separate user logins/profiles on the computer (set up from control panel) and then when setting up the iTunes libraries, ensured that we each used our own devices in our own logins/profiles.
There is probably a way of doing this using just 1 user profile, but this was the cleanest and more straightforward way for us and it works wonders!
FYI- it does use more memory space having multiple profiles on the computer, but it was worth it for us.
Hope this helps!

Multiple iTunes Libraries on same computer?

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