Transferring EVERYTHING from one computer to another w/ same source

I want to transfer all my iTunes files (playlists, music, play counts, everything) from one computer to another, on account of the logic board of my old one is messed up and I want to get everything on my Mac Book Pro.
HOWEVER.
When I was using my old computer, I had my iTunes folder on an external hard drive, which would then be the source of all the music and where the new music would automatically go. So I have the external hard drive, and I can't save the playlists from my old computer because I can't use it.
So how do I transfer all the information? I've tried doing the whole "delete iTunes Data, import XML file" thing and it says it doesn't detect certain music and therefore doesn't place everything where it needs to be.
Any help?

Well the way to work around it I think would be to remove the hard drive from your broken computer, assuming of course that your broken computer is broken because of something else besides the hard drive.
Put that drive into an external enclosure. Hook up to the new computer. Copy the iTunes stuff from the old drive into the new computer overwriting the existing database files on the internal.
Now with the other external hooked up, start iTunes and see if it then sees everything properly.
Patrick

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My Brother has an ipod mini (as I used to) but our computer is so old that it can only hold one ipod (Therefore, I returned my ipod so he could use his). However, several months after I returned mine we bought two new computers, but still kept the old computer. After this I bought an ipod nano and have been using it on my new computer. Although we are glad that we can both use our ipods efficiently (on seperate computers) he is afraid that the old computer might crash soon. I tried putting his ipod into disk mode and tried transferring it to his [new] computer over a month ago, but it was too confusing and did not work correctly. Is there any possible way to transfer it without the directions being so confusing? Or could someone kind of "Translate" the directions for us?
<center>Thank you so much,
<center>pnkpolo92

How to Copy and Move (Clone) your Music Files from One Computer to Another – or Archive Prior to a PC Re-Image or Reformat
This is the conceptual framework with related and important links. Apply and adapt it to your specific situation and equipment resources.
The safest, quickest, and most optimal method to move your Library to a new computer is to actually clone the entire ‘iTunes’ folder (directory) structure, rather than just copying just the song files. By copying the entire ‘iTunes’ folder and all sub-folders, you capture not only the music files, but the all-important ‘iTunes Library.itl’ database file (usually located in the ‘iTunes’ folder), which contains all the data about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). See: What are the iTunes Library files?
Install iTunes on the new computer. Then go back to your old computer and move (copy) the "iTunes" folder which usually resides inside your "…\My Documents\My Music" folder from the old computer to the exact same place (both Drive Letter and complete Path) on the new computer. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will look and behave exactly the same way it did on the old, Play Counts, Ratings, Comments and all!
NOTE: It is usually safer moving files between computers with the same version of iTunes!!
iTunes Files to Copy and Move to your New PC
1) All music files in their current folder structure (usually located in and under the ‘iTunes Music’ folder)
2) The Library database file: ‘iTunes Library.itl’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
3) The Library XML file: ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
4) Any XML playlist files you created for Playlist retention
5) The two iTunes.pref files (optional)
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer Inc\iTunes.pref
6) The XML file of Ratings, Play Counts and Last Played attributes saved from the main Library and created by Otto’s SaveRatings script (also optional, but recommended):
“Download this: http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/SaveRatings.zip . It's a program, just run it like any other program. Run it on the machine where you're copying the info from BEFORE you move the files to the new machine. Click the "Save Ratings" button and it'll create a ratings.xml file. Now when you move the files, move the program and this file as well. Then after you make your new iTunes library, run it again and click the "Restore Ratings" button. Voila, all your information is back in the Library. Well, most of it anyway, it's not perfect. It'll tell you what songs it couldn't figure out though, and there's usually not very many.”
Here's a list of methods to copy and move your music files from one computer to another:
1) Use an External Hard Drive (ExHD) to move the complete files and Folder structures from one computer to another (my preferred option). You can clone’ the entire ‘iTunes’ folder structure in one very easy step. Also great to have available for complete backups of your Library. External hard drives now run less than $100 for 200-250GBs of storage. See This Link
2) Directly connect the two computers....
- 2a) Connect them through a Router &/or Network
- 2b) Directly connect using an Ethernet cable: Straight for using at least one Mac; or Crossover for PC/PC Instructions here.
- 2c) Connect them via a USB-to-USB Network Bridge. Example here. There are various types out there (use Google).
....Then copy the files from one computer to the other.
3) Use the iPod as a transfer device, as this extensive Apple link explains. It will be a bit easier if your iPod has a larger capacity than your music collection, otherwise you will need to perform multiple copy/move transfers. This well written process also works fine while using any other data transfer medium (ExHD, Flash Drive, DVD, CD, Zipp, Jazz, etc.).
4) Burn several DVDs (at 4.7GBs each) with your music data files and folder structure, and load them onto the new computer. Re-writable DVDs are more cost effective (if your DVD drive can manage these types).
5) Burn 6x more on CDs (at 700MB each) than in #4 above and load the files and folders on the new computer. Re-writable CDs are more cost effective (if your CD drive can manage these types).
6) Use a larger USB Flash drive (1GB - 4GB) to move the files and folders. Best if the flash drive is larger than your Library, otherwise you will need multiple copy/move transfers.
These are links to various additional instructions on performing the transfer (read them all, but some listed steps may not be required depending on your specific situation):
Switch from PC to Mac Using the iPod
hudgie: Migrating iTunes for Windows to a new PC
How to copy music between authorized computers
Also, remember to Deauthorize your PC before reformatting or disposing of it. Or, if you no longer will use it for iTMS use.

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Hi, I am operating itunes 11 at home, using Mac OS 10.7.5.. I purchased a song at work (also a Mac, I am not sure which version of OSM or itunes). I accessed the purchase of the song in the "Purchased" menu option in itunes on my home Mac. When I tried to download the song at home so I can include it in my Library, I got the following message:
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Thanks for the response. Yes, my husband logged on to our computer and rented a movie for us to view. That is how we use Itunes: I purchase the music, he may purchase a movie or a rental now and then. This is new, it never happend before.
Also, I contacted customer support, both by phone and email. Not only does someone else using the home computer under a different account trigger this, but so does simply activating my own user id from a different computer (one of the 5 I am allowed to under the service agreement.)
Customer support was very helpful and lifted the 90 day ban. I called them because I purchased a season pass of a TV show and could not download the first episode because it was a "past purchase" (the episode was not even available to download when I purchased the pass, so “past” is indeed relevant.)
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I (used to) buy movies, rentals and TV shows all the time. I don’t have cable, so Apple was the source for all “must have” shows that I couldn’t wait for. Too bad.

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I've read everything here that pertains and don't see my exact problem. I did not realize when I got this iPod the problems involved in using more than one computer, and as a result, I have songs on three computers that I'd like to get into my iPod without erasing what's already there, and without erasing what is in my iTunes library on each computer.
Last night I tried copying the folders/songs I wanted onto an external drive, then copying them to the second computer. I did this in Windows Explorer on both ends, by finding the correct My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music file in each computer. I wasn't sure how to move those songs into the second Library, so I chose "add folder" or "add file" from the File menu. It seemed to work beautifully, the songs played, so I plugged the iPod in and it showed that it updated fine. Problem? The songs are not showing up on the iPod itself. Obviously I'm missing a step or two or have done it incorrectly.
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What I meant was that after I get all the music on the iPod and one computer, then I'll use that computer for updating and purchasing new music, keeping it as "automatic,"
Ok, yes that would work.
Here's how to use your iPod to transfer music to another computer.
Once you have all your music on one iTunes library, then you can set it to Auto update.
and only use the other computers for listening without updating.
I'm not too sure on this part. You might be able to play music directly from your iPod when its connected to one of these machines. I've never tried this.
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My aunt uses Palm Desktop as her calendar but does not have a palm pda or phone.
Her computer at home recently died but she was able to get the palm installation folder from the old hard drive.
She has Palm Desktop installed at work but the information in it is totally different than what she had at home. She wants to import the data from her home installation into the installation she has at work.
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Transferring EVERYTHING from one computer to another w/ same source

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