Adding Windows folders to iTunes library - 2 copies of song

Having some trouble figuring out how to import preexisting mp3's into the iTunes library. The mp3's are ripped from my own CD collection using Windows Media Player. For discussion let's say I have 50 mp3's in a folder I created called iPod1. I go to iTunes and under the File menu click on "Add a folder to library" - no problem iTunes recognizes the folder and adds them to the library. Adding additional songs to the library is where the trouble starts. If I add songs to the the original Windows folder (as I'd prefer to) when I attempt to add the folder with the additional songs to the iTunes library - all of the songs are imported including the originals giving me doubles of the originals. Any suggestions appreciated. Rich
Dell Windows XP

Thanks - that makes sense. Ultimately the goal would be to have all of one's mp3 files in one folder in Windows and all of them in the iTunes library ... right? Right now I only have a portion of them in the library. There are a lot of them so it might be best to start all over - get them all in one folder and "Add that folder" to the library. Then any new files can be added individually (sorted by date as you suggest). I understand that I would lose current playlists etc. All above correct?? Rich
Dell Windows XP

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Adding Windows folders to iTunes library

Having some trouble figuring out how to add preexisting mp3's into the iTunes library. The mp3's are ripped from my own CD collection using Windows Media Player. For discussion let's say I have 50 mp3's in a folder I created called iPod1. I go to iTunes and under the File menu click on "Add a folder to library" - no problem iTunes recognizes the folder and adds them to the library. Adding additional songs to the library is where the trouble starts. If I add songs to the the original Windows folder (as I'd prefer to) when I attempt to add the folder with the additional songs to the iTunes library - all of the songs are imported including the originals giving me doubles of the originals. If I choose to create a new folder - let's say iPod2 - the song titles seem to be imported but sometimes iTunes can't find the new folder and they appear in the library with an explanation point in front of them. By reimporting that folder sometimes iTunes can find the song. I prefer not to have my mp3's scattered in a bunch of folders in Windows. Seems like I'm missing something here. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Rich
Dell Windows XP

Thanks - that makes sense. Ultimately the goal would be to have all of one's mp3 files in one folder in Windows and all of them in the iTunes library ... right? Right now I only have a portion of them in the library. There are a lot of them so it might be best to start all over - get them all in one folder and "Add that folder" to the library. Then any new files can be added individually (sorted by date as you suggest). I understand that I would lose current playlists etc. All above correct?? Rich
Dell Windows XP

Single copies of songs in iTunes library/double copies of songs on iPod.

I bought an album from the iTunes Store. A friend later gave me the same album in CD form, so I ripped the disc onto my computer so that I could have non-DRM protected files of the music. Now my iTunes library included both the DRM protected files from the iTunes Store as well as the non-DRM protected files from the CD.
At first, I did not bother to trash the files from the iTunes Store. But then it began to bug me that there were 2 versions of the same songs for the entire album that got put on my iPod/iPhone when I performed a sync.
So I went into my iTunes library on my computer, deleted the DRM protected files from the iTunes Store leaving only the non-DRM protected files from the CD and synced my iPhone.
So why is it that my iPod/iPhone still has both version of the songs even though my iTunes library only shows the non-DRM protected version from the CD that I ripped?

Click here for information.
(34535)

How to prevent iTunes for Windows from "Updating iTunes Library"? (Library is on a NAS and managed by iTunes for Mac. Now getting update wars between Mac and Windows versions of the player.

How to prevent iTunes for Windows from "Updating iTunes Library"?
My library is on a NAS and managed by iTunes on a Mac. I can connect from wife's Windows laptop using iTunes for Windows but every time I do, it Updates iTunes Library. Next time I log in from my Mac it Updates iTunes Library in return. It appears I'm experiencing "Update Wars" between the Mac and Windows versions of iTunes. I would like to allow my wife to stream iTunes songs to her new laptop but I don't want any updates from this source... prefer to manage the library from my Mac and not allow Windows to do any thing other than listen to existing playlists.
Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Connect the PC to the library on the NAS. Wait while "updated".
Under Edit > Preferences > Advanced make sure the media folder is correctly pointed at the media folder on the NAS. If not correct, close iTunes, wait a few moments, then open iTunes again.
Close iTunes on the PC. Do not open iTunes on the Mac.
Copy the library files, iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel and the folder Album Artwork into an empty iTunes folder on the PC, for example C:\iTunes.
Click the icon to start iTunes and immediately press and hold down SHIFT. Keep holding until prompted to choose or create a library. Click choose and browse to the copied .itl file, e.g. C:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
The library should now work properly on the PC, however check the setting for the media folder. If needs be correct, close iTunes and reopen.
Open iTunes on the Mac. It will update again, but that should be last time.
tt2

Windows can see iTunes Library, Mac can not see Windows library

All,
I'm having a bit of a dilemma here.. I think the following issues are sourced by the same root cause.
First i can't not get my iphone remote.app to be recoginized by my Mac OSx desktop, it works fine with my windows desktop(they are plugged into the same router and settings look good here so I'm discounting the router as the cause). Yes I have made sure to give access to itunes in the Firewall settings
Second, My windows machine can see my Mac's shared itunes library, yet my Mac machine can see my window's shared itunes library.
Any suggestions will be appreciated!and thankyou!

I had this problem recently, and it was because I had both the XP firewall enabled and the firewall included in my F-Secure client. Check your Windows machine to make sure you don't have such a firewall conflict.

Can the genre of a song or album in my itunes library be changed? While loading to the itunes library, or after the song or album has been loaded?

Can the genre of a song or album in my itunes library be changed? While loading to the itunes library, or after the song or album has been loaded?

Kay -
Glad it helped. Enjoy the music!
Ed

HT204053 i have an itunes library with 1,000+ songs on a pc. my daughter has a macbook air and i loaded my apple ID onto it. how do i get the songs from my itunes account to show up? This works fine on her iPhone, but having trouble on the new macbook

i have an itunes library with 1,000+ songs on a pc. my daughter has a macbook air and i loaded my apple ID onto it. how do i get the songs from my itunes account to show up? This works fine on her iPhone, but having trouble on the new macbook air

Hey kbert73
I would do a transfer of purchases from the phone and not sync. If you sync then it will want to start over and sync music that is on the MacBook Pro. If you want to transfer the music, check out the article below that will give you multiple options on how to move. I have also provided on how to sync with multiple computers.
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527
Using iPhone, iPad, or iPod with multiple computers
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1202
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Regards,
-Norm G.

Here goes. My iPod touch has all my songs on it. I have changed computers several times and iTunes has a library of similar but not as many songs as iPod. When I plug iPod in ans go to sync it says that iTunes library will replace iPod songs.

Here goes. My iPod touch has all my songs on it. I have changed computers several times and iTunes has a library of similar but not as many songs as iPod. When I plug iPod in ans go to sync it says that iTunes library will replace iPod songs. I don't want this to happen I want the I pod songs to sync with iTunes. What do I do?

That really does not work since music is not included in the backup. See:
iTunes: About iOS backups
puttly123 wrote:
backup your ipod. then sync your ipod to the computer, then restore your ipod and it will still have the right songs. its exactly what i had to do with mine.

My iTunes library only shows purchased songs but i have more music on my iPod if it syncs i lose it all?

My iTunes Library only shows purchased songs from iTunes, i have music on my iPod from purchased and cds i have burnt from my computer, this all used to show up in my library but since having to have a new hard drive in my computer my library only shows purchsed songs. If i want to sync my iPod it tells me i will lose all exsisting music which i don't want to do, can anyone help?

- TransferiTunes purchases to the "new" computer by:
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer
- Transfer other music by using a third-party program like one of those discussed here:
Copy music from Ipod to new computer...: Apple Support Communities
- When all ths stuff is in your iTunes library, make a backup of the iPod by connecting the iPod to the computer and then right-clicking on the iPod under Devices in iTunes and selecting Backup.
- Last, restore from that backup and then sync as necessary.

How do you add the name of a song to a downloaded track not reccognized in the iTunes library. I copy songs from my own CDs and want to properly identify them instead of the current "Track 02". Thanks

How do you add the name of a song to a downloaded track not reccognized in the iTunes library. I copy songs from my own CDs and want to properly identify them instead of the current "Track 02". Thanks

Right-click the track in your library, Get Info, go to the Info tab, and type in the correct information. When you are done, click "OK."

Syncing issue: Some of the items in the iTunes library, including "[name of song]", were not copied to the iPhone "[name of iPhone]" because they could not be found.

When trying to sync with any of my apple devices the following message is displayed:
Some of the items in the iTunes library, including "[name of song]", were not copied to the iPhone "[name of iPhone]" because they could not be found.
For a list of items that could not be copied, click the + below.
86 total problems.
I am able to play the songs in my iTunes library without any issues and there is no "!" next to the listed songs in my library.
It is only when I try to sync my devices that this problem arises.
The songs are also on my laptop and not on an external hard drive.
Can someone please help me out.
Thanks

Hey thanks for the reply.
When the box pops up there is no option to search for the location. I just have to click ok.
Then when I go to the songs with problems in my iTunes library and try to play them they play fine.
It is only while syncing that iTunes for some reason is unable to locate the song.
Any suggestions?

After adding folders to iTunes library, now have duplicates of each song

I store all my music on a separate drive, M:\
I have a specific file structure setup that has worked for me for years, M:\Artist\Album
I recently received an iPod for my birthday, and started using iTunes. After adding my music drive (M:\) for inclusion into the library (without "keep..." and "copy..." selected, as to keep my current file structure intact), when selecting "File->Display Duplicates" just about every song in the library has a duplicate, one in the original folder "M:\Artist\Album", and another in "M:\Playlists\..\Artist\Album". I understand that basically somehow iTunes glitched and started in the "M:\Playlist" directory when adding to the library at some point, however I am at a loss as to how. In my actual folders I only have 1 copy of each song, so basically iTunes is making a symbolic link to each song and adding it into the library as a separate song.
I have over 9000 (must...resist...meme...) songs in my library, and removing and restoring takes quite a while. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to do this at least once now, but any ideas as to why or advice on how to avoid this particular problem in the future?
I am pretty set in my ways of my current file structure, since I don't use iTunes as my primary media software, so I would prefer to not have to resort to succumbing to just letting iTunes handle everything the way it wants (I pretty much hate that).
Thank you for any suggestions you may have.
EDIT: Is there a way to have iTunes rename/move files when adding to its library to specific folders via custom rules based on ID3 information (i.e. WMP rip settings)?
Message was edited by: kaziekama

If you have "Keep..." and "Copy..." unchecked, iTunes will simply reference the existing file, and will not change your file structure, as you correctly note.
I'm fairly sure that some other program is operating on your files. The "Playlists" folder that you mention has nothing to do with iTunes. On my PC, only Windows Media and Roxio use it.
To your question +"Is there a way to have iTunes rename/move files when adding to its library to specific folders via custom rules based on ID3 information (i.e. WMP rip settings)?"+ the answer is no. When iTunes rips a CD, it names the files as track number and title, with no option to do differently. And as far as placing the ripped files, they go in Artist/Album, with no option to do differently. As full-featured ripping programs go, iTunes is not even in the race.

Is there a way to put music (mp3) from my PC onto my iPhone (5c) without having to duplicate that music by adding it to the iTunes Library?

Greetings all, I am a brand new iPhone owner (my first smartphone in fact) and am very sad that I don't love my new device as much as I was beginning to. I've come into the Apple family with open eyes and heart, but I am heartbroken and mortified and what I've been learning this morning. I just spent five hours (no exaggeration) reading forums, downloading iTunes (which I don't really think I want, I am used to WMP and much more accustomed to it), downloading and installing an update, learning that certain options which were recommended are now gone unless you use secret commands (want to Add Folder to Library? Well, too bad! Unless you know the secret Ctrl-B handshake. Hope you didn't just spend tons of time adding items file by file before you learned that (by scouring the obscure forums for that information, since it's not common knowledge or readily accessible in iTunes now)!). Apologies for the sarcastic tone, still very frustrated with the whole process. I've seen support messages directing people to support pages with QuickTime videos; QuickTime doesn't install easily or quickly or work properly on my PC (perhaps I need to work with it more, buuuut...), it's all just seeming so....proprietary.
Is it really the way this works that I have to duplicate all of the music that is currently on my hard drive not just once but twice, such that I need to have it 1) on my hard drive in my music folder where it has always been (so that I can play it how I am used to, using WMP), 2) copied to my iTunes Library and then 3) "Synced" (whatever this really means...still learning obviously) / copied onto my iPhone? Thus taking up twice the space on my hard drive that it needs to?
There's really no way to simply have the phone take it from my hard drive? Apple seriously needs it to not only be existent on my pc, but duplicated into the iTunes Library (which is really just another folder, right?) in order to allow it to be put onto my iPhone?
Please please please tell me I am misunderstanding how this works. I really genuinely do want to love my iPhone and get accustomed to how it and the software it needs works, but this has been frankly a nightmare and has had me wishing for brief moments that I had gone with something more PC friendly. Please just tell me that it gets better, that you can have a PC that you use, and have an iPhone that you use and marry the two happily once you get used to the way to do that.

HydroThunder wrote:
Greetings all, I am a brand new iPhone owner (my first smartphone in fact) and am very sad that I don't love my new device as much as I was beginning to. I've come into the Apple family with open eyes and heart, but I am heartbroken and mortified and what I've been learning this morning. I just spent five hours (no exaggeration) reading forums, downloading iTunes (which I don't really think I want, I am used to WMP and much more accustomed to it), downloading and installing an update, learning that certain options which were recommended are now gone unless you use secret commands (want to Add Folder to Library? Well, too bad! Unless you know the secret Ctrl-B handshake. Hope you didn't just spend tons of time adding items file by file before you learned that (by scouring the obscure forums for that information, since it's not common knowledge or readily accessible in iTunes now)!). Apologies for the sarcastic tone, still very frustrated with the whole process. I've seen support messages directing people to support pages with QuickTime videos; QuickTime doesn't install easily or quickly or work properly on my PC (perhaps I need to work with it more, buuuut...), it's all just seeming so....proprietary.
Is it really the way this works that I have to duplicate all of the music that is currently on my hard drive not just once but twice, such that I need to have it 1) on my hard drive in my music folder where it has always been (so that I can play it how I am used to, using WMP), 2) copied to my iTunes Library and then 3) "Synced" (whatever this really means...still learning obviously) / copied onto my iPhone? Thus taking up twice the space on my hard drive that it needs to?
There's really no way to simply have the phone take it from my hard drive? Apple seriously needs it to not only be existent on my pc, but duplicated into the iTunes Library (which is really just another folder, right?) in order to allow it to be put onto my iPhone?
Please please please tell me I am misunderstanding how this works.
Okay.
You are misunderstanding how this works.
When you add songs to your iTunes Library, all you are in fact doing is telling iTunes where (on your computer) to find the music. iTunes does not create additional versions of your music (see * below). iTunes is a database (or catalogue) - it simply lists your music and knows where it is so that it can copy it to your iPod.
Synced - synchronise... to make as one, to make the same as each other. Well, that's what my dictionary tells me anyway. To make iTunes and the iPhone the same, to have the same music etc. on or in each. (Subject to your preferences.)
HydroThunder wrote:
I really genuinely do want to love my iPhone and get accustomed to how it and the software it needs works, but this has been frankly a nightmare and has had me wishing for brief moments that I had gone with something more PC friendly. Please just tell me that it gets better, that you can have a PC that you use, and have an iPhone that you use and marry the two happily once you get used to the way to do that.
Okay, I'l tell you that too.
It gets better. You can have a PC that you use, and have an iPhone that you use - and marry the two together blah blah blah.
Now that you have iTunes installed, at least you've got that far, although I can't quite imagine how it managed to take five hours. (You would have all these same issues if you were moving from iPhone to any non-Apple product.)
Secret menus, (CTRL+B etc.) - yes, there have been some very odd moves with all this "hiding menus" nonsense. But with the help of useful contibutors to these discussions, you will find iTunes easy. There are however, so many ways to configure iTunes, that everyone will tell you that everyone else's method is wrong.
So let's start with basics:
Once iTunes is set the way you want to view it, all you will need to do is add music to your iTunes Library, either by;
putting a CD into your computer's CD drive, and telling iTunes to import the CD. iTunes will make a digital copy, put it in a folder (in the iTunes Media folder) and list the album in your iTunes
buying music from the iTunes Store. The store will download the music to your Library.
Buying music from other sources. For example Amazon. Here in the UK, Amazon have a downloader which will download any purchases, place them in an Amazon folder and add them to your iTunes Library
Add other digital files by using the Add Folder to Library. (I can make sure you can easily find that, if you wish.)
Then - you can add songs to Playlists - if you wish. You do not have to add music to Playlists. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
Then - connect your iPhone to the computer, and let iTunes perform a Sync.
Your first ever Sync will need a little bit of configuration. A Sync will copy the new songs to your iPhone. It will also transfer back to your iTunes Library:
any songs purchased, on the iPhone, directly from the iTunes Store.
any apps purchased, on the iPhone, from the iTunes Store.
Play Counts. The number of times a song has been played, on the iPhone, since the last Sync.
Last Played date and time. You won't believe how useful this feature can be.
HydroThunder wrote:
There's really no way to simply have the phone take it from my hard drive?
That is precisely what iTunes is for - it's exactly what it does and how is does it. By the way, also don't let anyone tell you that you should use Manual Management to anage your iPhone. No one with any sense would use Manual Management. Why do housework, when iTunes can do it for you?
* There is one tiny issue in all this. If you leave your music where it is now, it may make it slightly harder for you to transfer all your music to another computer anytime in the future because it will be in various different palces on your current computer. There is a setting in iTunes to "copy files to the iTunes Media folder when adding to library", which will duplicate songs, but that's so that you can store all your music in one parent folder for easy transfer to another computer. Your choice. If you take it, once it's done, you could then delete the older copies in the other storage locations.
Of course, if you transfer all your media, files, documents to the new compurer, it shouldn't be any hassle really.
As for WMP. While you are used to it, now that you have an iPhone, why not try playing music in iTunes? It's really not that bad.
So - you tell me what point you have reached and what other information you need to help you with iTunes, what views you want in your iTunes Library. There are lots of ways to vieww your Library! You only need to tell us how you like to look at things, by albums with artwork, by a sonsg list but with the option of looking at albums, or Last played. On and On it goes!
I may be a bit biased in my choice of views, but I can still help you get the best out of iTunes. It really is a fantastic piece of software, despite the little annoying things Apple put into it.

Mac and Windows on same iTunes Library? NAS?

I moved my mac iTunes library to a NAS, hoping that all machines in the house (Mac and Windows) could access and update the library (but not at the same time because of file locking). So I moved the .itl and .xml files over to the NAS as well but some machines can only see parts of the library.
Is this not a supported configuration? How could I set up such a sharing library with update capability? Thanks in advance.

You don't need any software installed on the windows PC. Just plug it into the Ethernet port on the router to the Ethernet port on the NIC card. If you want the Fios software installed go to activatemyfios.verizon.net and click configure another computer and enter your fios user name and password. If you are having connection problems go to verizon.com/connectionwizard and install that software.

Can music already on an ipod be added to a new iTunes library ?

Hi Everyone - I recently purchased a laptop but have a dilemma with my iTunes libraries and iPods. My Nano was synched to my iTunes library on desktop PC, then I synched new classic iPod to same library, therefore both iPods had same music on them. I then set up iTunes on laptop and added some new music into the new library but then tried to merge Classic iPod (with old music) with new music in new library, but all it would allow was to synch them. This caused the problem I need help with as when synching, old music is erased and replaced with new music.
Is there any way of adding old music on an iPod to a second (new) iTunes library on a different computer ??
If there is, can you tell me step by step how to, as I'm still a novice with these things !!
Many thanks,
SC

This is copied from another thread. I think it is pretty clear. Here is the link to the thread as well. You will need to do this for each device if they all have different content on them.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/11527071#11527071
1) Without connecting your iPad to your laptop, start iTunes. Click on Edit. Click on Preferences. Click on Devices. Check the box next to "Prevent your iPod etc. from automatically syncing." Click OK.
2) Now connect your iPad to your laptop and start iTunes.
3) When iTunes starts, right click on your iPad under Devices in the left column. Select Transfer purchases etc.
4) After it finishes transferring all your apps to your new laptop, right click on your iPad and select Backup your iPad.
5) After it finishes backing up your iPad, right click on your iPad and select Restore etc.
6) After it finishes restoring, left click on your iPad , then click on the Apps tab on top, and check the box next to Sync Apps, then click on Apply below.
If everything on your iPad looks good after the sync, go back and click on Edit / Preferences / Devices and UN-check the box next to Prevent your iPod etc. The only other thing you may want to check is if your contacts, bookmarks, etc. are syncing correctly now. If not, go to the Info tab after connecting and make sure you indicate which features you want to sync with what sources.
If you have more questions, post back.

Adding Windows folders to iTunes library - 2 copies of song

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