Backing up entire itunes to external HDD

how do i "export" & "backup" my entire itunes library (music/vids/pics etc) to an external HDD?
after reformatting my PC, can I import again without problems, even songs purchased from itunes store?

Here is how to move it to an exHD:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
Before you reformat your PC, deauthorize it
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420
Yes, you can get your library back intact - if you save the ITL file and have the same user name on your fresh system:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732

Similar Messages

Problems Backing up Itunes to External HDD

I am having issues moving my Itunes to an external HDD. I get errors from the Finder saying it can't find the files to move (only for 2-3% of them but with a 1000 folders it gets annoying), but I can easily find the files in my Itunes through Finder and my Itunes app plays them just as easily.
Is there a way via the Terminal to just force my Mac to move my Itunes files to the external HDD?
Message was edited by: nadohawk

Did you follow these instructions CLOSELY:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
Don’t delete or move .itdb or .xml or any other files till it is working on your other location.
Hope this helps,
ken

Backup iTunes Library External HDD?

I am upgrading to Leopard this week and want to do a complete clean upgrade to Leopard. My iTunes library is over 100GB, and I don't want to have to back it up to DVDs. How can I backup my iTunes library to an external HDD and still retain my precious playlists, ratings, etc...? I wan to also backup my entire library, not just purchased music etc..

The following link will give you the instructions to move iTunes to an EHD. These instructions need to be followed EXACTLY. From what you have posted, it sounds like one of the issues is you moved the whole iTunes folder, instead of just the iT music folder. The 2 metadata files within the main iTunes folder must stay on the main drive of your system as that is their "home", they can't be moved.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748
As a suggestion for future posts, it's always much better to start your own topic rather than disrupt someone else's topic with a similar but unrelated issue. It can also get very confusing to try to troubleshoot with several different people on the same thread who have different issues. Thanks!

Backing up entire iTunes library to DVD

I am trying to backup my library to a dvd by file, library, backup to DVD. I am able to check the fields in the backup box but when I hit the backup, it does nothing. I cannot use the cancel button either. If I close this box, I get another box which states I need to highlight the playlist I want to backup. I want to backup the entire library.

mary.e wrote:
...when I hit the backup, it does nothing. I cannot use the cancel button either. If I close this box, I get another box which states I need to highlight the playlist I want to backup. I want to backup the entire library.
Mary,
Nowadays people don't back up to CD/DVD. They get an *external hard drive* and copy over their entire iTunes folder, and whatever else they are backing up.
The advantages are (1) this method does not depend on iTunes's horribly unreliable burning capability (2) you can look at the external and see that the stuff you backed up is really there. (If you want to see an unhappy person, it is when they try to restore from CD/DVD and discover that it did not burn correctly in the first place.) (3) it lets you back up your other valuable files besides your music.

Backing up entire iTunes Library on external hard drive?

I have recently purchased an external hard drive to backup all media on my computer (photos, music etc).
However, having searched apple.com for backup advice, the only instructions available refer to creating backup discs on an a CD.
I have already copied my Itunes Library to the external hard drive. However, please can someone confirm that this is sufficient and if, in the event that everything goes wrong, the $800 of music that I have from iTunes won't disappear.
Thanks for you help

Unfortunately the iTunes backup only works with DVD/CDs.
You can simply copy your iTunes directory to the external disk, or you can use backup software outside iTunes to manage it for you. If you have XP pro you already have a backup program. If you have the home edition, it has to be installed from the Windows CD if you got one with your PC.
There is a good article on backup here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1522195&#1522195

When syncing iPhone with iTunes, my external hdd disconnects

Hi! After I updated iTunes to the last version (9.1.1) appears one problem — when i connect my iPhone 3G 16Gb and iTunes is launched, it starts to sync as it is intended — and my external usb hdd disconnects. And it is required to restart the whole system with disconnected iphone to connect hdd as usual.
The itunes music library is on this hdd. I have mac-mini 1.83 core 2 duo with 4Gb ram and latest update of 10.5 Leopard.
I also recently installed fruux for syncing this mac-mini with my macbook, and may be it is the reason, but I uninstalled it fully (as writen on fruux website), but the problem is still as is.
Please, help — this problem makes my iphone fully isolated from my iTunes library :(((

Make sure the following setting is unchecked:
Lightroom / Preferences / Import:
[ ] Show import dialog when a memory card is detected
Report back if it is already unchecked and LR still starts up.

Backing up entire iTunes library's

Hey all my HDD is on its way out clicking like a gooden! oO
I have a spare old hard drive so wanting to backup to that just in case.
My question is what's the easiest way yo back up
Apps
Music
Photos
Contacts
iPhone back-up
iPod backups
basically everything, I found the file>library>backup to disc but I am under the impression that's just music and only to CD/DVD? im using iTunes 10 and vista
many Thanks in advance!
Nick

Assuming you have the default itunes setup and files are not scattered all over your hard drive, copy these two folders
C:\users\username\Music\iTunes
(this holds the itunes library database and the itunes library content .)
c:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
(this holds hte iphone backups)

Need logical setup advice for new iTunes on external HDD and new laptop

New to Win7, would like to know the best way to re-create from scratch my 5+ year old iTunes library on a new external hard drive without simply copying the previous iTunes folder structure over. I guess that I would like to add all the music, video, movie and iPhone app files to a new library. What is the best method to do this so that iTunes can organize all of the new data from scratch correctly? What about reauthorizing apps and media I purchased through iTunes? anything special to do to reintroduce this data to a new iTunes?
(to clarify - I intend to install the iTunes program on my local C drive in programs on the laptop and all data on the external drive) Thanks...

Steve M. wrote:
I know I should have redundant backups and should probably have a second external HD and eventually will.
Yes, that's best.
But for now, if I partition (I'm assuming I should) a new 1 TB external HD, how big should I make the TM partition vs. the SD partition at this point assuming I have under 100 GB on my internal Mac HD? Is this a feasible way of doing things here in the near term.
Your best bet is to make your TM partition 2-3 times the size of the amount of data you anticipate backing-up. Put it first on the drive; that way, later on you can delete the partition below it, expand the TM partition, and make a new, smaller partition for SD (or use the whole drive). See #1, #3, #5 and #6 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum, for details.
By the way, any recommendations on which peripheral HDs to consider? I was very surprised on a recent visit to my local Apple Store that they have a large stock of WD My Studio drives. I mentioned to an Apple sales person that I had always heard WDs were kind of a no-no among Mac users but she assured me the current crop of them were much improved. Any comment on that??
Most any drive will work with Macs, and Time Machine.
If you're going to put a "bootable clone" on it, be sure it's a bootable drive. Most PPC Macs can boot only from FireWire; most Intels can boot from F/W or USB. But some Western Digitals won't boot a Mac. Their list of which ones should and +should not+ boot: http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/stdadp.php?pfaqid=1787. But note the disclaimer that they don't support it +*at all.+*.
In addition, many of them have a built-in sleep mode that cannot be disabled, and sometimes interferes with Time Machine backups: http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/stdadp.php?pfaqid=1376

ITunes on external HDD via Thunderbolt 1 showing Permissions Problems

I have ITunes Media on a Pegasus R6 unit since it is large and my Macs have SSD drives which are firstly not large enough & secondly I prefer to keep most important things externally. It works fine !
But when I run Disk Utility Verifying Permissions on the SSD I get a huge amount of permissions problems they dont seem to effect the performance but there must be over 100 problems I can run Repair Permissions and although it claims to have sorted them if I VERIFY THE PERMISSIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE ! I have re structured iTunes since it had a Media folder within the Media folder the problems still show.
I did not have this problem with OSX 10.8 the system seems unaffected by the permission problems but it is odd that in spite of repairing Permissions the problem continues .
I should add there does not appear to be any problems running iTunes I am a little ****** at having sent quite a lot of time remioving all the media from the disk I use for iTunes copying it to another disk and then starting afresh which also meant creating all my playlists again.
Here is a screen shot of the problems showing after Verifying permissions this is after running Repair Permissions .
I hazzard a guess that this is a Mavericks fault and is very minor but irritating.
Is there a solution I can do or will a future Mavericks update take care of this.

Yes pleAse do move it over the permissions verification shows ACLs language store settings etc none of which actually effect the performance I run disk utility either after software updates or before a weekly shutdown and it shows these faults if my Pegasus unit is attached and since I use it for photos time machine back ups etc it is connected all the time I have verified the Pegasus disks and they are fine although obviously I can not verify permissions on any of these disks .

Sparesbundle in use when backing up MB to iMac external HDD

Hi all,
I have found the solution to this in regards to using a Time Capsule, but not for my situation.
I am backing up my MacBook Air using Time Machine to an external shared HD attached to my iMac, all done over the network wirelessly.
The first backup completed sucessfully.
The second backup comes up with "The backup disk image “/Volumes/Time Machine MacBook Air-1/Stuart’s MacBook Air.sparsebundle” is already in use."
The external HD is formatted in journal extended, split into 2 partitions (one for the MB and one for the iMac).
Any ideas?
Apologies if it's already been answered, struggling to find it in the search.
Many thanks,
Stuart.

Turn off file sharing on the iMac, confirming that you want to disconnect all users. Then turn it back on and try again.

1 Instance of iTunes - 2 External HDD's - One for music and One for Movies

Hello - How do I map 2 distinct HD's to my 1 instance of itunes. I want to have one with just music and one with just movies.
Thanks!!

You don't (easily).
iTunes does not like shortcut/alias/symbolic links.
I recommend you update your OS (10.6.4) or update your signature.

Attempting to move iTunes onto external HDD

The problem i am having is when i attempt to consolidate files a window appears "You do not have the priviledge to make chang
How can I go about fixing this?
Thanks

Select the volume icon in the Finder and open the Info window. Click the padlock icon in the lower right corner of the window and enter your administrator password when prompted. Check the box at the bottom marked
Ignore ownership on this volume
Close the Info window.

Error -50 problems on external HDD

I am having intermittent problems backing up to a USB external HDD (via ChronoSync). After a couple of days of successful backups they start failing with error -50. When this happens I am unable to write anything to the HDD. Restarting the computer fixes the problem for a day or so, but then it happens again. I do not think that there are any physical problems with the drive or cable because the drive is partitioned (3 partitions) and another partition is used by SuperDuper to make bootable backups and has not failed.
I see messages like this in Console which may be related:
2/11/09 1:34:05 PM Disk Utility[58300] Verifying volume “WORK-430GB”
2/11/09 1:34:05 PM fseventsd[40] gzflush(/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.fseventsd/0000000001299f05) returned -1
2/11/09 1:34:05 PM fseventsd[40] disk logger: gzclose() failed (-1/22) removing all old log files in /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.fseventsd
2/11/09 1:34:06 PM fseventsd[40] failed to unlink old log file /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.fseventsd/0000000001299841 (Invalid argument)
2/11/09 1:34:06 PM fseventsd[40] failed to unlink old log file /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.fseventsd/0000000001299f05 (Invalid argument)
2/11/09 1:34:06 PM fseventsd[40] failed to create the uuid file /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.fseventsd/fseventsd-uuid
2/11/09 1:34:32 PM fseventsd[40] Events arrived for /Volumes/WORK-430GB after an unmount request! Re-initializing.
2/11/09 1:35:06 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in ContentIndexOpenBulk:Unclean shutdown of /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-042 7BCA3790F/live.2.; needs recovery
2/11/09 1:35:52 PM fseventsd[40] disk logger: failed to open output file /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.fseventsd/0000000002993106 (Invalid argument). mount point /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.fseventsd
2/11/09 1:35:52 PM Disk Utility[58300] The volume WORK-430GB appears to be OK.
2/11/09 1:35:52 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in copyFileOrFd:error (22) opening 0.indexGroups
2/11/09 1:35:52 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in recoverIndex:Unrecoverable error: could not recover groups file (0.)
2/11/09 1:35:52 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in CIMetaInfoCreate:Tried to create index when index already existed /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-042 7BCA3790F
2/11/09 1:42:15 PM Disk Utility[58300] Verifying volume “WORK-430GB”
2/11/09 1:43:51 PM Disk Utility[58300] The volume WORK-430GB appears to be OK.
2/11/09 1:43:51 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in ContentIndexOpenBulk:Unclean shutdown of /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-042 7BCA3790F/live.2.; needs recovery
2/11/09 1:43:51 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in copyFileOrFd:error (22) opening 0.indexGroups
2/11/09 1:43:51 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in recoverIndex:Unrecoverable error: could not recover groups file (0.)
2/11/09 1:43:51 PM mds[34] (/Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-04 27BCA3790F)(Error) IndexCI in CIMetaInfoCreate:Tried to create index when index already existed /Volumes/WORK-430GB/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V1/Stores/A85D1BB6-7321-4197-B51A-042 7BCA3790F
2/11/09 1:48:15 PM ctask[59236] Copy Operation Error: -50
Description: paramErr. error in user parameter list.
Path: /Volumes/WORK-430GB
Stage: 3
2/11/09 1:48:15 PM [0x0-0x19019].com.cocoatech.PathFinder[244] Path: /Volumes/WORK-430GB
and also these messages:
2/11/09 1:40:04 PM fseventsd[40] failed to unlink old log file /Volumes/Boot-300GB/.fseventsd/00000000028bce91 (Invalid argument)
2/11/09 1:40:04 PM fseventsd[40] failed to unlink old log file /Volumes/Boot-300GB/.fseventsd/00000000028dd237 (Invalid argument)
2/11/09 1:40:04 PM fseventsd[40] failed to create the uuid file /Volumes/Boot-300GB/.fseventsd/fseventsd-uuid
2/11/09 1:41:36 PM fseventsd[40] client 0x83de00 watching dev 234881029 but it has no path! ()
2/11/09 1:41:36 PM fseventsd[40] client 0x828800 watching dev 234881030 but it has no path! ()
Any suggestions about how to narrow this down will be appreciated. ChronoSync tech support is getting tired of trying to help me and I suspect that it is a Leopard problem.

Try repairing disk permissions.
Launch Disk Utility. (Applications/Utilities) Select MacintoshHD in the panel on the left, select FirstAid, then click: Repair Disk Permissions. Quit DU when it's finished and reboot.
And check here: What to do if your computer won't recognize a FireWire or USB device
*" ChronoSync tech support is getting tired of trying to help me and I suspect that it is a Leopard problem. "* Since ChronoSync wrote this software. If it's not Leopard compatible then Apple isn't responsible. Might be able to get more support here: http://www.econtechnologies.com/pages/support/support_faq.html
Carolyn

Backup multiple Macs to external HDD

I have an iMac (OS X 10.8.2) with a new Seagate BackupPlus external HDD attached by thunderbolt. The external HDD has 5 partitions (all Mac OS X Extended Journaled format). 4 partitions are dedicated back ups for 4 Macs (the iMac connected via thunderbolt to the external HDD, plus 3 MacBookAirs (MBA's)). The 5th partition is just for storing random data (I realize TM won't back up the data on the same drive as the TM backups, but that's ok).
Following the steps FAQ #22 on the great pondini site http://pondini.org/TM/22.html I was able to set up Time Machine to back up my iMac (with the external HDD physically attached) AND I was able to setup TM on my MacBookAir (also running OS X 10.8.2) to wirelessly back up to the external HDD attached to the iMac.
I am now trying to do the same for wife and kids MBA's (i.e., get them to have TM back up wirelessly to the external HDD that is attached to the iMac on the same network). However, while I can get TM to backup my MBA, I can't get their to work, even though I followed the same steps on their "source" MBA's as I did on mine. The other MBAs can see the external HDD (attached to the iMac) and even remotely read/write to it (which I did as a test). TM on their MBA sees and lets me select the appropriate partition on the external HDD, but when I try to do a backup, after a few seconds TM stops running. It may be worth noting I also have TM backing the MBAs (including wife and kids MBAs) wirelessly to a TimeCapsule too... and that works flawlessly (I am trying to get my MBAs backed up on both my TimeCapsule and an external HDD connected to the iMac, so I have two backups).
The error log from TimeMachine Buddy on my wife's MBA shows:
Starting manual backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://melaniebernitz@Bradley%E2%80%99s%20iMac._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Mel%20MBA% 20External%20Backup
NAConnectToServerSync failed with error: 80 for url: afp://melaniebernitz@Bradley%E2%80%99s%20iMac._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Mel%20MBA% 20External%20Backup
Attempting to mount network destination using URL: afp://[email protected]/Mel%20MBA%20External%20Backup
NAConnectToServerSync failed with error: 80 for url: afp://[email protected]/Mel%20MBA%20External%20Backup
Backup failed with error: 19
To try and fix, I have:
-- rebooted both machines.
-- ran "Verify Disk" on external HDD partition (verify disk finds no issues)
-- checked file sharing on iMac (again, the MBA's can read and write to the external HDD connected to the iMac with no problems so it has read/write/share "access" to the external HDD)
-- did full reset of Time Machine preference on my MBA per pondini.org/TM/A4.html
-- on the MBA's that won't back up wirelessly to the external drive, I can still "see" and select the external HDD (connected to the iMac) in Time Machine
-- tried running TM from different users on each MBA (including adminstrators, of course)
-- have shut off and re-turned on Time Machine
In case it helps diagnose the issue, here's the TimeMachine Buddy log for the my MBA (for which TM successfully completes the wireless backup to the external HDD on the iMac).
Starting manual backup
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://bradley%20katcher@Bradley%E2%80%99s%20iMac._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Brad%20M BA%20External%20Backup
Mounted network destination at mount point: /Volumes/Brad MBA External Backup using URL: afp://bradley%20katcher@Bradley%E2%80%99s%20iMac._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Brad%20M BA%20External%20Backup
Resizing backup disk image from 924.24 GB to 923.9 GB
Disk image /Volumes/Brad MBA External Backup/Brad MacBook Air.sparsebundle mounted at: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups
Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
Using file event preflight for Macintosh HD
Will copy (1.4 MB) from Macintosh HD
Found 63 files (1.4 MB) needing backup
626.4 MB required (including padding), 779.13 GB available
Copied 973 files (1.5 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
Using file event preflight for Macintosh HD
Will copy (Zero KB) from Macintosh HD
Found 11 files (Zero KB) needing backup
624.8 MB required (including padding), 779.13 GB available
Copied 248 files (82 bytes) from volume Macintosh HD.
Created new backup: 2013-02-09-013813
Starting post-backup thinning
No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
Backup completed successfully.
Ejected Time Machine disk image: /Volumes/Brad MBA External Backup/Brad MacBook Air.sparsebundle
Ejected Time Machine network volume.
So, to make a long story short, even though the external HDD partitions are mounted and can be read by all MBA's....
-- My MBA has no problem backing up (via TM) to the external HDD physically attached to my iMac
-- Other MBA's can wirelessy back up (via TM) to TimeCapsule on my network, but NOT to the external HDD on the iMac (even though they can remotely see/share files on it).
All in all, I'm at a loss as to why it works for one MBA but not others (since I followed same steps to set up the MBA's for TM).
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

Bkat wrote:
The external HDD has 5 partitions (all Mac OS X Extended Journaled format).
What Partition Map Scheme does it have? (click the top line for the drive in Disk Utility's sidebar -- it will be shown at the lower-right). It should be GUID, but should work if it's APM (Apple Partition Map). If it's MBR (Master Boot Record), a Windows setup and often the way externals come from the factory, that may be the problem. I've never been sure of the details, but there's a message somewhere that says "not all partitions may be accessible" to Time Machine with MBR.
-- tried running TM from different users on each MBA (including adminstrators, of course)
It doesn't matter what user does the setup, or even does a Back Up Now, since the actual backup runs with "root" privileges (permission to everything). It sounds like you have the right Sharing setup on the iMac, but be sure each of those Macs is connecting as the right user on the iMac.
I've not done this myself with multiple Macs (I don't have enough hardware); only one Mac backing-up to a shared drive on another.
Attempting to mount network destination URL: afp://melaniebernitz@Bradley%E2%80%99s%20iMac._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Mel%20MBA% 20External%20Backup
Looks like you've got some special characters in some names. I realize two Macs seem to back up ok, but oddly enough, sometimes such characters in names are a problem -- they'll work fine sometimes, but not always. See #C9 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
(I am trying to get my MBAs backed up on both my TimeCapsule and an external HDD connected to the iMac, so I have two backups).
You might want to reconsider using Time Machine for both sets of backups. It's prudent to want two separate backups in case one piece of hardware fails. But what if there's a problem with Time Machine itself, on one (or more) of your Macs? TM is pretty reliable, but no app is perfect. See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #27 for details, and the green box there for some alternatives (some of those may not work over a network. CarbonCopyCloner and ChronoSync do -- I use CCC locally, in addition to TM, but not over a network).
Message was edited by: Pondini

HT1751 if i back up my itunes library to an external hard drive and then add subsequent music and want to back that up a few days later, can i backup the only newly added music without backing up the entire library again?

hello,
if i back up my itunes library to an external hard drive and then add subsequent music and want to back up the newly added music a few days later, can i do it without backing up the entire library again? or do i need to back up the entire library each and every time i back up to the external hard drive?

Just copy Users/yourusername/Music/iTunes (containing your library-files) to your external drive as well as that (extaernal) folder that contains all your audio-tracks.

Backing up entire itunes to external HDD

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