Backing up iTunes and itunes library to flash drive

Ok so the wireless connection is messed up on my laptop and I need to back up both iTunes and the library. I'm not seeing an option for this on iTunes. How do I do it?

On the apple website - http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
What you really need to save is your itunes library and itunes content.
The itunes library is a file named iTunes Library.itl
The itunes content is music, TV shows, podcasts, etc..

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How do I restore iTunes library from flash drive backup?

How do I restore iTunes library from flash drive backup?

brigdool wrote:
How do I restore iTunes library from flash drive backup?
HI Brigdool,
It depends how you made the backup.
If you copied your entire iTunes folder onto the flash drive, just copy it back to the appropriate place on the computer.
If you copied individual folders or files, add them back to iTunes by inserting the flash drive in your computer, and then dragging the files into your "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder.
The first method recreates your library as it was, with all playcounts, playlists, etc. The second method builds a new library with the same content.

How to back up iTunes Library to external drive so it can be restored

I recently moved my iTunes Library from a firewire Lacie external hard drive to a Western Digital USd hard that is now having problems (It keeps unmounting itself and I don't think that's good). It was not easy to move my iTunes folder and make it work again. I do not want to send 3 weeks plus using my spare time relinking songs or recreating playlists. I had to re-link 6,000 songs one by one. I iTunes will make a backup on CDs or DVDs why not an external device? Why would I want to copy 80 plus gigs to CDs?
If I simply copy my iTunes folder to the LaCie drive like apple recommends and the WD fails, I will lose all my playlists, track info, art work. I just got it all back. There must be some type of back up program I'm not seeing.
Please, some one help me. I am very disappointed that this solution is not on here.
I'm going to copy the file for now but it's really a poor solution.
Message was edited by: CindyLoo

I want to back up every thing, but I can't find a way to do it. That is the problem. Apple recommends if you are backing up to an external drive to copy folder the music folder to the drive via drag and drop. But I know when you do this that if you try use the backup you will only have the songs as if they were first added to iTunes.
I was able this time to move my music folder successfully (Last time the problem wasn't immediately apparent as it didn't affect my iPod, so I hope I'm not jinxing it). For now, my music is back on the Lacie drive, but it's still not backed up. If the LaCie drive were to fail I'd be faced with reimporting all my music and re-purchasing the TV shows and movies. (I almost always make a CD of new iTunes Purchases. which is why I have no desire to have a second huge stack of CDs.) My computer will not burn DVDs.
I want to backup everything so that it could be restored and be like it is now, but I don't see a way to do it. And I am not backing up all 80 plus gigs to CDs. My computer would crash and burn.

Back up itunes library to usb drive instead of cd or DVD-how do I do this?

I just got a great deal on a Seagate Free Agent 500gb drive. I've formatted it for Mac, now, I want to backup my iTunes library to it and still use iTunes on my laptop-I don't want to burn a zillion cd's or dvd's to do it-that's why I bought this drive. Can anyone help me? I am just not able to figure this out, maybe because I was raised on PC.

If you don't want to run iTunes from the EHD & you are simply backing up, just copy the whole iTunes folder onto the Seagate.

ITunes Library on Flash Drive

I recently purchased a macbook air, and was going to use mainly as a travel computer, but I find myself using it more and more, and hardly ever using my macbook pro. I am contemplating switching completely over. My one big issue is syncing my iPhone and my iTunes content including mobile apps. The macbook air is somewhat limited in storage with 128 GB. I thought in an effort to maintain maximum portability and also storage space, I would move the iTunes library to a flash drive.
If I wanted to do this, I assume I simply have to drag the iTunes Library folder from my home on the macbook pro to the flash drive. Then I would just change the preferences in iTunes on the macbook air so that it knows the iTunes library is located on the flash drive.
Two questions if I have it so far. First, I assume it is not a problem to remove the flash drive so long as I am not accessing iTunes content. Please let me know if this is correct. I store my daughter's iTunes library on an external hard drive, but her computer is a desktop so portability is not an issue.
The second issue, is whether there are any other libraries or folders that need to be copied or transferred. I ask because I see certain references to mobile apps in preference folders in my user library. At least I think so.
Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

If I wanted to do this, I assume I simply have to drag the iTunes Library folder from my home on the macbook pro to the flash drive. Then I would just change the preferences in iTunes on the macbook air so that it knows the iTunes library is located on the flash drive.
Change library by holding down the option key while starting iTunes.
Two questions if I have it so far. First, I assume it is not a problem to remove the flash drive so long as I am not accessing iTunes content. Please let me know if this is correct.
Correct.
The second issue, is whether there are any other libraries or folders that need to be copied or transferred. I ask because I see certain references to mobile apps in preference folders in my user library. At least I think so.
I have no experience with apps. Copying the preferences files will save you some trouble in setting up as long as both iTunes versions are the same.
On the whole idea of using a flash drive, well, okay. I don't see a flash drive as being as robust and I would definitely make sure you maintain backups.

Backing up itunes library to pexternal drive v. CD

I'm a new mac user and very confused about most everything... question - can i back up my library to a portable harddrive, or does it only go to CD (it seems). What about DVD?
Thanks!

can i back up my library to a portable harddrive
Not through iTunes. Find the library location from the iTunes preferences and drag it to the external drive in the Finder. If you haven't changed its location, it's in the Music folder of the Finder's sidebar.
What about DVD?
Yes, if you have a compatible drive.
(35493)

Question about backing up iTunes library to hard drive

So I was looking at getting a MacBook Pro, and was going to buy an external hard drive (WD My Passport for Mac) to transfer the files to the new computer. I was wondering if my movie / digital copies will go to the external hard drive as well as music & everything. Also how would I go about doing the transfer, I'm sure it will be pretty easy to figure out just want to make sure everything goes to the new computer.
Thanks

it may not be necessary to get an external HD, although you could use it for back up purposes.
one simple solution to transferring your complete library would be to connect the two Macs with a firewire cable, boot the source Mac in _*Target Disk Mode*_, and copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the source to <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the target (overwriting the iTunes folder in place there).
launching iTunes on the MBP should then take you to the exact same library you were used to on the old machine.
JGG

I upgraded to iTunes 10.5 and now I can't back up iTunes library to disc. In previous versions it was in file library backup to disc. In iTunes 10.5 that is gone!

I upgraded to iTunes 10.5 and now I can't back up iTunes library to disc. In previous versions it was in file>library>backup to disc. In iTunes 10.5 that is gone!

Some of us have our enture itunes library backed up on CD/DVD - what a waste of time and effort as now presumably you can't use these discs to restore itunes on a new computer! WHY NOT APPLE?
Very unimpressed with itunes 10.5/ios5 - wifi tracking apps have been removed from the store (and won't function in ios5), it's impossible to sync photos (I have spent a whole day trying to sync my iphone 3GS with itines 10.5) to no avail and now, no CD backup facility.
I have never had problems with apple before - I was thinking of upgrading my whole system from PC to Mac but now I am doubtful - if this is typical of apple software, I will stay with windows!

Back up itunes library

i've backed up itunes library then went back to update cd using option( only back up items added or changed since last back up)using an unformatted disc or formatted i get messages : please insert isert blank disc or disc is not blank. so either way i can't update the disc. the ony way i found to do it is to use a formatted disc and go to source folder and copy from there. not ideal.

If you want to back up everything to an external drive, copy the entire iTunes folder.
Or you can use any backup program to do the same.
Is it also possible to back everythign up in MP3 format to a CD or DVD?
iTunes prefs -> Advanced - Burning.
Set to Data CD/DVD.
Create a Smart playlist where Kind contains MPEG audio file.
Click Burn.

I lost songs on my itunes library n i have same songs kn my iphone. So how can i get them back to itunes library?

I lost songs on my itunes library n i have same songs kn my iphone. So how can i get them back to itunes library?

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

TS1717 can i download itunes to a flash drive and install the program on another computer?

can i download itunes to a flash drive and install the program on another computer?

erinjb1981 wrote:
do you know how to install it w/out administrator access? is that even possible?
Only if the computer was set up to allow installs without admin privileges.

Is it possible to run iTunes from a flash drive?

Hi Everyone,
I just would like to know if you could run iTunes off a flash drive? It takes up alot of space on my hard drive and was hoping to free some up. I have an 8GB iPod and currently it's filled with 6.08GB of music. I purchased a 16GB flash drive and was thinking I could run it off there. See I don't access iTunes all that often and hopefully won't kill the drive. I guess the next part would be how should I go about it if it's posible?
Thanks so much in advance!

You can certainly put your library on a flash drive, though I'd strongly, strongly recommend that you have another copy of your library elsewhere, as flash drives are easily lost, broken or corrupted. You cannot count on tracks always being available for redownload from the iTunes Store, if you have any such.
The easiest way to move your library is to just drag the entire iTunes folder (the _entire_ folder, _not_ just the iTunes Music folder) to your desired location. Then hold down the Shift key while launching iTunes. You'll be given a dialog box where you can select the iTunes library you want to use. Navigate to and select the iTunes folder in it's new location.
Note that this procedure assumes that all of your tracks are contained in the iTunes folder. If they're scattered around your volumes, moving them becomes much more complex. And don't launch iTunes with the flash drive not mounted or iTunes will default back to the internal drive. If it does, though, just mount the external drive and launch iTunes with the Shift key again.
Don't delete the tracks from the old location until you've confirmed that they're working correctly from the flash drive.
Regards.

How do i save a playlist on itunes to a flash drive?

how do I save a playlist in my itunes to a flash drive?

erminator wrote:
how do I save a playlist in my itunes to a flash drive?
Insert the flash drive into your computer. Highlight the tracks in iTunes, and drag them to the flash drive.
If you run iTunes in full screen mode, make it smaller so that you can do the drag.

A solution to having media files in your iTunes library on multiple drives

After searching on the web for threads of people with this issue, I found this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1483694
I wanted to reply, but the thread has been archived and locked, so I figured I could make a new post offering my new solution.
The application I have written to allow users to easily move the media files in their iTunes library to multiple drives is called TuneSpan (http://www.tunespan.com).
TuneSpan is user friendly, freeware, native OS X app. It does the whole process of moving files and having iTunes know the new location for you, just as you would expect from a full featured app for OS X. Symbolic links are used to point iTunes to the new file locations, but in some cases, TuneSpan can actually get iTunes to learn a new location for the file, without the need of a symbolic link. Also, TuneSpan never removes any tracks from iTunes (preserving playlists, play counts, etc.) and there is no need to adjust any settings in iTunes such as the "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" setting.
Lots of important information about TuneSpan and how it works can be found on http://www.tunespan.com/help.html
I do not mean to completely self-promote by posting this, but I realize that I am doing so. I am hoping to reach out to users who have had the desire to do this task but have been overwhelmed or hindered by past solutions technicality, inflexibility, etc. I am hoping that making this posting in the location that some may look for a solution will give TuneSpan more exposure, and help more people have their iTunes library the way they want it to be. TuneSpan is freeware, but donation are accepted though not forced nor nagged for. If you choose to donate through my site, I will, of course, be receiving compensation which I would be grateful for, but that is not the intention of this post. If this posting does not meet the guidelines of this forum, I apologize.

Very useful app, thanks! But i've noticed it is still a O.xx beta. Do you intend to go on with it?

ITunes Library on shared drive, option-open itunes

Just ordered my AX. Have Airport Express for AirTunes now.
I have an MBP intel 2.3 17" and a PB G4 12" 1gig. I'll put my iTunes library on a drive shared via AX. I've been reading iTunes sharing threads, but I haven't come across anything about simply option-opening iTunes. Doing so brings up "choose library..." of course.
Can I just share the library by option-opening iTunes each time, from either laptop, with all modifications made via one machine (playlists, purchases, etc.) showing up on the other? I'll never need to run iTunes on both at once.
...If I do try to use iTunes on both machines at the same time, would the second give me some kind of 'library in use' error message?
Thanks.
Cheers,
Otto

It's actually even easier than you describe. In a real way your iTunes "Library" is an index file in your Music folder. If you have 2 computers with iTunes then they each have their own indices in the Music folder of each users account on those computers. You can store the actual audio/video files that make up the music/audiobooks/videos really anywhere. Give the USB drive you attach to the Airport Extreme a name, mount that drive on each of your two computers. Copy the actual audio/video files from wherever you have them to that shared drive (I use a subdirectory called "library" to put them all in. Then go into the iTunes preferences on both computers. In the "Advanced" section change the directory that the library is stored at to the path of the mounted drive and whatever subdirectory you make it. In my house it's /public/library. "public" is the name of the shared USB drive, library is a directory I created on it and all the artists directories and such are under the "library" folder. That's all there is to it. Any other computer you want to use those files just update the preferences. The only other caveat is that since the "library" is really the index file on each computer you will need to authorize each computer separately to play any purchased files. That's about it.
Message was edited by: Compono

Backing up iTunes and itunes library to flash drive

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