Backing up iTunes Library, help please

I just got an external hard-drive that I would like to put all of my music on instead of filling up my main HD.
How would I go about copying my current iTunes library and putting it on the external HD?
Also, how do I make it the primary place the iPod will sync from? I plan on loading songs directly to the external HD instead of to my disc HD.
Help is greatly appreciated.

Simple.
1 - Quit iTunes.
2 - Drag the iTunes folder to wherever you want it.
3 - Start iTunes and hold the Shift key.
4 - iTunes will ask if you want to Create a new wlibrary or Choose an existing library.
Select Choose existing library and go to where you dragged the iTunes folder.
Drag the old iTunes folder (My Documents -> My Music -> iTunes) to the trash. Don't empty the trash yet.
Make sure iTunes still works.
Quit and restart iTunes (without holding the shift key) and make sure it works okay. If so, you can empty the trash.

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You can use one of the many 3rd party programs that copy music from the iPod to the computer.
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Did you use spotlight to search? (I'm assuming you have a Mac as given above despite this thread being in the Windows forum). How long have you used iTunes on this computer? Is there a backup to your library, perhaps an only copy of it on a machine you've "retired". Is the media present in the media folder? (Yes, you've answered that earlier.) If so then the media files should have absorbed all the tag changes that you made and reimporting the media into a new library might not be a complete disaster, though playlists, playcounts, ratings etc. would be irretrievably lost.
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Back up itunes library

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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?
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Hello seth53,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
For more information on this, take a look at:
Can't connect to the iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1368
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One way is to Drag and Drop the Entire iTunes Folder from your Old Computer to an External Hard Drive...
Then Drag and Drop the Entire iTunes Folder to the location of your Music on the New Computer...
These Links may Help...
Backup iTunes to an External Drive
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
Moving iTunes Media Folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
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Backing up iTunes Library, help please

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