Backup Music Library to External HD

Just installed V7 and successfully completed the new backup feature to DVD's. Great feature! Now . . . is it possible to also perform the backup to an external HD attached to the USB port on my HP Laptop computer?
AMD Athlon 64 3400+ 2.4 Ghz, 1 Gb RAM   Windows XP Pro   Comcast Cable w/LinkSys 802.11b Wireless Router
AMD Athlon 64 3400+ 2.4 Ghz, 1 Gb RAM   Windows XP Pro   Comcast Cable w/LinkSys 802.11b Wireless Router

TomT,
That is not an option in iTunes 7.
However you can do it manually.
You can "copy and paste" the iTunes folder, stored in My Music, to the external drive. See these articles for details of locations and explanations on the files iTunes uses/creates:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93358
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732
Hope this helps,
Generik
PowerMac G4/Dell Precision WS 370, XP Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  

Similar Messages

  • Itunes won't find 'itunes music library' on external hard drive by default

    I have my Itunes library saved on a wireless external hard drive. When I open itunes for the first time after a re-start it won't automatically detect the itunes music library file and I have to point it to the correct folder on the external hard drive. Once I do this everything works perfectly until I re-start my mac and then I have the same problem.
    One of my friends has told me that macs won't automatically connect to wireless devices like windows does but he thinks there is some software that enables it to do so. I presume this would sort the issue out or alternatively any other suggestions are very welcome.
    Thanks for any help

    Your external HD needs to be mounted before launching iTunes or iTunes will create a new blank library on your startup drive.
    You can add your external HD to the list of startup items in  > System Preferences > Accounts to avoid this problem.

  • Need help using music library on external hard drive

    Here is my scenario. I am hoping some one can help me as I have been having a heck of time trying to figure this out. I am what you would call newbie to Mac(I just purchased macBook) so bear with me).
    I have a iTunes library on an external hard drive that was created using Windows PC machine. I now would like to use the same library on my Mac. How can I get the Mac to connect to the iTunes Music on the external hard drive?
    This is what I have done so far. I have been able to network the Mac with my current network so it does see the external hard drive.
    BTW, I would like to achieve this without having iTunes open on Windows machine. I know about the sharing option in iTunes but I have discovered that it only works if I have iTunes open on the Windows machine. This may not always be the case so this is why i am hoping their is an alternative to get the mac to connect to the library on the external hard drive.
    I look forward to help on this one.
    ...Bruce

    Maybe I did not explain myself clearly. All I want to do is be able to listen to the music in my itunes library on external hard drive on my new MacBook. I am thinking all I will have to do is create the itunes database file on my Mac using the music in my library(on external HD).

  • HT203167 Moved huge music library to external drive...now iTunes cannot find it

    My massive music library was taking up all the room on my hard drive, so I moved everything to an external drive.  I then deleted the library from my hard drive.
    The music is located in a folder named "iTunes Music" on my external drive.  iTunes cannot locate the songs now.
    I've changed the media folder in preferences to: volumes/externalharddrive/iTunes Music and it still won't play the songs.
    I've also tried selecting "Get Info" by right-clicking on a song, then manually directing iTunes to song.  It will play that individual song, and asks me if I want to use the folder to find other songs.  I click "Yes", but it's still not working.
    Any ideas?  I've searched these forums and I'm stumped.
    Thanks!

    Our iTunes guru Terence Devlin advises the following:
    1. Quit iTunes
    2. Drag the iTunes folder from your internal hd - located in ~/Music folder - to your external hd. DO NOT delete the original one from your internal hd... yet!
    3. When the transfer is complete, press and hold the Option(alt) key and fire up iTunes.
    4. A "Choose iTunes Library" window will come up. Click on the "Choose Library" button.
    5. Navigate to where the iTunes folder is located in the external hd.
    6. Within the iTunes folder, select the iTunes Library file and click Choose...
    That's it. iTunes will now display all your playlists, songs, movies, podcasts etc. At this point, should you wish, you can delete the iTunes folder from the internal hd to free up space.
    More info:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
    Or if you prefer a more complicated explanation:
    http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive

  • ITunes not seeing music library on external drive?

    I recently moved my iTunes to an external hard drive. I read the instructions on the apple support site on how to do everything. It said, down at the bottom of the article, that the hard drive must be opened before you launch iTunes in order for iTunes to see the library. Although I did everything instructed my iTunes, when launched, is not seeing any of the files that are on my external hard drive. They are still on the hard drive and I am scared to do anything more without some help for fear I may lose the data on my hard drive. Help!!

    If you copied the music to the external drive yourself, you did not do it correctly.
    Do you see any music when you open iTunes?

  • ITunes Music Library on external harddrive - no access

    I have ALL my music on an external harddrive. After re-installation of Windows and iTunes on my computer dure to some function errors, iTunes doesn't recognise my music: I changed the root in "preferences" to the music folder on the harddrive - but iTunes would not upload the music and I cannot find ANY command where to do so ... WHO CAN HELP? I am desperate ...

    What did you copy to the external drive?
    If you have an iTunes directory on the external drive, try the following:
    Hold down the shift key and start iTunes, keep holding down the shift key, you should be promted to choose a library. Navigate to the iTunes directory on the external drive and choose iTunes Library.itl.
    Without knowing exactly what you copied I can't tell if this will work, but it is worth trying.

  • Transfer music library to external hard drive

    I just got a Nano and downloaded itunes to my PC. I started loading my own CDs into the library when I decided to buy an external hard drive to keep my music rather than take up space on the pc's hard drive. I was able to transfer the itunes files to my external hard drive, and copy the few albums i had downloaded. however, when i went to delete the songs from my pc's hard drive, it also deleted the files from my external hard drive. Then when i went to re-load the cd's onto the external hard drive, it apparently loaded them into a library on both the pc hard and the external hard drive. How do I un-sync the two libraries?

    I have been trying to do this and encountered serious problems. I wanted to have iTunes on an external drive and run it from the E drive, removing it from the C because the C was way too full. I did not want to do anything fancy like maintaining some songs on C and others on E, etc. Earlier advice from discussion did not include all the following steps:
    "Move the entire iTunes folder including music to the external drive."
    "Click on the iTunes icon to start it, then immediately press an hold the Shift key in Windows, Option key in Mac." **I simply copied all iTunes to my new external hard drive by clicking and dragging it in**
    "iTunes will ask to Create new library or Choose existing library. Select Choose existing library and select the library in the folder you just moved." **iTunes never asked me this**
    Move the old iTunes folder to the trash but do not empty it. **I didn't do this until I checked the E (external hard drive) several times and found the complete iTunes collection - music, movies, tv shows & podcasts in it. I also purchased a new show from iTunes and it was in it too. So I thought I was safe.
    After checking and opening iTuens when I was in the E drive several time, I deleted iTunes from my internal - C drive. It said it did have shared folders associated with it, but I thought it was referring to my son's library on the family MAC on our network which sometimes shows on the left navigation column that allows me to play his music but not copy into my iTunes, so I said ok. Wrong move! It wiped out everything in my iTunes on both my C and E drives!
    "Restart iTunes normally and verify the songs work. If they do, empty the trash." **Wish I knew this and the above first." **To recover my iTunes content, I installed a 3rd party app which allows one to copy everything on the iPod back into iTunes. It was very cumbersome. Although I downloaded it to my E drive, it still was in both the C drive and E drive. After a more complex operation than the instructions stated, I thankfully have everything from my iPod back in iTunes and recreated my playlists manually. But unfortunately it is still on both my C and E drives - still leaving me with low disk space messages on C. SO HERE IS MY QUESTION: when I connect the iPod I get the message - "The iPod is synced with another library. Do you want to erase this iPod and sync with this library- it can be synced with only one iTunes library at a time." (By the way this is for an 80g iPod Video - with a 30G laptop.) Now that I have recreated my iTunes on both C and E - is it ok to do this sync? Or will I have more heartache - lose something, lose everything, etc?
    And after doing this - will I be able to use iTunes and the store again normally?
    Secondly, is there any way to get iTunes off my C drive and run it always through the E drive without losing anything?

  • Can i use backup of music library on external hd as original

    Had my iTunes music folder located on an external hd 1 that recently failed. Had recently made a copy of that music folder on a separate external hd 2. My question is can i plug in my external hd 2 with that music folder copy, open iTunes, and when it asks for the location of the music folder can i just point it to the external hd 2 music folder and have the iTunes library use that location instead? Will it keep all my same playlists, album covers, library ect. all the way it was before but just grab the music from a different location? Want to know before i try it and mess up the library I've got going on. I've done a lot of work installing album covers I couldn't find and lots of ratings that I don't want to loose. Thanks for any help in this situation.

    If you just change things in Win Explorer, itunes will lose the paths to the music files.
    Your ratings & other metadata are stored in a file named iTunesLibrary.itl. That database also stores the exact paths to all the music.
    If your exHD2 has the same folder structure/paths as the exHD1 that died, you might be able to assign it the drive letter that exHD1 was using, and it will all work.
    Here is a good background article to read before doing anything.
    http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/
    Especially the section, *iTunes: The Database versus the Content*.
    My advice is to make a backup of your ITL file now before doing anything, and put it in a safe place so you can get to it if you need to try a few things.
    I assume you are like most folks and still have the iTL file in the default place on the C: drive.
    Make a copy and put it on exHD2 or in another folder on C:.

  • Backup iTunes Library to External HD for System Reformat

    I'm going to reformat my computer this month, and have been using Windows Live OneCare's backup utility to backup my iTunes library to my external hd. Once I reformat & begin the process of transferring everything back onto my desktop, will all of my songs transfer/play? (I'm mainly referring to the songs I've purchased from the iTunes music store) I thought I heard/read that the songs purchased from iTunes will not play afterwards. Also, do/should I deauthorize my desktop computer in iTunes before I reformat? Thanks for the help!

    You need to de authorise your computer before reiinstalling Windows to avoid using up an authorisation.
    If you have a default arrangement with your music in iTunes\iTunes Music, you need to ensure that your iTunes folder and all its subfolders are backed up.
    you can simply copy the iTunes folder to the external drive, but it is also fine to use backup software.
    To restore, install iTunes on the new system. Drag the iTunes folder to the desktop and replace it with the backed up iTunes folder. Start iTunes and authorise your PC.

  • Time Machine Backup iTunes Library on External Drive?

    Hi, my external firewire drive that holds all of my iTunes music and videos recently crashed (it had close to 100GB). It is completely unrecoverable (tried Data Rescue II - nothing).
    Would Time Machine by default backup my iTunes library if it existed on an external firewire drive (assuming, of course, that the drive is plugged in when Time Machine is working)?
    If not, can this be made to happen for the future?
    Thanks.

    Yokenny,
    To add to the former comments...
    Time Machine will not "by default" backup extternal HDs attached to our Mac. You would have to go in an remove them from the TM Prefs exclusion list first, as the 'default' behavior is for TM to ADD external drives to the list.
    If you do determine that your crashed hard drive was attached and backed up (you can check your TM backups via the "time travel" interface.) you may still be able to recover the backed up data. But you would need another drive named the same as the crashed drive to do it.
    Let us know if this was helpful.
    Cheers!

  • HT1364 How to install iTunes, but access music library from external drive?

    I tried to install iTunes (11) on a new computer with Windows 8.  I keep the iTunes library on an external drive.  I tried to move the media files over to the newly installed iTunes within the hard drive program files, but it doesn't seem to work.  The relevant threads in the forum are a bit over my head (I am brand new to Windows 8, having leaped over from XP).  Is there some simple way to straighten out the paths on iTunes so that it will properly play songs from the external drive, show my old songlists, etc?
    I've now uninstalled iTunes from computer.  Would like to reinstall without too much headache ...

    Hello there FunkyMuzak,
    iTunes can be set to use the library on the external drive, and save new content.
    To have iTunes open the alternate library on the drive use this option:
    Steps to create or choose a different iTunes Library file
    If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
    If you are using Windows, hold down the Shift key and from the Start menu and choose All Programs > iTunes > iTunes.
    If you are using the Mac, open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option key.
    You should see one of the following screens:
    From: iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
              http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1589
    And to tell iTunes to save your new media when you buy songs or movies, etc., use this part of our article named Where are my iTunes files located? found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
    Discovering and changing the iTunes Media folder location
    Note: You would usually only change the iTunes Media folder location to share music between accounts on the same computer. See this article for specific steps on how to accomplish this. Also, see this article if you want to know how to move your music to a new computer.
    Mac OS X: Click the iTunes menu and choose Preferences.
    Windows: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
    Click the Advanced pane. iTunes displays the location of your iTunes Media folder.
    You can then:
    Note where your media folder is, such as for backing up your media.
    Use the Reset button to reset it's location to the default (which is the iTunes folder).
    Click the Change button to select a folder for a new location. Once you change this location:
    If you make a new or alternate iTunes library, the new location will be used by that library.
    Existing files will not be moved unless you choose File > Library > Organize library and choose the option to "Consolidate files."
    Cheers,
    Sterling

  • Backup iTunes library to external HD

    How can I select or point to an external hard drive to backup my iTunes library rather than use hundreds of CD's?

    StarDeb55,
    I'm not trying to permanently replace the normal iTunes library on my PC harddrive, but only to back it up to an external hard drive where it could be restored back to the PC library if necessary. The only options currently available under the "Backup" command are to CD's or DVD's. If you have thousands of songs that would eat up a lot of media. I have done an "Export" to the EXT HD, but don't know if it's possible to resotre that file.
    Thanks

  • Backup iTunes Library on External HardDrive ?

    iTunes should be made on an option to be able to backup the entire library and an external hard not only on DVD or CD?

    *Fast backup for iTunes library (Windows Only)*
    Grab SyncToy 2.1, a free tool from MS. This can be used to copy your entire iTunes library (& other important data folders) onto another hard drive or network share. You can then use SyncToy periodically to synchronise or echo your library to the backup. A preview will show which files need to be updated giving you a chance to spot unexpected changes and during the run only the new or updated files will be copied saving lots of time. And if your media is all organised below the main iTunes folder then you should also be able to open the backup library on any system running the same version of iTunes.
    tt2

  • Can't backup iPhoto library to external drive

    I've tried three times today to backup my iPhoto libray to an external hard drive.  The file is 22.2 GB in size. Using Firewire the transfer is supposed to take about 45 mninutes.  Each time at around :25-:30 it suddenly stops and I get an error message that it can't complete the transfer due to corrupted data.  But it doesn't say where in the file the corrupted data is located.  Any ideas on how to get around this problem?  Do I need to export every photo I have and then re-import and even then how will I know that the new file won't be corrupted?  I tried to open the backup iPhoto file to see if I could see which photos didn;t tarbsfer and work back from there.  Unfortunately I think it opens the original library on the computer instead since all the photos can be seen.  Any ideas/help?

    What version of iPhoto?

  • Uploaded entire music library from external hard driveto new iTunes account.  Only purchased music will play.  When I try to play other files, iTunes says it can't be used because original file can't be located and an exclamation point appears before song

    Please help

    You may be getting that error message if the setting 'Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library' is not turned on (in Preferences>Advanced>General).
    To sort all your songs out in one batch, my suggestion would be to remove all your songs from your iTunes library and re-import them all. However, as someone who also has a 5,000-song collection, I wouldn't want any of your songs to be deleted, so either do a backup or write-protect your iTunes music folder.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Convert char to currency

    Hi all, i searched alot but couldn't find solution. i have l_value char(45) field value has 4560 I need to convert this into vbak-netwr field in sales order user exit MV45AFZZ when i assign vbak-netwr = l_value. I am getting 45.60 in vbak-netwr field

  • Standalone database 11.2.0.1 as a resource in GI 11.2.0.2 on Solaris 10.

    Hello, I have an standalone (not RAC) 11.2.0.1 ddbb installed in a 2 nodes GI 11.2.0.2 cluster on Solaris 10. My question is: Should the ddbb service be registered into the 3 LISTENER_SCANS at the same time or just only one LISTENER_SCAN, the one wit

  • Can you copy cassette tapes?

    Is it possible to copy music from cassette tapes onto an iBook G4? If so, how?

  • Best 17" Macbook Pro Configuration for Video Editing?

    I'm just about to buy a new 17" Macbook Pro. Should I select 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200rpm or the 500GB...? I have no clue what the difference is. I will occasionally be mobile, traveling, eight days in November, weekends now and then, but not eve

  • Cant authorize my nook.

    i recently downloaded ADE and authorized it on my computer but when i went to authorize my nook my internet disconnected and computer shut off. when i turned it back on and connected and opened everything the ADE recongized my nook b ut wont let me t