Cannot figure out how to copy saved library from external drive to new pc

I had to reformat the PC that housed my iTunes collection. I backed up my iTunes library to an external drive according to the instructions posted here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
Now, I am unable to get the data back on to my reformatted PC with the playlists, etc., intact. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

Press *and hold* the shift key while starting itunes. When prompted, choose to open an existing library.
Browse to the ITL file you backed up on the exHD.
The ITL database file is what holds all the metadata you're missing.

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How to get itunes library from external drive to new computer

i recently purchased a new computer w/the windows vista platform. there were posts regarding how to transfer the library w/playlists on this board, which i followed to the point of hitting shift while opening itunes, and choosing a library. however, when selecting such from my external drive, which has the itl and xml on it as well as the itunes music folder, it gives me an error noting it is locked or that i dont have write permission to use it. my external drive on my old computer was the G drive, now it is the F drive on new one. can anyone please advise what to do other than copy all music over and have to completely recreate all playlists?

polydorus, this was the response/post that i found and it was posted by sweepea on 9/4/2007. and all my music is now from the external drive to the itunes music folder on my laptop and it let me keep all my playlists. thank you again for your help!
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By the way, I did not lose any of my music downloads or podcasts when I deleted that file, so it's definitely worth a try.
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iTunes 11 for Windows: Set up syncing for iPod, iPhone, or iPad
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12313
iTunes 11 for Mac: Set up syncing for iPod, iPhone, or iPad
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12113
How to use multiple iPhone, iPad, or iPod devices with one computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1495
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How to Recover Playlists when Transferring iTunes Library from External Drive to New Computer

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It sounds like the library was successfully transferred to the new computer, but the songs were imported into a new iTunes library. If you still have access to the external drive, or better yet the previous computer, we will want to transfer the iTunesLibrary.itl file and open it with iTunes:
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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
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Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1391
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I guess this could be more of a Windows 8 issue but maybe someone knows what I can do. My old 2006 Macbook died and I just got a new Windows 8 laptop. I had my iTunes library on an external drive (formatted in NTFS) because the Macbook had a tiny hard drive. Anyway, this new laptop has big enough HD that I can copy my library directly to it. The problem is, I can't... I opened up two Windows Explorers, one with my old library, and another with the location of the new library. It should let me just copy the contents from one folder to the other but for some reason it just won't. I select all the files/folders, drag them over to the new location, and nothing happens. I tried to copy/paste, both with the right-click menu, as well as keyboard shortcuts, and again nothing. Not even an error message. Why won't Windows let me copy the files? Should I just open up iTunes and drag the files over that way or will that screw things up? Please help!
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Benhermies wrote:
I guess this could be more of a Windows 8 issue but maybe someone knows what I can do. My old 2006 Macbook died and I just got a new Windows 8 laptop. I had my iTunes library on an external drive (formatted in NTFS)\
If this was used with your MacBook, Macs cannot write to NTFS drives.
So what was on the external drive? WHat do you mean by "library"? Which folders?
Copy the entire /iTunes/ folder.
Why won't Windows let me copy the files?
Dunno.
It's not an iTunes issue.

HT204318 moving library from external drive to new computer

I have an HP laptop, running Windows 8- I have loaded all of my music into the "automatically add to itunes" folder, and by everything I have read, it should evaluate and load automatically, but it isnt doing it. How do I get it to load the music into iTunes?

If everything on the external drive is in WMA format then that method would work, otherwise you are likely to get duplicates, which is why I suggested you work with the Not Added folder.
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The main factor affecting file size is bit rate. The more original data that is kept, the larger the file and the more closely the reproduced music will match the original source. WMA is a lossy format typical bit rates are 128kbs and 256kbs. Conveting a 128kbs file to, for example, a 256k AAC file results in a file larger than the original, but no better quality.
If you put Windows Explorer in details view you should be able to enable a bitrate column and scan through to see what the current values are. You can adjust your import settings as given. You may want to import in more than one batch if there is a mix of bitrates.
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Cannot figure out how to copy saved library from external drive to new pc

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