Content in iTunes Media folder is not loaded on new Computer

1. Yesterday I moved my iTunes Media folder from Computer A to a external HD. Used the instructions found here and everything works/worked great. I removed my old iTunes Media folder and verified that Computer A was indeed super happy and e.g. found and played music just fine.
2. Today I setup a Computer B, since Computer A is being retired. On Computer B I went to Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced and changed the iTunes Media folder location to be the folder on the external HD from step 1 and checked 'Keep iTunes Media folder organized'. I deauthorized iTunes on Computer B.
I was hoping that these steps would automagically make the contents in the folder appear in iTunes on Computer B, but no such luck.
I am hoping I am missing some easy step.

Make sure that the structure of the iTunes library on your external drive looks like this:
Ideally, the iTunes folder should be in the root of the external drive - however, the key factors are that:
the iTunes folder includes the iTunes database - the iTunes Library.itl file that you should have copied from computer A.
the iTunes Media folder is contained within this iTunes folder
all your music, movies, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. are contained within the iTunes Media folder.
See turingtest2's user tip on Make a split library portable for more information, and details of steps you may need to take to bring your library into this layout.
Assuming your external drive conforms to these principles, connect it to computer B, hold down the SHIFT key while you start iTunes; when you see this prompt:
click on Choose Library... then navigate to the iTunes folder on your external drive, select the iTunes Library.itl file, and click Open.

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http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
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How to move library if iTunes Media Folder is not at default location

I need to move my iTunes library from my old laptop to my new one which should be simple enough but the problem is that my iTunes library database and content will not be in the same relative locations on the new computer - ie...I long ago ran out of space on my laptop HD and all my music has been on an external HD so my iTunes Media Location is not the standard "My Music" folder but instead points to E:/ITUNES EHD.
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This article should get you started:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/48
The most important thing for a trouble free transfer is all you music files must be in your designated iTunes Music/media folder. That is set from the advanced tab in preferences.
If your current media folder is not set in preferences, you need to set it. If there are any music files outside the designated folder you need to consolidate your library.
The reason for this is that iTunes is extremely fussy about paths to files, but it can cope with a change in the path above the level of the designated media folder.
If you want to keep your current playlists etc, you will need to transfer your current iTunes folder containing the library files.
A simple way to do this is to install iTunes on the new PC then with iTunes closed drag the new iTuneas folder out of music to the desktop and replace it with the iTunes folder from the old PC.
You will need to adjust the permissions on the folder so your new account is the owner with full control.
Initially set the location of your iTunes music folder to the external drive and check that it all works.
Then you can move your files, by changing the location of your itunes media folder to one on the internal drive and then consolidating.
See this on moving the music folder:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364?viewlocale=en_US
If I haven't explained it clearly enough post back with any questions.

Music in Itunes media folder but not in Itunes

How do I get all of my music in the itunes media folder to appear in my Itunes library?

Commway wrote:
Such a simple solution but it works.
Nice when that happens!

Itunes Media Folder location on external hd but computer hd still losing space

Hi, im importing all my old CDs to my itunes, however as my computer's hard drive was getting too full, i've changed my itunes media folder location to an external hard drive. but now, even though the music is being saved to an external hard drive, im still losing space on my computer's hard drive. Why is this happening? and how do i prevent it? Thanks

By organizing it should both relocate all current media as well as start using the new location from that point on. You're mostly okay there. Where you are not okay is iTunes doesn't look at your files directly. It only really looks at one single file, the iTunes Library.itl file which tells it where everything is located. You need to get both copies of iTunes using the same complete library (media + library file). The way you do that is using the option start method. You should only need to do that once unless for some reason the library storage drive is disconnected when starting iTunes, in which case iTunes will use the default location and you will need to option start again.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847
By the way, both copies of iTunes will have to be the same version or the library will become unreadable to the older iTunes.
There are variants to the above but I am not going to type in all the possibilities unless you say something that tells me you need a different structure.

I have an issue with Add to iTunes folder incorporating mp3s in iTunes Media folder, but not into my iTunes library.

I am using iTunes 10.5 on Windows 7 (64bit). This has only started happening since the 10.5 update. When I add mp3s to "Add to iTunes" folder, the mp3s will be added to a folder within the iTunes Media\Music\ directory, but the song will not show up in my iTunes library. If I open the mp3 from its location in the directory, it will open in iTunes and be included in the Library go forward. This issue is not consistent, it has happened the first time I tried to add an mp3, and not the second that I tried to add the exact same file. Oh also, I have always had the option selected to allow iTunes to keep the media folder organized.
For the time being I have to keep a list of everything I am adding and verify whether it shows up in the library. If it doesn't I have to run a search to see what exact directory path iTunes put it in, go there and open the file - frustrating and time consuming. Even more frustrating to me however is that I really don;t know if I have recovered all the added mp3s from before I recognized the problem.
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If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator. I've tested them only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, they may not work as described.
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ITunes 10.5.2 not loading files from computer

Just wondering if anyone else is having this problem. Ever since I upgraded iTunes to 10.5.2 I haven't been able to load new music files from my computer. I choose the files from Add To Library as usual but nothing gets loaded to iTunes. Any fixes or suggestions out there?

I got it to work now ...
-Unistall the current iTunes on your computer.
- go to http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1427
-Go all the way down the page and download the iTunes through the given link
----------Download for iTunes 10.4.1 for Windows (64 - bit) here: iTunes 10.4.1 for Windows 64-bit.
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Just go to My documents-> Music folder -> iTunes folder -> delete library.itl if existing or add it if it doesn't exist.
it worked for me so I believe that it should
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When I load cds i get a message that states, "User not registered for online use." This problem has only begun since the new itunes update and is only a problem on my pc laptop. Media content (track names, etc.) do not load. Thanks

When I load cds i get a message that states, "User not registered for online use." This problem has only begun since the new itunes update and is only a problem on my pc laptop. Media content (track names, etc.) do not load. Thanks

See Re: itunes 12 track names not found and user not registered for online use.
tt2

I can find all my music in the iTunes media folder on my c drive, but not in the iTunes library.

Hi-
First time here - thanks in advance for any help!
Last year, I loaded a lot of music from my CD collection into iTunes 10 on my PC (running Vista). Now, much of that content does not appear in the iTunes library, but I can find all of it in the iTunes media folder on the c drive. I upgraded to iTunes 11 today and the same problem persists.
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Thanks again!
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See this post.
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I need help transferring my itunes content from an old exteranl hard drive to a new one. The itunes media folder is on the external drive, the itunes library file (.itl) resides on my mac in the music folder.

I have already copied over from the old hard drive to the new hard drive the iTunes media folder (423 GB). But this does not contain the iTunes Library .itl file which for good or bad reason has been working from the mac itself from inside the user music folder. In iTunes Preferences, Adanced Preferences window the iTunes media fold location is currently set to the ITunes Media folder on the old hard drive. How and why i set it up like this all that time ago is forgotten! Do i simply browse for a new location for the newly created duplicaye file? My worry is that i will end up with every song listed twice in iTunes, or worse manage to wipe the content like a mate did!

Okay, solved. Simple really, just moved the media folder location and there was no duplication. Phew!

ITunes Music Folder Missing on external hard drive after changing iTunes Media Folder Location from MacBook Hard Drive. Not deleted...just missing?

I store my iTunes media folder on my external hard drive and can no longer find it there. It seemed to becomd lost after I re-designated the default iTunes media location. I had downloaded some things from iTunes without my external hard drive plugged in and when they downloaded they downloaded to the default location on my Macbook Pro. In recognizing that, I wanted to move those files from the hard drive on my MacBook Pro to the external hard drive. When I re-selected the location as the external hard drive a copy process began. I cancelled the copy process fearing the small number of files from my Macbook Pro would over-write all of the files on my external hard drive so I quit the copy process. Now I do not see my "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I fear that I have somehow lost the path but I believe the content is still on my external hard drive although I no longer see the "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I know I didn't delete it, but it isn't there. Is there a way to make it re-appear? I would really appreciate any guideance anyone has.
Thank you.
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When you change the location in preferences it tells iTunes to start, from this point on, storing new media files in the new location. It then presents you with the option to move any old files in their current locations to the new location. It doesn't move the library files which are not media files. Read the links below to understand how iTunes works because you are the one with the computer in front of you and are in the better position to understand how it stands as regards to iTunes files.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
Now, did you keep the whole library on the external drive, or did you keep just media? From your description of the situation it sounds as if you kept the whole library there and when the external was not attached it returned to default location on the internal drive. What you should have done then was plug in the external drive, hold down the option key, and guide iTunes to the library file on the external. At this stage you could have dealt with the mislocated new files on an individual basis.
I guess the key question is, did your trying to move the couple of new media files to the external drive overwrite the iTunes folder there, which because you then canceled may have also just resulted in it being deleted. I am not going to test the theory on my system.
How big was your library on the external? If it was 40GB do you now suddenly have 40 GB free?
Look for any iTunes folders on the external drive. In view options turn on "calculate all folders sizes" and see if there are any big ones.

C: drive is full - move only iTunes Media folder contents to another drive without consolidating?

My iTunes library contains a combination of music/movies/etc that I've purchased or downloaded from the iTunes Store as well as music I've purchased from Amazon and my own ripped CDs (not ripped via iTunes...other software). The Amazon and ripped files have always lived on my D drive (for easier sharing betwen family members, without opening up permissions on our User folders), while the Store files all live under my User profile on C.
I'd like to move the iTunes Media folder contents off of C and onto D. All the instructions that use "consolidating" and "keeping the media folder organized" will not work for me, since I do not want all my files under the iTunes Media folder...I like them where they are now in D:\Music\Amazon and D:\Music\CDCollection.
Do I have to resort to moving the files myself, adding them into the library again, then cleaning up the orphaned library entries that are pointing to the old location?
Thanks!

Copy the entire iTunes folder from your music folder to D:\iTunes.
Click the icon to start iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library.
Click Choose and navigate to the file D:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
Check the library is working properly.
Use the option File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate Files to import any stay files to the new library folder.
Delete the old iTunes folder on the C: drive.
Ideally you will also backup this library to another drive.
tt2

HT4527 I want to move my music onto my computer, I have music stored on my laptop not in itunes, how do i put it into an itunes media folder and consolidate it without itunes?

Basically I didnt have enough room to consolidate my itunes libary on my C drive, I moved them to my D, they then were no longer in my itunes libary, I moved them back but the songs are still no longer in my libary. This is not a major issue, the problem is getting all my music into a itunes media folder and then consolidating it without the use of iTunes.

Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder from old computer to /Music/ on new computer.
Launch iTunes.
That is all you need to do.

How to set up iTunes with an external hard drive so that there is not a double location for the iTunes Media folder

Hi,
A very helpful postee got to the end of his knowledge level, so I am posting this for you tech guys to sort out. Bit long because I've tried to set it out step by step. Briefly I'm new to iTunes and my laptop has a very small hard drive and is virtually full and due to be replaced. So I want to use an external hard drive.
Now I know that iTunes installs itself to two locations: 1. Programs Files 2. Music. And its the Music location that bothers me.
I asked about using an external hard disk to store the actual AAC files. I was advised that in order to change the loaction of the iTunes media folder I was should employ preferences/advanced/ and this is what i saw (as you would expect):
Then I hooked up my hard drive, hit 'change', and this is what I saw:
I was a bit worried by the lack of pathway details, but assumed it must have done something on the external drive, so I looked on it and this is what i saw (highlighted):
But compare this with what was in the directory I attempted to reproduce, viz in the iTunes folder in /laptop/Music/iTunes:
A ton of stuff. The only stuff that corresponded with what iTunes had created on my external hard drive was in Music/iTunes/iTunes Media folder:
Now this suggests that there are TWO locations for my preferences. The advanced tab only allowed me to ADD an extra location, not REPLACE the original.
So:
1. Which of the two locations will iTunes choose when I add music? Surely it will go with the original pathway laid down in the directory when iTunes was installed, and ignore my external Hard Drive? I mean, how can there be two automatic locations?!!!
2.. I don't mind itunes library being on my laptop as this is just a list, but it obvoiusly has to have a pathway to the site where the actual AAC files are stored.
so surely it won't work unless the whole lot is on the external hard drive: library, extras, genius, the lot?
4. How then do I get it all on the external since merely changing "preferences" doesn't do the job?
5. Is this perhaps the reason why so many people report that iTunes does not recognize their external hard disk:
http://www.ehow.com/info_12199596_external-hard-drive-not-recognized-itun es.html
I just don't want this to happen to me. Any answers?
Philip Joy
UNITED KINGDOM

As I've replied to your other threads...
Easy method 1:
Move or Copy entire working library from current location to the root of your external drive. Press & hold down shift (option on a Mac) as you click the icon to start iTunes. Click Choose when prompted, then browse to ..\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl on the external. If you copied the library across then test your new library works properly after renaming the original folder, before deleting the original folder to recover space.
Easy method 2:
If you haven't really started to build your library. Press & hold down shift as you click the icon to start iTunes. Click Create. Browse to the root of the external drive. Create the library as ITunes. Drag your media into ..\iTunes\iTunes Media\Automatically Add to iTunes.
Complex method:
Required if you've already tried other things and now have media & library scattered around. See the post make a split library portable.
in addition...
In all cases the idea is to get a library folder called iTunes containing a media folder called iTunes Media with all media inside this media folder. Once you have the library in this shape it is easy to reconnect to the library with the shift-start-iTunes method if the drive letter changes, move the library to another computer, and backup the library by cloning the folder to another drive.
tt2

Content in iTunes Media folder is not loaded on new Computer

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