Exporting iTunes library to external hd. No 'consolidate library' option?

I'm trying to move my music to an external hard drive and I'm a the step where I'm supposed to go to File - Library - Consolidate Library and I don't have a consolidate library option. All I have is: Back Up to Disk, Organize Library, and Export Library. I'm using iTunes 9. Is Export the same?

"I'm a the step where I'm supposed to go to File - Library - Consolidate Library and I don't have a consolidate library option"
It doesn't say that.
This article -> http://support.apple.com/kb/hT1751
says,
"5 Choose File > Library > Organize Library.
6 Select the option to "Consolidate files." Note: If you recently updated to iTunes 9, you might want to consider selecting the option to "Upgrade to iTunes Media organization." This updates the file organization of your iTunes Media folder."

Similar Messages

Moved Library to External HD but no Library Displays in iTunes

I followed the procedure to move my library to the external hard drive.
That is, I went to edit, then preferences, then went to the advanced tab and selected f:/ as the new iTunes music folder. Then I went to file, then library and selected consolidate library.
All of the files transferred to the external HD which shows folders for each artist. Within the artist folders are album folders and then within the album folders are the songs. (The songs are there and will play when clicked).
After the transfer, I realized that I did not want a bunch of folders on the f:/ directory, so I set up a new iTunes folder and an iTunes music folder on the f: drive and moved all of the artist folders into these. I went back selected edit, preferences, and then went to the advanced tab and changed the library locatin to f:/iTunes/iTunes Music
When I launch iTunes, no library appears.
I looked at other emails and faq's and copied the ITS file to the external HD using the shift start function but no library appeared.
I downloaded 1 new song. The new song appears in the library It appears in the library and the Get Info tab shows it is located at the f:/iTunes/iTunes Music.
I am hoping this is really a quick fix and would appreciate any help.

Did you let iTunes move your music or did you do it yourself?
Did you move the iTunes folder or did you move the iTunes music folder inside the iTunes folder?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748
You will probably have to recreate the playlists.

Updating itunes with an external hard drive as library host

A quick question: I have my itunes library on an external hard drive. Do I need to have the hard drive plugged in in order to do updates (i.e., if I don't, will bad things happen when I do an update of itunes)?
Thanks,
Stephen Blackwood

If you try to add music or launch iTunes and click play, without your external drive connected and running, iTunes will revert to the default location: ~/your user name/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music.
Updating the iTunes application (iTunes 7 anyone?) will not cause problems.

Transferring itunes library to external hd when music library is two places

first off i have read
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748
so no one needs to post that. ok heres my issue. i have a folder on my computer that has all my music. i added that onto itunes and now its all on itunes. someof my files were .wmv so itunes converted those and put them in the itunes music folder(this meens i now have to copies of that song. one .wmv in my desktop folder and the other in the itunes music folder). so once again my itunes folder only has the songs that were in .wmv and then made to itunes format. so my question is i want to transfer all my music to an external hard drive. i cant copy all my music to the itunes folder because i dont have that much space on my computer. is there a way to do this without loosing all my tags and rateings and such? i thought of perhaps switching the itunes folder to the external and then copying all the songs to the itunes folder. would that work? would it just copy them all to the external? please help. sorry if this is a bit confusing.

I'm not sure what you mean.
Moving your music to another location should not alter the view.
You can add more colums by ticking checkboxes in 'View options' (command-J) and sort on any column you like.
Or did you activate the Browser (toggle it with command-B)?
Can you upload a screenshot somewhere to take a look?
M

Consolidate library question

have never used this feature before and was curious about it -
I have a bunch of music that's in the library folder, but not actually added to the library (and ready to play) - I would love it if "consolidate library" were to just make sure everything in the folder is available in iTunes.
However, there is music that I deliberately keep out of the main library - I do NOT want "consolidate library" to find every piece of music on the computer and copy it into the library -
is there any way to tell "consolidate library" where I want it to look? Can I specify where and how t he library is consolidated?
thanks!
w

Otto,
You might be new my favorite person.
Here's my dilemma though --- let me know if this doesn't make sense -
My LIBRARY is on an external drive - call it Library.
I have FILES, however, on three drives, call them Internal, Library, and External2. (Library is an external drive as well)
I have over 40K songs ---
For the past several months, I've been doing lots of editing to the library, including LOTS of deletions of songs that happen to be on the INTERNAL drive.
Now, since the INTERNAL drive is NOT the library, the files themselves are NOT deleted -- they are just deleted from the library.
If I start the library back up from scratch - I don't want to see those songs in the library (whether I have the files or not).
Writing this, I got an idea -- let me know what you think:
I could make a comment to ALL the files in the current library called "don't delete".
Someone said that with the playrating program, it doesn't matter where the files are, just that they have the exact same information on them. If that is true, when I upload the songs from my internal drive (which I have copied over to LIBRARY), wouldn't the comments stay? THEN I could delet all songs that did not have that comment ???
#1 - does this make sense?
#2 - Is there a solution?!

Using an external HD for my library

My laptop's 60 GB HD is full with my library. I have the whole library backed up on an external HD, how do I make iTunes reference the external HD for my library?

Thanks for replying Rick, the answer is both. I've been using the ext HD for backup, but now I'd like to remove the library from my laptop, keeping the iTunes software on my laptop, but have it reference my G: drive (external HD) for the music. Is that possible? If I remove the library from my laptop's HD will it default to the external?

Cannot consolidate library

When I try to consolidate my library on I get the following error message:
¨ Copying music failed. An unknown error occurred (-50). ¨

You don't use "Consolidate Library" to get songs in the library. When you use "Consolidate Library" what that does is COPIES all the files listed in iTUnes to the "iTUnes Music" folder.
To add songs to iTUnes you need to hit file>add folder (or file) to Library OR drag and drop the file/folder to iTUnes

How do I export itunes library onto an external hard drive so i can put the music on my new mac book?

How do I export itunes library onto an external hard drive so i can put the music on my new mac book?

iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with moving just media files as in
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
Quick answer if you let iTunes manage your music: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.

My iTunes library has too much on it. is there a way to export it to an external hard drive and play movies from there?

I have nearly filled up my hard drive with movies on itunes. i know i can export everything to an external hard drive, but is there a way to export only the movies, delete those from my hard drive, and then play the movies with the external hard drive connected?

If they don't contain DRM, use a program such as Switch. If they do, you can't.
(59769)

Using MacPro and PC Laptop -- sharing same itunes library on External Drive

Hi guys, my main computer is a Early 2008 MacPro with Lion installed on it. I have iTunes 10.5 and all my music is classified witht that version of iTunes. But all my music is actually stored in an external 1GB WD Passeport HD.
Thing is I have a dj gig and have to bring my pc laptop to play music. This laptop has Windows 7 installed on it with iTunes 10.5.
What I want to achieve here is to be able to connect the external HD (with all my music on it and run iTunes and see the same thing I would see if I was on my mac : my playlist, comments, id3 tags, etc…
I actually did this :
On the PC --> in itunes, went to Preferences/Advanced, set the itunes library to the folder itunes on my external HD (my itunes library and my itunes music folder is setted there).
I exported my library from itunes MAC (Files-->Library-->Export Library) (it's a XML file) and imported it in my itunes windows installation (Import Playlist).
Thing is I see some files like my podcasts and audiobooks, but I dont see any of my other songs or apps, even if they are in my external HD. I see the playlist but they are empty.
Any ideas?

thanks for the help tt2, really usefull!
Just to be sure i'm doing things right, let me explain more in detail what is my actual setup to know how your explainations applies to it.
Ok. First, my main goal here is to consolidated all my music in one place on one external HD. Let's call it ExHD1.
Actually, my setup involved that all my dj music (1600 tracks in wav format) and my iTunes music are on another external HD, we will call it ExHD2.
Thing is, if I move the wav tracks to another computer, all the tag informations (covert art, title, artist, comments, album, etc) are lost. It's because WAV format do not keep that info. I've recently knew that AIFF format can keep all that info. So I manage to convert (with iTunes built-in utility) all my wav files to AIFF. I've tested it and yes, it keeps everything so far.
But I tried before to make the cross-plateform to work so I have copied all the converted AIFF to my ExHD1 in a specific Beatport folder. Like this.
I had an intense way of manage them in itunes where I made 150+ playlists. I have, before reading your comments, replace all the wav files, to their equivalent in aiff. I just replace the files in the playlist. If you go in the main music window, you can see that for each songs, there is a wav, a aiff, and mp3 format of the song.
Sometimes I have 2x mp3 versions of the song, i don't remember why. I've created these versions long ago. So the thing here is that I have the wav + mp3 version of my tunes on my ExHD2, the aiff version in ExHD1 (the main HD i want to use) and a duplicate mp3s of these tunes ALSO on my internal MAC HD.
++ note that I don't have music on my PC internal HD and not planning to keep ones. ++
So, this is my actual setting of my iTunes, where I have copied my iTunes folder on my new ExHD1 and set iTunes to point his library to there.
Also, this is my settings in Preferences/Advanced
Note that before yesterday, the Keep itunes Media... and Copy files were unchecked.
I prefer that way because I like to manually manage my songs. But I think for what i want to achieve, we need to check this again?
So the main goal here is I want to keep the wav format in the ExHD2 for backup, get rid of the mp3s that I've done before (the mp3 copys of the wav), consolidate everything at one place only: ExHD1.
Also, will my Windows installation (on my pc), when i will set the itunes library to be on the ExHD1, recognize all the playlist I did, and recognize the path of the songs?
Thanks for the help tt2, i know there's a lot, hope I have well explained it. Hope you can answer shorly because my gig is tommorow
regards

I am trying to backup my Itunes onto my external hard drive. I am at the step where I on Itunes, click on File - Library - Organize library. I am suppose to check mark both boxes there, It won't allow me to check mark the second box, why? How to fix this.

I am trying to backup my Itunes onto my external hard drive. I am at the step where I on Itunes, click on File ->Library ->Organize library. I am suppose to check mark both boxes there, the first being "Consolidate Files" & the second being "Reorganize files in the folder 'Itunes Media'. I am able to checkmark the first box but It won't allow me to check mark the second box, why? How can i fix this? Please help!

Well you must have made a mistake somewhere. The last instruction of step four reads:
When you've found your iTunes library folder, drag that folder to your external hard drive. This will begin the iTunes backup. The amount of time the backup will take depends on the size of your library. When the transfer is done, your backup is complete and your external hard drive can be disconnected.
Normally dragging content from to a new location on a different drive will result in a copy action which is what you were supposed to do. At a guess you somehow managed to move the iTunes folder. Then when you started iTunes it created a new blank library for you assuming it had just been installed rather that raising a warning.
Close iTunes. Rename the iTunes folder on the internal drive as iTunes (Empty) then copy the iTunes folder from the external back into the User's Music folder. Start iTunes. All should be well.
When you've made sure it all works please read my User Tip and use that method to backup in future. Since you already have a folder with the backup in place you can skip the "Make New" operation in the fourth step and simply choose the external folder.
tt2

How do I back up Itunes library to External HD?

Hello:
Anyone who read my prior post knows that my internal CD-RW Drive crashed. I am now forced to find another method to finally get around to backing up my itunes library which currently has about 2-3 GB of music. When I open itunes and go to file it gives me the option to backup to disk. Obviously with the external HD I will not be backing up to disk. Can anyone assist me with the following:
1. How will I backup my data to the external HD once I get it today (I am not all that computer literate so as detailed as you can be would be much appreciated).
2. If I ever need to restore my itunes music back onto itunes how do I accomplish this?
3. Will backing up my itunes also back up all of my podcasts or just music that I purchased or downloaded from CD, ect.
4. After I backup today on the external HD can I then open another itunes account on my wife's computer (which is brand new and much faster supporting USB 2.0 where mine is 1.1) and transfer all of my data to her computer so that I do not have to use my computer anymore?
THANKS FOR THE TIME READING THIS!!! I greatly appreciate any replys and have a safe and happy new year!

Its pretty simple to do. Long as you have some extra space to spare on your INTERNAL harddrive (aka the C drive in windows) because you will want to consolidate the library.
In iTUnes when you goto Advanced>Consolidate library it will COPY all songs listed in itunes to the "iTUnes Music" folder, located in My Music>iTUnes.
All purchased items from the itunes store are already in this folder, so itunes will not copy them.
Once this is done all you need to do is goto My Music rightclick the "iTUnes" folder and select copy.
Now open "My Computer" double click the external drive there, rightclick in a blank field and hit "Paste". this will put the whole itunes folder on the external drive with all your music AND the "iTUnes Library.xml" file.
Now use the "Safly remove hardware" to remove/eject the external drive from your PC (This will be a little small green arrow icon in the lower righthand corner of windows, where the clock is).
Far as your wifes computer goes, you may have to create your own user account in windows first UNLESS she doesn't use itunes or you want to combine all your music with hers on her user account in windows.

Error when trying to move location of iTunes Library to external HD (tried obvious solutions)

Okay, I got a new Western Digital 500GB external hard drive and wish to move the location of my iTunes library to it to free up space on my hard drive (ONLY 4 GB FREE -- PLEASE HELP)
MY COMPUTER:
15" MacBook Pro 250GB running 10.6.8
When I first got it, I followed the steps in the online tutorials to change the location.
iTunes > Prefs > Advanced >
Create new folder named "iTunes Library" and select it as default
Would you like to keep iTunes folder organized? I have read and read on what to do hear, and people only state that it asks that because I have that option checked in preferences, but they DON'T say whether to select 'Yes' or 'No'. I have tried both to no avail.
File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate Files
The VERY FIRST time I tried this, it was working. I did not realize that the external hard drive was not plugged in all the way, so when I shifted the computer, it came unplugged and stop the transfer. It was when I rebooted, plugged it in, and tried a SECOND time that it started giving me the error:
"Copying files failed because you don't have permission to change your iTunes media folder or a folder within it."
Here are the solutions I read and the forums and already tried:
1) Run and repair disk permissions, restart, try again... DIDN'T WORK
2) Find iTunes folder, right click, change permissions to Read and Write (was already set to that) DIDN'T WORK. And it doesn't give me an option to 'include all folders within'
3) Set back iTunes with time machine... DIDN'T WORK
Please help.. I don't know what else to try. It seems like it should be such a simple fix, and I can't put anything else on my hard drive until I fix it (no, I have nothing else to delete--all pictures I need to go through as I am an amateur photographer). No excess apps other than what came on the comp except Photoshop and Microsoft Office.

I can copy the iTunes folders over to both drives manually but then iTunes does not see the files.) Hold Option, launch iTunes, select *Choose library* then select the iTunes library folder you coped to the external.

I have transfered all my music onto an external hard drive from my old computer and itunes wont recognize the songs in my library...help!!

**** YOU ITUNNES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,
I did the same XP to Windows 7 upgrade about 18 months ago. I decided to keep iTunes permanently on the external drive than the c drive to save c: drive space.
ITunes database has pointers to MP3 files located in Artist's directories. If you want to use a different location than the default C:\ drive for iTunes, then you need to recreate the Itunes database by deleting all songs in iTunes, then change the default location for iTunes files to your external drive. Then import the MP3 files from the external drive into the empty iTunes database through the iTunes import facility.
If you screw up the timing of the import and find you have multiple iTunes directories (instead of just the default location), then iTunes has a new feature to consolidate all iTunes MP3 files back into the central default location. In iTunes, FILE, LIBRARY, ORGANIZE LIBRARY, then CONSOLIDATE FILES.
To change the default directory for MP3 files, in Tunes go to EDIT, PREFERENCES, ADVANCED and then CHANGE the location to where you want the Itunes MP3 files to be located (including the iTunes subdirectory under which all the artist directories are held. Mine are on the F: drive or whatever your computer states is your drive assignment for the external drive.
Note iTunes 10.5 has many problems that Apple hopefully are working on....we seem to have gone backwards on working components in this iCloud based release. So maybe keep on using old computer until 10.6 is released.
Enjoy
Steve Mc (Sydney AUSTRALIA)

What are the right steps to move iTunes 11 library from external HD to internal HD?

I have poked around the support communities and tried several times to move the iTunes library (currently on an external HD) to my internal HD.
I've tried
- pointing my library to my new internal HD location
- checking "keep iTunes library organized"
- checking "copy files to iTunes media folder while adding"
- consolidating all files
- exporting library
No dice.
I also tried
- clicking create "new library"
- physically copying (drag and drop) my iTunes subfolders to the new iTunes folder...
- now I've got several duplicates
Clearly I should not become a Genius at the Genius Bar. Please suggest the best process/steps to get er done! I've kept my original iTunes folder nice and safe. So I can go back to ground zero and do it right.
Thanks

What exactly do you have on the external drive? A library is more than just media files.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to choose a library, then select the copied iTunes folder.
If this is to a new computer and you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
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 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 - and making an iTunes library portable.

Exporting iTunes library to external hd. No 'consolidate library' option?

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