Help moving iTunes library

HELP. Have recently replaced my HD and now am trying to move backed-up iTunes into new iTunes!!! Not working!!!

You really need to tell us more. How did you back up? How are you restoring? What isn't working?
Let's say you backed up by dragging the whole iTunes folder and all its contents (not just the media folder) to another drive. If the new drive's iTunes is truly empty of any kind of media then just drag the iTunes Folder from the backup into the same folder containing the iTunes folder on the computer and so it replaces the whole thing.

Similar Messages

Need help moving iTunes library. 32 bit to 63 bit

I am going to be moving my iTunes library. I have moved from a 32 bit OS to a 32 bit OS, and that is easy. Is there any difference when moving from a 32 bit to a 64 bit version of Windows, because I know that the install files are different.
Any help would be appreciated.

Easiest way would be to download a utility that does it for you.
For a utility, you should try YamiPod (http://www.yamipod.com).

Help moving itunes library from old PC to new mac

Well, I followed the online directions for moving my ipod library from an old pc to my new mac. It says files have been copied and now I see all the song files in the music folder of my new mac, but they won't show up in i tunes....what's up?
Afterwards, I also restored my ipod for a mac and erased everything...so hopefully I havn't screwed up and lost everything! If I had to do the process over, I guess now I can't go back to my old pc and re-do it, right?
Help...

Drag the folder of music into iTunes.

Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple. Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?"

Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple. Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?"
I moved my iTunes library to my external hard drive some time ago and I followed the directions listed here on the apple support page. It did copy my library and now is on my hard drive... I can open iTunes and use it to sync all of my devices but I would like to play my music... I can see all of my music files but can not play them if I click on an album or song it says the following: "(file name) could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?" I click locate but do not know where to go from there? I need a way to access all files and not to hunt down one at a time on my hard drive... I am pretty sure I deleted the original library to make space on my internal drive which was the reason for moving it. I have tried and tried to fix it and do not have a lot of time to do so with a one and two year old at my house who do not like it whenI sit down at my computer. What to do??? Any help is much appreciated!!!

See Make a split library portable. Move all of the bits of the library together in the the correct shape and it should work. Or undo exactly what you did and then start over.
If you're a former Windows user don't try merging two folders together that have the same name by dropping one into the same folders as the other, as that goes badly on a Mac.
tt2

HT203167 Moved iTunes library from one computer to another using external hard drive. Cannot play many files. Says they are missing but locates them in an archive file but still won't play them. Are the files themselves part of the .itl files?

Moved iTunes library from old computer (PC Windows 7) to new (PC Window 8) using external hard drive. Library listing shows all music but can only play a fraction of it. On the ones it cannot play it asks to locate, then refers to an archived version (an .itl file), and still cannot play them. Do I just need to copy the archived .itl over, or is that not where the actual media are (do the actual media files even exist on the new computer?)? Any advice or information on this would be helpful.

*Also...is there any way I can filter out all the tracks with the ! so I can delete the unplaying copies as they're taking up room in my iTunes? I know how to find duplicates, but then I have to go and delete each one individually...*
*Thank you!*

Moved Itunes library now imovie cannot find the audio in my project

I just moved itunes library from my external drive to an internal drive on my Mac laptop. Now iMovie cannot find the music tracks for my project. How do I tell iMovie where to look for the new location of iTunes library

I'm the same as you with this one.
I had to move my itunes library to a new hard drive because it was taking up too much space. Now my imovie projects can't find my itunes library. One sound track when I right clicked in imovie I had the option to find media so I just located the same file but in a new location. This, however, doesn't work for all audio in my many projects.
I'm feeling very disheartened with the whole thing.
Any help would be appreciated.
Poppet

Moved iTunes library to Vista PC but iTunes 'can't find music files'. Help!

I'm running iTunes 7.1.1 on a new Vista PC and I followed the instructions on this support site for transferring the library using an iPod.
All songs (with artwork) are showing in the new PC's iTunes library, BUT all have a '!' symbol to the left and refuse to play. It offers to let me find them, but this would take hours for the thousands of tracks. I've tried consolidating but to no effect. All the music files are in the iTunes library folder, so why can't iTunes access them?
Can anyone help?

I'm running iTunes 7.1.1 on a new Vista PC and I
followed the instructions on this support site for
transferring the library using an iPod.
All songs (with artwork) are showing in the new PC's
iTunes library, BUT all have a '!' symbol to the left
and refuse to play. It offers to let me find them,
but this would take hours for the thousands of
tracks. I've tried consolidating but to no effect.
All the music files are in the iTunes library folder,
so why can't iTunes access them?
Can anyone help?
hi i to have a similar problem, i moved my music file for another problem i had and now it has removed all my files from itunes, albums and playlists as well, they are still on the pc and i have moved them back but i seem to have to start again, this will take weeks to do, i hope someone can help us.

Help! Problems Moving iTunes Library

Sorry is this is a repost...i didnt quite know what to search for.
Here is my problem...i reformatted my computer and moved my itunes folder onto my ipod as it said to do in the apple tutorial. but it appears i failed to export the library and when i formatted my computer my drive letters changed and my library wont re-import. I REALLY don't want to loose all my playlists and ratings as ive spent sooo many hours using them.
I also have another ipod with all the data still on it from when i last synced it. is there a program i can use to take the data off of it to salvage my library on my new computer?
Ill be on to answer any questions and will be so grateful if you can help me out! Thanks so much!

With iTunes closed, copy the files iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel and the folder Album Artwork from C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes into G:\ - Note that sentinel is a hidden file so use Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer to reveal it. The iTunes Music Library.xml file and Previous iTunes Libraries folder won't be needed.
Press & hold down shift as you click the icon to launch iTunes. Keep holding until prompted to choose or create a library, click choose and browse to G:\iTunes Library.itl
Check that you can play a file or two. Close iTunes
Rename G:\iTunesLibrary as G:\iTunes Media
Launch iTunes. Check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder has been automatically updated to G:\iTunes Media. If not, use the Change... button to correct it. Don't consolidate files if prompted. Close iTunes, then reopen. Check that you can play media.
Close iTunes. Create a folder called G:\iTunes. Move the files iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library.xml, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel and the folders Album Artwork & iTunes Media inside G:\iTunes.
Press & hold down shift as you click the icon to launch iTunes. Keep holding until prompted to choose or create a library, click choose and browse to G:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
Check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder has been automatically updated to G:\iTunes\iTunes Media. If not, use the Change... button to correct it. Don't consolidate files if prompted. Close iTunes, then reopen.
Check that you can play media. You're done....This library can now be connected to any computer and you can use the shift-start-iTunes method to connect to it. whatever drive letter is provided.
If the media won't play at any stage stop, check that you've followed the steps properly or ask for help.
tt2

Moved iTunes Library to External Hard Drive - having trouble - HELP!

I have had quite the ordeal...upgraded my Mac iBook G4 from os 9 to os x 10 Tiger.
Bought an external hard drive to back up my 30 GB of music
Now...my computer won't function because it's out of hard disk space.
I moved my iTunes library to the external hard drive. Everything seems to be jim dandy...except that when I go to play a music file...the computer does not recognize the file.
I have to locate, and re-direct the path for each song to the new file location. SONG BY SONG!
Is there any way to do this globally for the entire library???
What else should I do to ensure I free up hard drive space, without jeopordizing my precious music files?
Thank you!!!

With iTunes 7.x you can transfer iTS purchases from the ipod back into iTunes.
To prevent your iPod from syncing - hold down the 'option' and  keys at the same time when plugging in your iPod. Keep the keys held down until the iPod show up in iTunes.
MJ

Moving iTunes Library from iPhone 3G to MacBook Pro - Help Please

I bought my first MacBook Pro last Summer and have since bought a second. Problem is, my iTunes library is on my company Dell Latitude 620 and my iPhone 3G. How do I get the library to my MacBook Pro?
thanks!

If your iTunes library on your PC at work includes music and video that was not purchased from the iTunes store, you need to transfer your iTunes library from your PC to the Mac that you plan on syncing iTunes content with. This can be done with an external drive, or with CD/DVD media.
If all or most or all of your iTunes library on your PC at work includes music and video that was purchased from the iTunes store along with 3rd party apps, iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store from an iPod or iPhone, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store only.
If you haven't already done so, you need to authorize your Mac with the same iTunes account with iTunes that is used with iTunes on your PC at work - with the Mac that you plan on syncing iTunes with.
With your iPhone connected and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPhone.

Help - moved itunes folders to external drive and now my itunes is totally

A few months ago, in order to free up space on my c drive, i had to purchase an external drive - everything i installed via itunes since that date has been on the hard drive and everything was fine.
Last night i needed more room on my C drive so i stupidly moved the remaining itunes folders from my C drive to my F drive - unfortunately, when i opened itunes it was blank.
i've tried a few things - including adding the folder from the F drive - and that retrieved about 80% of my music/videos and the last playlists i had - however, they were all missing songs - even if all the songs that should be included remained on my itunes
i began the tedious process of manually adding files back in but soon realized this doesn't help itunes consider this the same ipod as what's still on my actual ipod.
*What I'd like to do (if possible) is to wipe itunes clean and somehow restore everything on my ipod into itunes so that i retrieve not only the songs and videos but also the playlists that i've spent way too much time building. At this point i fear that the various components to my ipod are in too many files on my external drive to be easily restored another way (though if i'm wrong please let me know)*
sadly (as this story might suggest) I am borderline computer illiterate - I've read a few posts suggesting some sort of software online (something the apple help line also made an "off the record" remark about) - but I can't for the life of me figure out which i would use or how to do this without risking the contents of my existing ipod (which has the playlists and songs/video I want to reestablish).
*Can anyone possibly suggest how to best handle this and walk me through it in painstakingly basic and specific detail? I would be forever grateful.*
Thanks

iTunes uses the iTunes Library files - in particular the iTunes Library.itl file - to keep track of where your song files are located as well as playlist and related information.
Most likely in moving your folders around iTunes has been confused to such an extent that it created a new Library file. With a bit of luck you might still be able to find the old file which would restore your old Library.
So the first thing you want to do is look around your computer and make a note of any iTunes Library.itl files you can find. Generally speaking you'll find them in the iTunes folders on your system and depending on how you've been moving the folders - i.e. whether you "cut" them or "copied" them - you may still find at least one one on your F: drive and some on your C: drive.
Having noted where they are you know want to check each of them out as described in this article in the Apple Knowledge Base. In following those instructions you want to select the Choose Library option and use the pop-up window that appears to zero in on the various .itl files you've located.
Remember that each Library file will show a different Library in iTunes - perhaps slightly different, perhaps completely different - and if the first one isn't what you're looking for you'll have to close iTunes and repeat the procedure by selecting one of the other .itl's.
Post back for any clarification.

Moving iTunes library from PC to Mac using iPod as external disk drive

O.K. I read the tutorial on this website on this topic and found it helpful though I haven't tried it yet. My question is - the tutorial examples assumed I would be using 2 macs. But, I am moving the iTunes library from a PC to a Mac (using the iPod as an external disk drive). Is that possible?

Thanks Erik. O.K....one more question... My PB obviously came w/ iTunes installed, and I have already added to it's library. So, is it possible to move my old iTunes library (on the PC) onto my new PB and keep the all of the songs from the PC's library and the Mac's (basically consolidate both libraries into one)? Or will it replace the Mac's library with the imported library from my PC? Thanks for your help.

Moving iTunes library to an external drive converting to different format

I want to move entire iTunes library to an external drive. I've found several Mac 101's to help but those helps makes no sense. I should be able to move music to another drive and give iTunes the path to find it but that does not work.
All files are iTunes Plus including everything from Amazon but I want to convert everything to a mp3 or other format so all files are independent of iTunes. Lots of old music from CDs I imported and lots from iTunes as well as Amazon. I guess i could sit and burn everything to a physical cd but that would take months and hundreds and hundreds of cds. Can someone advise how I can convert these files and then move to an external drive?
I'm running mountain lion and version 10.7 of iTunes. Two external drives and 145 gigs of music. Any guidance will be most appreciated.
Thanks.

HI Limnos,
Thanks for the reply. Something I forgot (age) to mention, this quest to move the library is precipitated by the Mac drive is running out of space. While I still have about 50 gigs of room left, I was thinking I should just plan on opening up the space by moving the iTunes library.
The other reason is, I read an article about how upon ones death one can not bequeath ones digital music or book files to loved ones. IE; If all of the music was on LP's, tapes, cd's then this physical format can be left in ones final will. But according to what I read and trying to read the user policy by Apple, Amazon etc when one downloads music or a book or whatever that use policy says we don't own the material we only can read it or listen to it. When we die it dies with us. Several people in the article as well as myself believe this is crap. At one time I was purchasing content and then burning it. I stopped because I thought how silly to burn it, I have back ups on an external drive. Man was I wrong. If I have to I'll sit here in my last days and burn hundreds of cd's.
So realizing this, I want to take all my music files and save them to another drive as though this drive was hundreds of cd's. That way all those files in some other format can be played independent of iTunes or transfered to one of my kids PC's or a Mac if they get with the program. If the conversion process destroys the integrity of the file then I have no choice but to burn cd's.
In my estimation, I'm doing nothing wrong. I bought downloadable music just as if I'd bought cd's. I should be able to throw it away or give to my kids upon my death. The kids can decide what they want to do with it once I'm gone. I now no longer buy any music or books in a digital download. All content is purchased with a physical copy. That said, more content providers are moving towards downloads only or like Amazon and Apple towards the cloud and streaming. I realize all this gets into the fair use act but I think most people are unaware of this issue.

Moved iTunes Library to External - Now What?

Moved my iTunes Library to an external hard drive, following the steps provided by the Apple Support.
Everything works fine, but now I want to delete my iTunes Library from my internal hard drive to make more room (approximately 60 gb).
Step 13 has the following:
After the folder has been copied, locate your original iTunes Music folder, and drag it to the Trash or Recycle Bin. Note: Don't remove the iTunes library files that may be in the same location as the iTunes Music folder. For more information about the iTunes library files, see this article.
Went to the Finder / Music / iTunes /:
Found sub folders of: Album Artwork, iPod Games, iTunes Music, Mobile Applications
The iTunes Music Library.xml is also under itunes (apparently not suppose to delete this one per the article).
Question is which one it the Original iTunes Folder I'm suppose to delete? If someone can tell me where to locate it on the finder, that would be great.
None of the folders is showing anything near the size of 60 gb.
So far I only noticed an increase on my internal hard drive of 5 gb gained.
Sorry if this subject has been addressed before. I promise I did do a search on both google and the forum.
Thanks for you help!
Alan

Of course after I post the question, I find the answer...Thanks

Moved itunes library to external HD now major issues

I moved my itunes library
(6080 songs) to a external (mybook 160 gig) hard drive
now when I startuo Itunes- it tries to "determine gapless payback" and freezes about 1/2 through and i have to force quit
-try 2-
when I start up Itunes and stop the "determing gapless payback" i will be paying music is freezes randomly when playing (middle of first song played , play for an hour , or at any other random time
this is the machine that it is on
- G4 533
- OS X 10.4.10
- ram 384 megs
- mybook is connected via a usb 2.0 card
- create alias of external music folder and placed in itunes folder to point to external hD with music
have verified/repaired permissions
have verified/repaired disk via booting up from
OS X install disk
trashed all itunes preference files
what is going on==what do I need to do??

ok when i go to prefs----Advanced--General-- it states the location for import is F:/Backed up Music [which is a folder on the external HD that has the rest of my music on it]
For some reason the folder[or itunes] on the HD is not creating new folders for artists and albums imported.
does this help anyone troubleshoot the issue?

Help moving iTunes library

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