Help please... Transferring a separate iTunes Media Folder to new computer.

I keep my iTunes folder on my C drive on my old laptop but my iTunes Media folder is on my D drive (separate physical drive).
I have purchased a new laptop with a single drive, (C drive) however, I can no longer access my old laptop's C drive to transfer the entire iTunes folder onto the new laptop. I do however have access to everything in my iTunes media folder that previously resided on my old laptop's D drive.
I thought I could just download the latest version of iTunes and copy my iTunes media folder that I had on the D drive over. I have done that but the only media that shows up in iTunes is what I've actually purchased from iTunes. Even that it wants me to download from the cloud. All the songs that I've ripped from my CD's are missing even though they are actually in my new iTunes media folder. All my playlists are also missing.
I do have a 6 month old backup of my iTunes folder on a backup drive but I've downloaded and ripped music since then.
What do I need to do to transfer all my media, playlists and genera tags to my new laptop?
Do I actually need to transfer my entire iTunes folder to the new computer or is there a way I can only transfer my iTunes media folder and get everything back?
As much as I like iTunes, I really wish there was a easy foolproof way to transfer all your media...
Thanks,
Tom

Restore the 6 month old backup of the iTunes folder into the current User's Music folder.
Make sure the D: drive has the media folder on the same path it was on previously.
Check the library works, make sure the correct media folder is selected.
Add the media folder to the library to add in any new content.
See make a split library portable and Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy.
tt2

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This is a user to user tech support forum. Posting questions and getting responses here is the extent of the support.
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Go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and make sure that "Copy files...." is checked, as shown below.

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Hello, mermaid72.
Thank you for the question. This article will help you import any missing media you located on your computer. I have also included a screenshot that covers this process as well.
Adding music and other content to iTunes
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1473
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Help With Transferring Files into iTunes Music Folder

Last year, my computer crashed and I had no backup. I used a program called Sharepod to import all my music from my iPod onto my new computer. Now, all that tranferred music resides in C:\Program Files\Sharepod.
The songs play just fine out of iTunes, but because I'm a little OCD I'd really like them to be in the iTunes Music folder where they belong. But I've found that when I drag the songs from the Sharepod folder to the iTunes Music folder, I then have to help iTunes "locate" each song one by one. It's very tedious.
Is there a better way to do this?
Many thanks!
Message was edited by: kidsmoke

Yes. Once songs are in your iTunes library, do not move or rename them in Windows. If you want to get them all in one place, use the iTunes Consolidate command.

Yesterday I opened up iTunes, and approximately 1,000 or so of my songs were gone. I checked the "iTunes Media" folder on my computer and those 1,000 songs have also vanished from there too. For no reason. PLEASE HELP!!!

What I have noticed is that all of the songs left in my Itunes Library were download a year+ ago, so I was thinking that somehow I restored iTunes to a previous date or something like that. I have no idea honestly. Anybody with useful information, PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

You haven't stated wether you have looked in your music folder on your hard drive. Do you normally store your music in the My Music folder in My Documents?
The thing is, if your tracks were deleted from your hard drive, then iTunes would STILL have them listed in it's library, although there would be an exclamation mark next to them. With the iTunes library empty, it just sounds like it has emptied that for some reason, rather than the files actually being deleted from your hard drive.
Find where you keep your tracks on your hard drive and make sure they are still there. Then in iTunes, go into 'File', and 'Add to folder library', selecting the folder where your tracks are kept.

I transfered my music into my new mac into itunes media folder from an external, but it dosnt show in itunes. I have to click on each one to activate it on itunes. there has to be a better and easier solution. help

i transfered my music into my new mac into itunes media folder from an external, but it dosnt show in itunes. I have to click on each one to activate it on itunes. there has to be a better and easier solution. help

Thank you for your prompt response - I did as you said and did a drag and drop into the iTunes window - it imported and got my album art from the net. When I started Itunes with the shift key down I was prompted to choose a library but since I copied over the media folder and not the library folder I was unable to select that so I guess I will have to create a new library and add in all the music, videos, etc. unless I wait for my laptop and export the library or at least that seems to be the case? In short, all my data (iTunes media folder) is on my external drive and can be added to the blank iTunes screen but I can not choose a library folder. Is there anyway around completely making all those playlists again? I am not sure my laptop will survive the shop with data intact and really hate to start over on those.
In an unrelated question - I collect old TV shows from the 1950's. Can I make playlists within the home video folder somehow? In other words like one for Quiz shows, one for comedies, one for police and detective shows, etc. while I am remaking all my playlists for my music if I end up having to go that route?
Once again thank you for helping me out. I am not too Itunes savvy and really appreciate you taking the time to answer.

PLEASE HELP. you don't have write access for your itunes media folder or a folder within it

I am using Windows 7. If it makes a difference, my OS and important programs run on an SSD, while eveyrthing else is on a larger HDD. For awhile now I have had this problem anytime I try to do things in iTunes like import a CD, or a blu-ray digital copy. It gives me this error "you don't have write access for your itunes media folder or a folder within it windows 7." I have read tons of articles on how to change file permissions in windows and give full control and all that stuff. I swear I have read and tried anything remotely close to a solution for my issue, and it just wont fix it. Anyone have any out of the box ideas aside from changing permissions on the iTunes folder?
Also, when I make a new user account on my PC, the fresh iTunes on that account works just fine. So I don't know whats going on. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

clsepulveda wrote:
! I've gone to the itunes folder and found where it says read and write and I don't understand what the problem is.
Make sure to click the gear icon and select Apply to enclosed items.

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!

I just installed iTunes on my computer, where I already have all my music. I went to Edit Preferences Advanced, and changed the iTunes Media Folder Location to where I have all my music, in the "Local Disk." But iTunes wont import all my music. Help?

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Have you looked in the Music App on your iPhone? On the iPhone music is played by the Music App not iTunes.

Problems transfering iTunes Media folder from one external HDD to another.

Hey Yinz.
I'm running a MBP 13" 2.7Ghz Intel Core i7...OS X 10.6.8. Recently the NAS that hosted my iTunes Media folder and library failed. I recovered the drive from the NAS...a WD Caviar (WD2500JS), which was originally written in XFS. After substantial effort, I found a process that would enable me to access this drive, and have my Mac read it. This involved a Newer Technologies Voyager Q, coupled with a recent version of (whatever they're calling) MacFuse. It did so sucessfully. Now what i want is to take my iTunes Media folder and library off of the WD, ex-NAS HDD (its original location), and transfer it to a new HDD.
I bought a Toshiba Canvio basics usb 3.0/2.0.
Most online tutorials describe dragging and dropping the folder in the new location. I can connect both HDDs to my MBP, and the transfer will begin...
But.
After the first few minutes...The Finder will not allow me to complete the transfer. I keep getting an error code -8084.
I'm almost certain that the new HDD (which i formatted as Mac OS X Journaled in Disk Utility) is not recognizing special characters in certain file names in my iTunes Library. I have some artists in my folder that require special characters to display their names properly. I realize these were originally written in a Linux format.
So, is there a way around this...other than changing the filenames? I really don't want to destroy the integrity of my library by changing a bunch of characters that accurately identify artists. I guess if all i had was Billy Joel and the Beatles in my library, i'd be Okay...but i don't.
I also read a thread somewhere that suggested that error code -8084 relates to inadequate power distribution of an attached HDD. This also complicates my problem...as the new external HDD (Toshiba) is bus powered, and lacks an option for a dedicated AC power supply.
While i am able to access and use my iTunes as normal...i'm tied to that WD HDD, which is like, over 5yrs old, and i'm really hoping to get my media off that old HDD, and onto a new HDD with the files intact and accurate.
Any help would be much appreciated and welcome.
--j.m.
P.S. I'm running iTunes 10.7

No solid data here but it just seems to me that when I see issues arise about copying data and strange error messages that it has to do when people are using non Mac-formatted drives. I think they kind of work but once you put them under real pressure you just get problems. Maybe I'm just thinking of all those vague error -50 "communications difficulties" messages from people trying to copy their libraries to FAT drives. I wonder if using Terminal to do the copying would help.
Now, there is a difference between placing your media on a drive and your library on a drive. Your library is your whole iTunes folder along with files such as the critical library.itl file and artwork files, etc. Media are just what's in your media folder - music, movies, etc. If you are moving your whole library you can drag and drop copy. If you are moving your media you can drag and drop but then the new drive has to have the identical drive name as the old one (the old and new pathnames have to remain unchanged). Usually the best way to move media is to use iTunes' preferences setting to consolidate your media to the new location. iTunes very easily loses track of files unless you let it do the moving (exception: moving the whole iTunes library folder).
iTunes 10 for Mac: Consolidate your iTunes library - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH990
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
vs.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
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), then guide it to the new location of the library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18879381

I am trying to move my iphoto and itunes to an external hard drive to free up space on my macbook...i have followed the steps to the change itunes media folder location (chosen external hard drive) but my new folder is greyed out so cant continue ?help?

I need to free up space on my macbook pro as hard drive is full!! So with 20 000 photos/video clips and itunes I would like to move this to a external hard drive!
I have followed steps on apple support but when i get to the Change itunes media folder location and chosen external hard drive it will not let me access the new folder option ?? help?

errrrrrrm!
Yes external drive shows up in finder on desk top and can change to in the media folder location thing!
My external hard drive is a WD Elements. I have no idea about permissions to the external? Do i Have to format external hard drive to a mac?
I am trying to follow the steps on the apple support page to transfer files (consolidate library etc) just cant get further down steps as the new folder option is greyed out!
Thanks for you help

Reinstalled software on mac pro, now can't sync mac pro, macbook, iphone, iPad. tried to rip a cd to iTunes, was told i didn't have access to itunes media folder or a folder inside it. i was directed to go to finder to deal with it. nothing helped.

I've had big problems since the reinstall. can't use past itunes purchases, can't share properly across my different devices. all my devices use the same login in id and password. still, my main computer - the mac pro, which i did the reinstall on - is treated like a stranger. it's a big hassle, because i'm use phone, macbook, and mac pro interchangeably. today i tried to rip a cd to itunes on the mac pro (where I have 500 gigs of music on one of the hard drives). i was told i dont have access to itunes media folder or a folder within it. to change permissions i should open the itunes media folder in the finder and change the permissions. i tried changing permissions (the box at the bottom of the info box), and had no luck.
if anyone can help me, i'd appreciate it.

You haven't been hacked, you just have problems with your system. What those problems might be I have no idea, as your posts are a bit rambling and unclear.
What I would recommend is to find a nearby Apple Store and take the time to bring your machine in to the Genius Bar there. (Make sure to make an appointment first!) You can do all this from the [Apple Retail Store page|http://www.apple.com/retail>. A Genius can look at the machine and help solve the problems. If your communication style and level of knowledge about computers makes it difficult to communicate with techs on the phone or internet, as it sounds like has been the case, this hands-on help could make all the difference.

TS1277 Itunes media folder permissions problem, windows 7 HELP!

when i try to import or convert folders into iTunes, it will bring in one or two tracks, then I get a "You don't have write access for your itunes Media folder or a folder within it." I have greyed out permissions shown in explorer. Help!

Right-click on your main iTunes folder and click Properties, then go to the Security tab and click Advanced. If necessary grant your account and SYSTEM full control of this folder, subfolders and files, then tick the option to replace permissions on child objects which will repair permissions throughout the library. This is the XP dialog but Windows Vista/7 shouldn't be too different.
If it won't let you change the permissions use the Owner tab to take ownership from an account with administrator privileges.
tt2

Reverse itunes media folder reorganisation

hello and HELP!
i am a new mac user, and in wanting to import all my music into itunes and avoid copies being made in a separate itunes folder, in the advanced section of the preferences i changed the itunes media folder location to being my "my music" folder, un-checked "copy files to itunes media folder when adding to library", and checked "keep itunes media folder organised" thinking it would just organise my music in itunes.
however, to my great despair, itunes has re-arranged all my songs and re-named songs and folders in my "my music" folder, classing i don't know how many under "unknown", "various", etc...my great despair as i have 90GB of music which was perfectly organised by artist name and album and is now a big shambles.
please someone tell me this re-organisation can be reversed? i've tried un-checking the "keep itunes folder organised" and re-starting itunes, but to no avail. i would greatly appreciate any advice at all.
thanks so much
chantal

Welcome to AD!
It's the same answer for both Mac and Windows.
Sadly, that organization can't be undone. If only you had left the "copy files..." checked as well, you could go back to the originals.
Perfect time for an UNDO button, but there isn't one.

Help please... Transferring a separate iTunes Media Folder to new computer.

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