How do I back up iTunes audio to external hard drive

I want to store my audio books currently in iTunes to WD Passport 120G external drive but when I export them they appear as encoded text. How do I get them stored so I can bring them back into iTunes to listen or download to my iPod.

Outside iTunes, copy the files to the external hard drive. If you have not done it already it might be a good idea to backup to external drive anything purchased from iTunes also.
Audiobooks are generally stored under the authors name in the iTunes folders.
Message was edited by: camoracer

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HT1727 how do I transfer my iTunes from an external hard drive to a different computer?

How do I transfer my iTunes from an external hard drive to a pc?

If you don't have all of your music files within the iTunes Music folder structure, simply moving all of your music to a new location will not result in your iTunes library automatically updating the file paths to all of your songs appropriately. If you have a few other locations in which you store your music, you can take the ExportImport script turingtest2 wrote, make the modifications below, export the results, paste them into Microsoft Word or Excel, do a Find and Replace with the correct file location, and then import the new locations. To use the script, follow turingtest2's instructions on this thread as posted on Dec 19, 2012 6:28 AM.
Note that the modifications, while they worked for me, show my lack of experience with VB as the progress bar will no longer work. Definitely be sure to back up your iTunes library file before executing the script with the below modifications, but doing this for 3500 items didn't even take 2 minutes for the script to run.
Line 89 was:        Prog=True
Line 89 is now:     Prog=False
* I had to do this because otherwise the progress bar was erroring out. So, i just turned it off.
Lines 164-165 were:
'File.WriteLine "<#>" & .Location           ' Not so useful if working with missing tracks
'File.WriteLine "<Album>" & .Album
Lines 164-165 are now three lines (the middle one is the only uncommented line):
'File.WriteLine "<#>" & .Location           ' Not so useful if working with missing tracks
File.WriteLine "<Location>" & .Location
'File.WriteLine "<Album>" & .Album
Finally, insert this whole block around line 270 so that it looks similar to the others:
        Case "<location>"
          If T.Location<>Value Then                ' Don't update if value won't change
            T.Location=Value
            U=U+1
            Trace T,"Updated Location"
          Else
            V=V+1
          End If
          'If Trace Then MsgBox "Updated Location"
Note that I had to comment the very last line as well or else the program errored out. You won't be able to trace the results either.
Just thought I'd share this in case anyone else needed something like this.

Re: Best Way to (Continuously) Back up iTunes Library to External Hard Drive

Hello friends :
My iTunes music library is getting rather large and I feel it's time to "properly" back it up to an external hard drive.
I understand that you can back up your iTunes music folder to an external hard drive by the simple old "click and drag" approach using Windows Explorer.
What I'd like to know is ... after intially copying the entire iTunes music folder onto the external drive, how can I achieve regular back-ups where only the files, playlists, etc. that have changed since the last back up are then added to the external drive . . . rather than having to copy the entire rather large folder all over again (and again)?
Hopefully, you know what I mean! Thanks for your help.

The first time I backed up my iTunes on an external drive, it took a 1 hour +. Do I basically need to start over on my external hard drive? Or is there an easier/faster way?
Yes there is a faster way.
Check this out -> Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy
Don't change the library location or hold Option to update the backup on the external.

How can i update the itunes in my external hard drive?

When i try to update the itunes on my external hard drive, it creates a new application in my computers hard drive. How can i update the one on my external hard drive?

there's no advantage to having the application on your external drive, you should leave it in your applications folder on your internal drive. if you insist on changing the app's location, you'll always have to then copy the app by hand to the external drive

How to back up iTunes Library on external hard drive & computer, after purchasing new music?

I keep my iTunes library on my computer's hard drive and also backed up on an external hard drive. I have added more music to my library since my previous back up, and I want to back up the new music to my external drive.
What's the best way to do this?

The first time I backed up my iTunes on an external drive, it took a 1 hour +. Do I basically need to start over on my external hard drive? Or is there an easier/faster way?
Yes there is a faster way.
Check this out -> Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy
Don't change the library location or hold Option to update the backup on the external.

Backing up iTunes to an external hard drive

One more question from me. Previously, I'd used the official iTunes backup feature, through the "file" menu.
However, I've recently purchased a 500GB external hard drive, and I'd rather back up to there than have dozens of DVDs lying around.
How do I do this? iTunes only gives you the option, when you select backup, to insert a CD or DVD. Is it a matter of simply copying my iTunes folder over to that external drive?
If that's the case, then how would I "restore" it when the time comes that I need it? Simply by replacing the Library file on the C: drive with the backup version I had on the external drive? Because if I were to use the "restore" feature in the menu, I'm assuming it would want me to insert CDs or DVDs.
Apple really should make this easier.
Thanks.

I am working on trtansfering the itunes files and my music library to and external hard drive - XHD (WD, 750GB). I have transfered the files and the music library to my XHD but when I delete music selections from the cumputer c drive, the XHD updates it's files with the reduced music selection. I have also tried the to back-up the files by giong to start, accessories, system, etc, but I do not have an op[tion to back-up files. All that I have as faras options are the file and settings transfer. Please Help. -Hmanrose-

How do I back my iPad onto an external hard drive?

How do I change the destination for the backups on iTunes? I can't use my primary HDD to save files because I'm running dangerously low on space on this computer. However, I do have a 2TB external hard drive. I'm trying to back up 10 GB of video, which will be refilled every week. Does anyone know how to back up my videos on to an external hard drive? Thanks!

itunes creats a "disk image" of your device and it is located in the harddrive itself - see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946 for location. you can copy the backup file and then put it on your external hd for the time being but you cannot direct itunes to immediately send your backup there - if you are importing videos and need the space i would just import ios photos/videos onto the computer via the camera import app on the computer (iphoto, autoplay, windows photo gallery) and then send those videos to the external. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4083

Back up iTunes purchases to external hard drive

Can someone please tell me how to back up just my iTunes purchases to an external hard drive? I don't want to save my whole iTunes library.

Well, I have Vista, but Im assuming the processes will be similar.
You can attach your external hard drive, make a folder in it. Then, open up iTunes and bring up the "Purchased" playlist.
Do select all (thats option+A for Mac's right?) and then, simply drag all of those purchases right onto the folder in your external. Then bam, the items will start to transfer, might take a while if you have lots of purchases.

HELP!!!!! How do I back up using Western Digital External Hard Drive

I just bought a western digital external hard drive dual option media center and combo external storage. It came with a Dantz Retrospect Express backup software. I can't seem to get it to work. It installs ok, but when I try to open up the software it opens and closes with an error message. What am I doing wrong? How do I back up my files, programs, iTunes and Movies? Is there an easy way to do this? I've ask a lot of people and know can seem to give me a straight answer. PLEASE HELP!!

Hi Marc and welcome!
It is possible that the version of Dantz Retrospect does not work with Tiger. You do not need to use that program. In fact, a lot of people feel it is rather clumsy and feature-crippled to the point that it is not really useful.
Is that drive a combo FireWire and USB drive? IF so, there is a phenominal program called SuperDuper that does much, much more than Retrospect. It will clone your hard drive which means it will make an exact copy of every last bit and byte and then make it bootable so you can actually boot your Mac from your external drive in the event of a hardware or software problem. It costs only $27.95, but it is well worth it and highly recommended.
There are other programs that do what SuperDuper does, but I like SD best. Carbon Copy Cloner, and LaCie's SilverKeeper are the others most often mention, but their support is not as good as SD's. Both required updates to work with Tiger while SD worked from Day 1.
Plug the drive in and open your Mac's Disk Utility and partition it if you want. One it is formatted in HFS it will work fine.

Backing up iTunes Purchases to External Hard Drive

I tried to download the 2.0 upgrade for my touch last week. It completely crashed my system. Corrupted my user log in on Windows. I was able to transfer my purchases from my touch back to my computer, but I'm wanting to back up my purchases to an external hard drive before I try to download the 2.0 upgrade again, in the event it crashes my pc AND my touch. I've read the info on backing up to disc, but unfortunately my pc is on the out, and the cd burner isn't functioning properly. Any suggestions? Is the backup file a document? Can I export my library to a desktop file, and then send it to the external hard drive? Any help would be appreciated greatly!

Open the folder \Documents and Settings\yourname\My Documents\My Music\iTunes where yourname is the name of your Windows 2000 or XP user account, and drag the purchased content to the external drive as you would any other file. If you're using Windows Vista, look in the \Users\ folder for your iTunes library, or right-click a song, get info for it, and look at its location. Rented movies won't have a listed location.
(34411)

How do I move my iTunes from one external hard drive to another?

Hi. I received a NEW external hard drive for my G5 for Christmas. I have moved all my photos, files etc onto the NEW external hard drive. After I thought I moved the iTunes music, I went to start my iTunes and the following error came up...*"The folder iTunes cannot be found or created, and is required. The default location for this folder is inside the "Music" folder*."
So I plugged my OLD external hard drive in and researched Apple support. I found the subject "iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Music folder" at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748 (I had followed these directions originally when I moved the folder to the OLD external hard drive). So I followed the directions again, and thought it was now on the NEW external hard drive. Well again, after I unplugged the OLD external hard drive, plugged in the NEW external hard drive... still the same error came up. Am I missing something? It is like the iTunes app is not there.

Hi. I received a NEW external hard drive for my G5 for Christmas. I have moved all my photos, files etc onto the NEW external hard drive. After I thought I moved the iTunes music, I went to start my iTunes and the following error came up...*"The folder iTunes cannot be found or created, and is required. The default location for this folder is inside the "Music" folder*."
So I plugged my OLD external hard drive in and researched Apple support. I found the subject "iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Music folder" at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748 (I had followed these directions originally when I moved the folder to the OLD external hard drive). So I followed the directions again, and thought it was now on the NEW external hard drive. Well again, after I unplugged the OLD external hard drive, plugged in the NEW external hard drive... still the same error came up. Am I missing something? It is like the iTunes app is not there.

Backing Up iTunes Library On External Hard Drive

Iv'e just bought and installed a LaCie Hard Drive for my mac.
As I have a library of 62gig I want to make a back-up just in case something went wrong and I lost the lot!
Does anyone know if there is an easy way to transfer the files to the hard drive, I have tried to highlight and drag the files to the hard drive folder but this will take forever, if you highlight too many items the computer just freezes.
Any help would be great, Brian.

The link William provided is about Windows computers. It will tell you the principles and the importance of backing up specific files.
If all your music is on your internal HD in the 'iTunes Music' folder (default setting), just drag the iTunes folder (in ~/Users/YourUsername/Music to the external HD.
This way, also your 'iTunes Library' file is copied.
If your ext. HD has a Firewire connection, it will copy about 1GB/min.
To make regular incremental backups, you have to use a 3rd party backup application.
M

How do I backup my iTunes to an external hard drive?

This was advice given by Chris (#4735)
"You can use any backup program and back up the entire iTunes folder.
Start -> All programs -> Accessories -> System tools -> Backup to create a backup.
Then Start -> All programs -> Accessories -> System tools -> Schedule to set it to back up weekly (or whenever)."
I get to the Systems Tools but then do not have an option for 'Backup to create a backup. Are there alternatives?

There should be a program named "Backup" in Accessories.
You use this program to create a backup.
Don't look for something called, "Backup to create a backup".
You use the Backup application located in Accessories to create a backup.
Or you can simply copy the entire iTunes folder to another drive.

How do I transfering my iTunes library to external hard drive?

My iTunes library is getting rather large and I only have a 60GHZ internal harddrive and two 100 GHz harddrives attached and I want to transfer all of my files to one of the external harddrives so I can continue to grow my library. Can I do this seemlessly without having to reload my 60 GHz ipod? Does the music have to remain in the MY MUSIC folder on C:\ or can I create a MY Music folder on my external drive and copy the files over?
HP Windows XP Pro 2.4 GHz, 1 Gig memory, 60 GHz HD, 56KBPS modem/DLS N/A, 2-200 GHz external HD

Give these steps a try.

Moving iTunes to an external hard driv

I'm trying to move my iTunes music to my external hard drive but when I try to drag it to my Iomega drive I get an error message saying cannot copy from or write to. Also when I try to update my iPod I get the same error message and I noticed that I am missing 2,000 or so songs from my iPod that show up in iTunes. I also should mention that I even tried restoring my iPod and I still get the same message. I did notice that each time I plug my iPod in it gains a few more songs each time. How can I move my iTunes to my external hard drive and how can I get my iPod up to date again?
Thank You

That's why you can't write to it (it's probably NTFS format (Windows)).
You'll need to repartition it (this WILL erase all files on it):
This option will erase the disk and allow you to install the firmware update. Important: Back up your important data. Partitioning a hard disk erases all data on the disk.
1. Back up your important data. Partitioning a hard disk erases all data on the disk.
2. Open Disk Utility
3. Select your external Hard Drive (disk name).
4. Click the Partition tab in the Disk Utility window. If the partition tab is not visible, make sure you've selected the disk (not volume) in the left side of the window.
Tip: In Disk Utility, volume names are indented on the left side of the window. Disk names are not indented.
5. Choose the desired number of partitions from the Volume Scheme pop-up menu. (Choose "1")
6. Click Options.
Note: On some Intel-based Macs, the Options button does not appear under the partition tab. Use the erase tab to erase the disk instead. This will change the partition scheme to the default "GUID Partition Scheme". You can then use the partition tab to create additional partitions if desired.
7. From the Partition Scheme pop-up menu, choose "GUID Partition Scheme".
8. Click OK.
9. Make any other changes you wish in the Volume Information section, such as partition size or naming.
10. Click the Partition button to erase and partition your disk.

How do I back up iTunes audio to external hard drive

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