How do I copy my songs from an external hard drive backup to my new laptop

Because my old laptop was . . . well, old . . I had to store my iTunes songs and iTunes onto an external hard drive where I backed up all my documents. I now want to copy my library of songs on to my new Windows 8 laptop. But I'm not finding it easy to figure out how to do this. On another note (maybe related. . maybe not) I keep getting an error when I try to download the latest and greatest iTunes on to that external hard drive.
Thanks for any an all help before I'm tempted to climb out on the ledge (luckily I live on the first floor).

If the entire library (database & media) is already on the external drive (in the right layout) then you should be able to connect to it by holding down shift as you start iTunes and then choosing the library. If you only have the media folder on the drive then you need to do some preparation for the move first. See this migrate iTunes library post for details.
tt2

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How do i copy my files from my external hard drive onto my imac

how do i copy my files from my external hard drive onto my imac

You should be able to 'migrate them' without having to do so during a reinstall, from an external drive. In some cases, you may be able to use TimeMachine software even if the drive had not been used as a backup.
The usual way, though, is to drag & drop copy from one to another (volume or folder) you created in there and have open. Or drag an item on top of the icon of a hard disk drive when it is mounted on the desktop. I'm used to working with open folders and windows, because that works best; and then see if I want to change how things look inside their destination. This helps should I later want to burn them to a DVD and have it correct. And I want to know where they are.
I had more links to some information about importing or migrating data into a Mac from an external, a week ago, but can't find them now. A few good links to pages, but I think I posted what I did find directly to answer someones question about it; and believe the info was in an Apple Support article about TimeMachine, near the lower part of the page with blue words with a disclosure triangle, so you could read more in that page. But I don't believe these two are correct in that TimeMachine (some versions) only allow wireless backup to a drive in a base station unit such as Apple sells, for this. The link I saw simply said how to work around not using the wireless stuff. Maybe it was a dated item, not in these?
See a main general portal to TimeMachine support,
here: http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine/
Or basics that may not provide optional copy methods:
Mac Basics - Time Machine backs up your mac:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427
Perhaps a search of Apple Support database (or even ASC discussions?) would yield ideas, and perhaps find what may work for the kind of files you want to copy, and where they can be found & used later. Are the files for specific applications? Or images, music, etc?
Good luck & happy computing!
edited.

How do I copy my music from one external hard drive to another one?

How do I copy my itunes library from one external drive to a bigger drive?

Drag the entire iTunes folder to the new HD.
MJ

I recently reset my computer and copy my music from an external hard drive to my itunes library. When I click on a song to play i get an error message that says " the song could not be used because the original file could not be found". need help

I recently reset my computer and copy my music from an external hard drive to my itunes library. When I click on a song to play i get an error message that says " the song could not be used because the original file could not be found". But when I have my external hard drive plug in the song will play with no problem. What do I need to do to play my music without having the external harddrive plug in ???????? Please help

Because the location for each song in your library is on your hard drive. If the hard drive isn't there, how can iTunes play it?
You'll have to move/copy the music from your hard drive to your computer's hard drive.
Basically, EASIEST way to do all this, if you don't care about your play counts, etc...
-Delete EVERYTHING from iTunes, so that your library is now empty.
-Go to "Advanced" inside of the "Preferences" window, found in the "Edit" drop-down. You can also access Preferences by pressing Ctrl+, (Press Ctrl and the comma key)
-Change your iTunes Media Folder Location to something simple, but on your computer. I use C:/iTunes. Make sure "Keep iTunes Media Folder Organized" and "Copy files to...." are both checked. You can close Preferences now.
-Now, drag and drop your music from your hard drive into your iTunes library. iTunes will automatically add the music to your library, as you would expect, and also creates a copy of each file to place into that iTunes Media Folder you just created.
Shouldn't have any more problems...

HT1386 I have a new computer. I have copied Itunes library from an external hard drive. Itunes now tells me I cannot sync with my Ipod as it thinks the 20gb on the computer are different to the 20gb on my Ipod touch! What have I done wrong? How can I fix

I have a new computer. I have copied Itunes library from an external hard drive. Itunes now tells me I cannot sync with my Ipod as it thinks the 20gb on the computer are different to the 20gb on my Ipod touch! What have I done wrong? How can I fix it? Alan

See:
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive: Apple Support Communities
Sync Your iOS Device with a New Computer Without Losing Data - How-To Geek

How do I input songs from my external hard drive (taken from a PC) and transfer them to my Mac?

How do I input songs from my external hard drive, taken from a PC, to a Mac?

Just a few song tracks, or your whole library? If just a few tracks, drag them from the drive to the open iTunes library window or playlist window. If your whole library drag the whole iTunes folder to your computer. Hold down the option key while starting and guide it to the library.itl file in that folder. If you need to merge libraries post back because that's a much longer post.

How do i import my library from an external hard drive. Exported it as had to wipe pc and reinstal windows but when i try to import nothing happens

How do i import my library from an external hard drive. Had to export it as had to reinstal windows due to a conflict between windows and i-tunes. Wen i try to import nothing happens despite selecting the file. Can you import from an i-phone to i-tunes?

What do you mean bye exported the library?
There is nothing to export or import.
The correct process to backup the iTunes library would be to copy the ENTIRE iTunes folder from the computer to the external drive.

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.

How do I transfer an imovie from an external hard drive to my macbook pro iMovie 9

How do I transfer an iMovie from an external hard drive to my macbook pro iMovie 11?

The easiest way would be to just attach the external drive to the MacBook Pro. iMovie should see it next time you open iMovie.
If you are going for portability, you can attach the external drive to the MacBook Pro. Then open iMovie.
Then click VIEW/EVENTS BY DISK. You should see your external drive listed in the Project Library and the Event Library.
To make a COPY just drag the icon for your project to the icon for the external drive in the Project Library List.
To MOVE it, hold down the command key while you drag.
If you want to edit the project, you will also want any Events, Photos, or Music referenced in the Project. To get those, click on the Project to select it (it is now on the MacBook Pro) and click FILE/CONSOLIDATE MEDIA.

How do i download my files from an external hard drive to my new macbook pro

how do i dowload my files from my external hard drive onto my new macbook pro?

Can you not just drag them from the external drive to a folder on your new computer?

How do i switch wma files from an external hard drive to mp3 on itunes?

how do i switch wma files from an external hard drive to mp3 on itunes?

Can you not just drag them from the external drive to a folder on your new computer?

How to use one music library from one external hard drive on two different computers

I have 57 gigs of music in my itunes library on my laptop (Windows Vista). I backed up the library onto an external hard drive. I would like to play the music on a second computer (Windows XP) without putting the music on the second computer, just keeping it on the external hard drive.
I have the latest version of iTunes and Quicktime installed. In iTunes on both computers, under Advanced Preferences I changed the iTunes media folder location to the folder on the external hard drive and checked the boxes for "Keep iTunes media folder organized" and "copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library". Also under the File tab, "Organize Library", I clicked on "Consolidate Files" and "Reorganize Files in the folder itunes music".
On the second computer I tried holding SHIFT while launching iTunes until the prompt appears asking to create a new library or point to an existing library. While attempting to point to the new location, I am only able to open the music folder, not set it as the location. In advanced preferences when I click "change" for the itunes media folder location, I can locate the folder but the only button I can click on is "open" or "cancel". "Open" will open the folder showing all my music. I tried typing in the location. It shows the correct location.
I was able to see the songs in the library in itunes on the second computer but it won't play the music. There are no exclamation points next to the songs. I am also able to see the playlists but there aren't any songs in the playlists.
There are no problems with itunes on the first computer. Everything works as it should.
Ideally I would like to use the same folder on the external hard drive for both computers if possible. But for now I want to at least get the music playing with the playlists on the second computer from the external hard drive.
Please help.

See this post on making a split library portable.
tt2

Taking HOURS to copy music files from one external hard drive to another...

Am I doing something wrong? Have a about 5,000+ songs on an external hard drive (hooked to my pc). I have networked the PC through my mac mini and I'm now copying those files onto a new/fresh external hard drive hooked to the mac mini. It's successfully copying the files but, when I started, the time remaining said, "About 15 hours"! (Is this for real??) Am I doing this right? It's now...finally down to "About 7 hours". But, I have a LOT more music to copy over. Is it normal for it to take THIS LONG?
PLEASE HELP!

Just to explain a bit about how this data transfer is far more than simply moving 5,000 songs:
To copy or move each file, the system has to chop the file up into a series of 'packets' and transfer each of those in order. If you imagine each file as if it were a plate of food heaped up, each 'packet' is about a single spoonful. Each spoonful then needs a series of extra data to tell the system what's in the spoonful, which spoonful it is in the order of things, and how many spoonfuls in that plateful to expect. Added to the spoonful is additional data containing information that lets the receiving system check whether the spoonful arrived is complete, out of sequence, damaged or even lost.
Each spoonful has to be sent one at a time, and the receiving system has to signal back to the sending system that it arrived before the next one is sent. Once the first plate has been sent, spoonful by spoonful, the system then moves onto the next plateful, until all 5,000 plates of food have been moved.
If any spoonful is lost or damaged, the receiving system has to ask the sending system to have another go before moving on to the next. Add to that that it is not just the spoonfuls of songs being moved around, but also lots of other spoonfuls of stuff to keep the network connection open and each system aware of the presence and identity of the other, and any other networked device that is also running at the time, and you have a pretty slow means to move data around.
The above is a pretty crude representation of how it works, but it does mean that while moving data around a network is not really slow, it's nowhere near as fast as moving data to locally connected drive. As such DaddyPaycheck is right - it would be much quicker to connect the external directly to the Mac and then copy the files to it.

How to move mt itunes library from one external hard drive to another

I would like to move my itun4es library from my external hard drive H to external hard drive M; how do I go about this? without losing items

Short version: use the itunes consolidate command
Long version: read this
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/

Help...how do I download my photos from an external hard drive into iphoto

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never mind i figured it out...thx

How do I copy my songs from an external hard drive backup to my new laptop

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