How do I synch my iTunes library with my hard drive?

Hello,
I am relatively new to using the iPod and iTunes. I have recently added and deleted music files on my hard drive, but this is not automaticallly reflected in my iTunes library. Is there a way to have the iTunes library automatically sync with what is on the hard drive? Thank you!

You'll have to add your music back in to iTunes manually by either dragging the folder your music is in to the iTunes source list or by using the File>Add file or Add Folder to library function: About the Add to Library, Import and Convert functions

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How to set up One iTunes Library with Multiple Hard Drives

Hello,
I have a question about setting up a daisy chain of external storage hard drives for my itunes library and need some advice. I have run out of room on my 4TB external storage. I have an additional 4TB and a 2TB external storage (all are MyBooks) and trying to figure out how to separate out my itunes folder: I would like to put the TV on one 4TB and the Movies and the other 4TB and the Music/Apps/etc on the 2TB. Here are my questions
1.) How to I point my iTunes to where I have moved them? Just make and alias of the folder and put that back in the original folder?
2.) How do I get the new iTunes downloads to go the correct folder to download so it does not set up a new library for downloading? Can I set more that one location in my preference? If so- how?
I have looked in the forums and all the information is older and does not address this exact issue.
Set up:
Mac mini hooked up to Vizio TV running Lion 10.7.2
      Processor 2.26 GHZ Intel Core Duo 2
     Memory 4GB ( do not really store anything on this one)
MY Books
     1 2TB   Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
     2 4TB   Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
     1 1TB   Mac OS Extended (Journaled)- this is for documents, etc
All these are daisy chain with 800 Firewire to the Macmini and hooked to TV with HDMI.
Any suggestions would be helpful. I can not download anything else from iTunes until I get this resolved and it is a real bummer.
Sara

Here are three different methods >
How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495
This article > iOS: How to transfer or sync content to your computer, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1296
suggests using contacts groups.
When syncing contacts, you can choose to sync all of your contacts or only selected groups.
You can select a group of contacts to which all new contacts created on your iOS device will be added.
You can set up groups in the Address Book application.
If you are all going to use the same iTunes apps library, turn off "Automatically sync new apps" in the apps tab just below the list of apps. Then you won't get new apps on your device unless you select them.

Using same iTunes library with external hard drive (EHD) on different PCs

I know some of the issues related to this question have been touched on in different discussions but I don't think I have seen a clear yes/no and if yes, here's how, answer to my queries, so here goes.
Like another member, I would like to take my iTunes library with me when I'm away on holiday so that I can (for example) use an Apple TV with Home Sharing to watch movies in my library or pay albums in my music library while on holiday, in the same way as I am able to at home. I have a Samsung NC 10 notebook running Windows XP (which I would take with me with a Samsing Story EHD) and a Dell desktop. My iTunes media folders are now on the EHD and I think I have iTunes library files on the Dell and on the Samsung. Of course, if iTunes Match covered movies as well as music, I would use that and just take my Apple TV with me ... but it doesn't and seems not likely to.
By messing around and not properly understanding some of the discussions about this topic, I think my iTunes library looks as I expect it to be, on my Dell - though I have yet to test this by doing a synch with my iPad or iPod Touch. However, when I plug the EHD into the Samsung and open my library, I am missing at least one movie and I don't have any artwork showing for any of the movies. This is inspite of clicking Get Album Artwork, Consolidate Files and clicking to add, as a file (or folder) to the library, the missing movie which is on the EHD in the Movies folder of the iTunes Media. In iTunes on the Samsung "Preferences>Advanced", the iTunes media location (on my EHD) is correct.
I have obviously messed something up trying to replicate my Dell desktop iTunes library on the Samsung. So:
can/should I start again (if that is the best thing to do) with getting my iTunes library properly on to my Samsung notebook? And, if yes, how do I do that?
is it really possible to have all that you need to run and use iTunes on an EHD (i.e. both media folders and the various iTunes library files (.itl, .itdb, .xml etc.)) so that whenever I plug the EHD into my Dell or Samsung I can access my iTunes library in the same way and via the same files? Or, do you always have to have the library files (at least) located on the PC you are connecting your EHD to (showing my ignorance here! )?
if you can have all the library files as well as media on the EHD (i.e. all of your iTunes library), I assume there is more to moving these from the C drive in my Dell to the EHD, than just cutting and pasting them into the EHD and then deleting similarly named files in C drive in the Samsung?
if all of my iTunes library can be located in the EHD, would I just access that (i.e. open my iTunes library) - whether on my Dell or the Samsung - by pressing the Shift key when clicking on iTunes as a programme on my Dell or Samsung, or - and I appreciate this is more basic computer knowledge than iTunes query - does the fact that I would need to access iTunes via some form of link on the relevant PC indicate why some iTunes library files would always have to reside on the PC rather than the EHD?
if the iTunes library files have to stay on the relevant PC, how can they be kept in synch - i.e. the more portable Samsung offering the same access and picture of my iTunes library as the Dell does - or is iTunes just not set up to do this, in which case I might as well ignore trying to replicate my iTunes library on the Samsung?.
Apologies for this long list of questions. Any pointers to where the answers lie or even better specific answers themselves would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.

I think that's yes, yes, yes, yes, and not necessary...
Make a split library portable
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
In the layout above right, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library is considered to be portable. A portable library can be moved from one path to another without breaking the links from the library to the media, and being self-contained it is much easier to backup and restore. (You do backup, don't you?).
You can rearrange things to make a split library portable by taking a number of small steps which don't break the library.
Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated. If the library is in the old style layout then it should be upgraded to iTunes Media Organization (Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder>) to ensure that iPod Games, Mobile Applications etc. are brought inside the media folder, otherwise the links to these won't survive changes in the path of the library.
The basic non-fatal manipulations are:
You can create or connect to an alternate set of library files by holding down Shift (Win) or Option (Mac) when starting iTunes. (Note iTunes will continue to use this library until you use the same method again.)
You can move the library files to a new location and connect to it there as long as the media stays put.
You can move the library files and the media together if the media folder is a direct subfolder of the library folder.
If you have already moved/copied the media content from a subfolder of the library folder to a different location then you only need to copy the library files for it to appear as if you have moved the entire library in the way allowed above. I.e. just copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder.
You can rename the media folder to iTunes Media (if it isn't already) if the media folder is inside the library folder.
iTunes uses the name of the folder holding the library files as the window title. Having made a library "portable" you may need to take a final step of renaming the library folder to iTunes or, if the library files have ended up at the root of a drive, moving all of the library files and content folders into a new folder called iTunes.
IMPORTANT: After each change you need to open, test and close the relevant library before attempting another change. If a change broke the library, undo it or revert to using the previous set of library files.
In essence all you need to do to join up a split library and make it portable is copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder on the external/secondary drive and use the hold-down-shift/option-when-starting-iTunes method to connect to it. Other manipulations may be required to normalize the library so that the library and media folders have standard names.
tt2

How do I move my itunes library from my hard drive to an external hardrive?

I am trying to free up storage space on my imac hard drive. I have one external hard drive with 500 GB storga and then another 2 TB external hard drive that I am using as my time machine back up of everything. I moved my itunes library (approx. 70GB) over to the 500 GB hard drive, but I think it is still somewhere on the imac HD. I am looking for simple directions on how to move my itunes library and/or iphoto library and deleting the oriiginal version on my HD so that I have adequate room on my startup disk. Thoughts?

Here you go:
Move iTunes:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
iPhoto:
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2506

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.

HT3819 How do I share my itunes library with my mother on the same computer, but different accounts?

How do I share my itunes library with my mother on the same computer, but different accounts?
My mother and I share a desktop computer (apple) and we have seperate itunes accounts. How do we share accounts?

iTunes Home Sharing now works between users on same computer - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3865597
You could set up two completely separate libraries and share music via Home Sharing.
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203 - relocating iTunes' media folder to a shared area but leaving separate library files - extra tip at https://discussions.apple.com/message/17331189
Chris CA's instructions on sharing one iTunes music library between multiple user accounts - https://discussions.apple.com/message/8974074 - Multiple users using a single library file - similar post at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3753008
Suggestion by Turingtest for multiple users and one library - http://discussions.apple.com/message/9117622 - use smart playlists and tags to isolate groupings.
Discussions on using purchases from multiple AppleIDs in one iTunes library - https://discussions.apple.com/message/19543804

How do I share my iTunes library with my mother, but not on our home network?

How do I share my Itunes library with my mother, but not on our home network?

Another alternative is she can select tracks from your library copy and just add them to her library. Then she does not have to bother with switching between two libraries.

How can I share my iTunes library with another user on my laptop?

How can I share my itunes library with another user on my laptop?

If you type "Shore itunes library" into the search bar at the top of this page by "Support" you will find:
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

HT1209 My Itunes Library and iPhone have fallen out of sync on music over the yearsare - how can I compare my itunes library with my Iphone to see what songs are missing from my library so I can then bring my Library up to date

My Itunes Library and iPhone have fallen out of sync on music over the yearsare - how can I compare my itunes library with my Iphone to see what songs are missing from my library so I can then bring my Library up to date

Hello Solid Buck,
Thank you so much for providing the details about the duplicate song issue you are experiencing. It sounds like you would like to remove the duplicate songs that will not play on your iPhone, but when you connect it to iTunes, iTunes only shows you one copy of the song on your iPhone.
In this situation, I recommend deleting the individual songs that do not play directly from your iPhone. I found the steps to do this on page 61 of the iPhone User Guide (http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iphone_user_guide.pdf):
Delete a song from iPhone: In Songs, swipe the song, then tap Delete.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

How can I copy my iTunes library with playcount information to a new computer?!?

Hello,
I'm about to get a new computer. I have all my music on a external HD, so I won't have problems preserving my music. But I would like to preserve other information too. Especially the play count information. I think it's interesting how my top 25-most-played looks like, and the play count list I have now, took me 2 years to get.
So my question is: Does anyone know how I can copy my iTunes library with all its information (play count, rating, comments, images, last played date etc.) to a new computer?
Thanks a lot!

Connect the external HDD to the iMac, launch iTunes while holding down the Option key. Choose the option to select library and navigate to the top level folder of the iTunes media on the external. Select it and click OK.

How can i share my itunes library with another computer

how can i share my itunes library with another computer

Fingers crossed, the following document may be of some help with that:
iTunes: Setting up Home Sharing on your computer

How do I share the iTunes library with all/some of the other users on the same iMac?

How do I share the iTunes library with all/some of the other users on the same iMac?

Check out these articles it may help...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3819
http://www.apple.com/itunes/how-to/#playlists-shareplaylists
hope this helps.

I have a new Windows tablet computer with limited hard drive space, and cannot transfer my itunes library to the hard drive. Can I run t media from an external hard drive? If so, how do I transfer my files?

I have a new Windows tablet computer with limited hard drive space (32 GB), and cannot transfer my itunes library to the hard drive. Can I run itunes from an external hard drive? I have tried to follow some of the directions on this site, but am having no success. Thanks.

iTunes will run fine with the media on an external drive.
However, I suggest that a tablet computer with a tiny hard drive is not ideal as the primary computer for managing an iTunes library, even a small one. If you have another machine, perhaps a big, boxy, inexpensive old desktop with a decent amount of storage, that might be a better choice.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364

How do I transfer itunes library to new hard drive running lion os

I have a Mac Pro with 2 hard drives in it.
Hard drive #1 has Leopard OS and my iTunes library on it
Hard drive #2 has Lion 10.7.4 OS and this is where I want to move my iTunes library to from hard drive #1.
How can I due this insuring that all playlists, etc. transfer seamlessly. I will then only be using the new Lion OS
to run iTunes (and this will also communicate with Apple TV, etc.)
Thanks!

Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder from old hard drive to /Music/ on new hard drive.
Start iTunes.
That is all.
You can also leave it where it it, hold Option, launch iTunes.
Slect Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the Leopard drive.
This will be your iTunes for both OS, whichever you boot into.

HT1373 How do I backup my itunes library to an external drive

My iTunes library is unstable. I have two questions:
1) How do I backup my iTunes library to an external drive?
2) Why am I constatntly prompted to add my computer to iCloud when I have done so multiple times?
When opening iTunes, I receive he error message: "Please Sign In Again, iTunes Match has encountered an error. Please choose Sign Out and he Sign In from the iTunes Store menu and try again."
I tried downloading and installing/repairing the latest iTunes. That did not correct the problem.
Also, I have sync'd to iCloud. Every time I select iMatch from iTunes, I am prompted to Add This Computer to iCloud. I have already done this multiple times.

Hello cijackson,
You posted your question in the iTunes for Mac Forum. You may get better results on the iTunes for Windows forum. Best of luck > https://discussions.apple.com/community/itunes/itunes_for_windows?view=overview

How do I synch my iTunes library with my hard drive?

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