How to load my old library into my new computer

I was recently using a PowerPC G4 with OS X 10.5 and recently upgraded to a Mac Mini with OS X 10.9. I want to restore my iTunes library from the old computer since it took a long time to get all the playlists together. I moved over the old playlist files and of course all my music, but I cannot get the library to show. I had to move my iTunes library into that "automatically add to iTunes" folder to get it to show in iTunes, but I still can't get the playlists and stuff to come up. I did the thing where I hold down the option key while starting up and then choose the library, but nothing changes in iTunes. It also seems like the file that might really be my library isn't selectable. So is there anyway that I can get my old library into the new iTunes on my new computer?

Start by reading through wjosten's user tip: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141 and also look at using Migration Assistant, or other means of connecting the two computers.  A fast way I have used to move data is to connect the two using a simple ethernet wire, then open the hard drive of the old machine and drag-and-drop the material you want to copy over to the new machine's hard drive...appropriate application library in this case, of course.
That moves large amounts of material pretty quickly.

Similar Messages

  • How do I get old library onto my new computer ?

    I've just bought a new computer and need to know how to download my songs etc onto the new computer. I turned on home sharing but not sure how that works. Any help out there ?
    Thanks

    Pruesy wrote:
    I turned on *home sharing* but not sure how that works.
    what you want to see in iTunes is this (view from my MBP's iTunes seeing the library on my Mini)
    if you then click on the house icon, it will change to this and the shared library will load. at that point, two buttons will appear in the lower right corner of the iTunes window, being settings and import
    now you should be able to import any content from any shared library by selecting the content and clicking on import.
    if the icon looks like this , home sharing has not been set up correctly.
    in order for home sharing to work
    (a) iTunes on all machines must be authorized for the same iTunes store account
    (b) all machines must be on the same network
    (c) all machines must have access to the internet.
    these reads will be useful: one and two.
    JGG

  • HT3819 My old computer doesn't work. I how do i get my iTunes library into my new computer?

    My old computer gave up the ghost.
    How do i get my iTunes library into my new computer?
    I have a windows 7 computer.

    Put the hard drive from your old computer in an external drive bay and extract the library from it, or see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
    tt2

  • My old computer crashed, and down with it went my itunes library. How do I get my old library into my new library (on my new mac) ?

    My old computer crashed, and down with it went my itunes library. How do I get my old library into my new library (on my new mac) ?

    did you back up your music to another hard drive? if not, the only music you can get back is purchased music from i tunes. 

  • My old computer crashed and i just purchased a new laptop. How do i get my library on my new computer without erasing all the songs on my ipod?

    ?

    damfam9 wrote:
    My old computer crashed and i just purchased a new laptop. How do i get my library on my new computer without erasing all the songs on my ipod?
    If ALL your music is on the iPod and it's ALL iTunes purchased content, you log into iTunes with your account on th enew machine and reverse sycn the music back.
    If the music is from cd's and other sources (not iTunes files) then ask over at iLounge what third party solution currently works. (can't recommond it here)
    I have some HUGE instructions here how to get your music off the old comptuer too:
    Recovery options:
    A: If Windows isn't booting:
    You need to boot the computer from a "recovery disk or USB" that has a operating system on it and a graphical user interface to transfer files from your boot drive to a external drive.
    I suggest using the Easy USB Installer to install Ubuntu 10.10 onto a 2-4 GB USB key.
    http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/
    or
    burn a ISO of Ubuntu 10.10 or PartedMagic to a cd-r with ImgBurn or Win 7 right click and burn
    You can use Disk Utility in OS X to select the ISO and burn to cd/dvd as well.
    Once you have it installed, consult this page for your BIOS boot key to hold to get into the BIOS.
    http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/a/biosaccess_pc.htm
    Plug the USB into the back (if possible) of the computer, connect the external drive and enter the BIOS, set the USB (or CD) as first boot and SAVE.
    Boot off the USB/CD and "Try Ubuntu/Run from disk" DON'T INSTALL. (Parted Magic loads into RAM and ejects CD)
    Once in, go under the menu Places > Computer and transfer your files to the external drive just like you would in Windows, drag and drop.
    (If using Parted Magic double click on the Mount Drive left icon twice, use the two GUI windows to transfer files to external drive, unmount drives, log out/quit in the lower left corner menu option)
    B: If the computer hardware isn't working, but the drive might still work:
    You'll have to remove the power cord and manually extract the hard drive. This might result in some damage.
    There is a powered IDE/SATA to USB adapter for sale online for $20 that you can take that internal hard drive and use it like a external drive to access your files from another Windows machine.
    C: If your iTunes content is deleted...
    It might be recoverable if it hasn't been overwritten yet by fresh data. Undelete software works by reading the 1's and 0's of the files themselves, not what the OS says.
    You need to use undelete software pre-installed before the iTunes content was deleted, or while on a bootable cd/USB and a external drive to transfer the recovered files.
    You can also install undelete type software on a new machine and USE STEP B above to "undelete" the files and recover them directly to the new computer.
    You can't install undelete software or recover files to the same drive your attempting to recover from or it overwrites the deleted data.
    D: If the hard drive doesn't work and...
    The data isn't worth spending $2000-$3000 in a ATTEMPT at platter dissection recovery, then your finished
    If the data on the drive was encrypted, data recovery efforts may be futile, unless it's a encypted file and you transfer it successfuly and have the password to de-crypt it.
    E: If you have a "iDevice" with any content
    It can be synced back into iTunes, check at iLounge what third party software works reliably now and for your version.
    (Once you log into your iTunes account, you can sync ONLY iTunes purchased content back from a iDevice)
    Third party software can recover just about all the items on a iDevice, regardless of it's origin. (can't recommend such software here)
    F: If any of the above is too hard, or the data is of "critical importance"
    Then seek professional computer or forensic level recovery services.
    Get help from someone who has done this sort of thing repeatly and can almost guaranty 100% results.
    There is Linux software that can "rip" all data off a iOS device if that level of attention is needed, seek a professional service.
    Hope this helps in your data recovery efforts.
    Please, backup your data, it's the only thing us IT professionals can't recover.

  • My computer was destrpoyed and I want to know if I can load my itunes purchases into my new computer or do I have to buy everything again?

    My computer was destrpoyed and I want to know if I can load my itunes purchases into my new computer or do I have to buy everything again?

    Use the backup of your computer to put everything back on the new computer.

  • HT1589 how can i transfer my library to a new computer? old computer is not working

    how can i transfer my i-tunes library to a new computer? my old computer is not working.

    It has alwasy been very basic to always maintain a backup copy.  Have you failed to do this?  not good.
    You would have to take the hard drive out of your old computer and connect it to your new and transfer the info.

  • How do i transfer my library to a new computer when the old one is broken

    ok my old computer died and the information may not be recoverable is there a way to get my library on my new computer? no i did not have the cloud my computer was that old.

    Unless you have a backup somewhere, then no.
    You need the entire iTunes folder located in the My Music directory on your old PC.
    You will still be able to redownload your iTunes purchases but any non-iTunes purchased media will be lost as well as playlists, play counts, etc...

  • My moms computer died we are putting the old drive into the new computer as a slave drive. how do I transfer all the bookmarks, user names and passwords from the old drive to the new drive?

    <blockquote>Locking duplicate thread.<br>
    Please continue here: [[/questions/889318]]</blockquote>
    Hello,
    Sorry if this posted twice I am NEW. I thought I could just go back to what I typed and add to it. Mom had a computer it died they are putting in the old drive on the new computer as a slave. What are the steps I need to do to transfer ALL the bookmarks, user names and passwords onto the new computer. We will have 3 desktops do we have to do the same steps on each desktop? I do not want to re enter all the user names and passwords on the new hard drive. Old computer was Windows XP the new computer is Windows 7 Kathryn Schwartz

    Duplicate - https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/889318

  • How to transfer my itunes library to a new computer

    How to transfer my existing itunes library to a new laptop?

    These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
    Method 1
    Backup the library with this User Tip.
    Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
    Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
    Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
    Method 2
    Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
    Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
    I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
    Note if you have iOS devices and haven't moved your contacts and calendar items across then you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should  merge the existing data from the device.
    If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable.
    Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
    tt2

  • HT1420 i have deautherized all accounts so I could put my library on my new computer. How do I get my library on this new computer?

    I have deauthorization all accounts so I could put my library on my new computer. How can I get my library on this computer?

    If you still have your content on an old computer then you can copy it over from there (you will need to reauthorise that computer) - there are a number of methods that you could use e.g. home sharing, an external drive etc : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    Or you could copy it from your backup, or depending upon which country that you are in (and whether the content is still available in the store) then you might be able to re-download some/all of it : re-downloading.

  • How do i transfer my library to a new computer

    I have just bought a new computer and want to transfer my library to the new computer but cant seem to work out how to do it. does anyone know how?

    Unless you have a backup somewhere, then no.
    You need the entire iTunes folder located in the My Music directory on your old PC.
    You will still be able to redownload your iTunes purchases but any non-iTunes purchased media will be lost as well as playlists, play counts, etc...

  • HT1391 how can i install my library on my new computer?

    How can I install my music library on my new computer? I do not have the old one available.

    Copy it from the old computer to the new computer.

  • Replaced my computer. Cant sync my ipod to new computer without erasing and loading the empty library on the new computer. Any ideas?

    I replaced my computer. When I try to load my music from my ipod to the new computer's itunes, the only option is: "this ipod is synced to another library. Do you wish to erase and load with this library".  The new computers library is of course empty. Any ideas?

    You should be able to recover the media currently on the iPod with the tips in  this post from forum regular Zevoneer.
    If you are in the US you should be able to download purchased tracks that are still on sale in the iTunes store on demand once you sign into your iTunes account. If you live anywhere else you may find that a request to redownload your previous purchases might be granted, but the store is under no obligation. You were reminded to back them up at the time of purchase.
    tt2

  • Hello, I'm trying to transfer my old itunes library to a new computer using home sharing. It's switched on in both computers, but I can't see the old library in the new computer. But I can see tracks from the new computer on the old one. Please help.

    Apologies for poor syntax, my arm's a little sore. Yes, one computer (old) is vista, new is Windows 8. Shouldn't I be able to import the whole library using home sharing? Am I doing something wrong? Thank you in advance

    I am having the same issue.  I recently purchased a new laptop and I have spent the last 3 days using the home share to slowly transfer all 22,000 songs.  However yesterday morning when I turned on both computers to continue the process I am having the following issue:
    both computers are running the same windows OS (8)
    both computers are running the same version of itunes
    both computers are logged in with the same apple ID
    both computers have home sharing turned on
    Now however I can see the NEW computers itunes library in the drop down box on the OLD computer, however I can not see the OLD computers itunes library on the NEW computer.  I can no longer see "HOME SHARES" on the drop down LIBRARY list on the new computer.  I've taken the following steps to correct the error:
    reset the router
    completely shut down BOTH computers and brought them back up
    reopened itunes
    re-logged in on both PC's
    re-activated both PC's with home share
    The articles and help from the apple sites are worthless and it says if you can't see a library just turn home sharing off then back on - I've completed the above steps NUMEROUS times.  After spending 4 days on transferring my music I really do not want to have to start over by using an external hard drive and then importing that way.  I would like some help on discovering why the new laptop is no longer seeing my old library. (When it has been working up to this point) 
    Thanks in advance.

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