How to restore a backed up iTunes library from discs?

I had backed up my iTunes library a while ago (more than a couple years) on CDs as Apple "demanded" at the time. Now I find that I need to restore my library to iTunes on the computer, and lo and behold, restoration doesn't work in the same manner anymore. Apparently, the process used to be quite simple; you inserted the discs, iTunes would ask if you wanted to restore the backup to the library and voila, the library was restored. I'm not exaggerating when I write that I have been looking for a solution for hours and have yet to find any instructions to remedy this problem. Any help (specific instructions) would be greatly appreciated.
Using Windows XP, Dell, and iTunes 11.4.0.18
Thanks.

This is what I always do (and believe me, it's been done many times):
1. Quit iTunes.
2. Locate the current iTunes library (this assumes that you have used iTunes since your old lib got damaged). You can use find to do this, the current lib will be the one that's been modified last (so if you last used iTunes on September 22nd and quit afterwards, the library should show that it's been modified 22/9).
3. It'll probably be named just as 'iTunes library.xxx' (can't remember the file ending now). Now, back up the backed up library (you can never be too sure) and when done, change its name to be identical to your current, pathetically small library.
4. Move the old library to the folder where the new one is. The system will ask whether you want to replace the the existing library with the same name, and of course you will want to.
5. Start iTunes anew and you should have your old library back.

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http://www.macworld.com/article/146958/2010/03/move_itunes_windows_mac.html

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I recently got a new laptop and would like to transfer my itunes from the old to the new. I backed up the itunes library to an external hard drive, and have transferred it to the hard drive of the new laptop (I haven't deleted the library from the old laptop). I am operating on windows. I am now stuck and can't seem to restore my entire itunes library to itunes. The items purchased from the itunes store are in the library on the new laptop, but the rest of my music is not. How do I restore it to my itunes library? I have tried opening itunes while holding down shift and selecting "choose library" option, but when I select the itunes folder, it doesn't appear in the library.
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Hello ggjsa,
Congratulations on your new laptop! I understand that you have copied your old iTunes Library to your new computer, but you are still not seeing the music. I recommend reviewing Part 5 in the section titled "External drive" in the following article:
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527
If you are still having trouble transferring the library using this method, you may want to try using the Home Sharing method in the article.
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
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Restoring ITunes Library from disc, Computer says not enough space on C:?

Hi everybody.
I recently bought a new laptop. I currently have more than 200GB free.
I backed up my ITUNES library from my old computer using ITUNES' backup feature (it made me 6 DVDs). Upon trying to restore them onto the new computer, it gets 4 discs in and ITUNES tells me there is no more space on the C: drive. Obviously, this isn't the case. Any ideas? Is this a bug in ITUNES?
Message was edited by: AdamWM

If that prevents you from restoring as new, and then manually syncing then fine.
It seems to me the size of the backup file may well not correspond to the amount of storage occupied on the iPhone. There can be pointers, indirect references, etc.

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iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
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. Start iTunes with the option (shift on Windows) key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.
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Depends on the disk you use. With a dvd it takes about 4.7 gig to fill one. So that would be about seven disc. I always have a back up on disk and one on my external hard drive.
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If you didn't knowingly change libraries then it is more likely that your original library file become corrupted and was replaced with an blank copy. It should be possible to restore your previous data as follows.
Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash
Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library as iTunes Library (Corrupt) and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.
The images are from a Windows system but the principle is just the same... Depending on when you initially installed iTunes the library files may, or may not, end with a .itl extension. Be consistent with the file that you are replacing.
See MusicFolder Files Not Added and Super Remove Dead Tracks for tools to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.
tt2

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This is what I always do (and believe me, it's been done many times):
1. Quit iTunes.
2. Locate the current iTunes library (this assumes that you have used iTunes since your old lib got damaged). You can use find to do this, the current lib will be the one that's been modified last (so if you last used iTunes on September 22nd and quit afterwards, the library should show that it's been modified 22/9).
3. It'll probably be named just as 'iTunes library.xxx' (can't remember the file ending now). Now, back up the backed up library (you can never be too sure) and when done, change its name to be identical to your current, pathetically small library.
4. Move the old library to the folder where the new one is. The system will ask whether you want to replace the the existing library with the same name, and of course you will want to.
5. Start iTunes anew and you should have your old library back.

How to get music back into itunes library?

Before i restored my laptop back to original default settings, i saved an itunes folder onto a external hardrive, thinking that i wouldnt need to re-install it etc. But it wasnt working, so im downloading itunes again now...but how do i get all my music back into my itunes library. The music is still on my ipod. Do i need to plug my ipod in or will that erase all my music on my ipod?! Stressing out! Please help!
Thanks x

Quit iTunes.
Copy the entire /iTunes/ folder from you external to /My Music/ folder on your computer.
That is all you need to do.

How can I get back my itunes library settings?

My dad recently created a new profile and my library got lost with the old profile. I was able to move all my music from the old profile to my new library but i lost all my settings. I have the music but it doesn't show any of my ratings for any songs, no play counts, the date added is wrong, no playlists, and I had selected specific songs I wanted on my ipod but now it has all of them selected again. I still have all my old settings on my nano if I can get them off there somehow. If anyone knows how i can get my settings back please help.

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How to restore a backed up iTunes library from discs?

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