I've recently moved my iTunes to a external hard drive as I was running out of storage

iTunes keeps telling me randomly it cant find the library and then when I check preferences the location has disappeared. Help!

Yes plugged in library copied across fine, can go days with no issues, restarts etc.

Similar Messages

  • Need help - Moving my Itunes to an external hard drive

    Help! Help! Help! Am tearing my hair out here!
    I recently got my first Ipod so please excuse if I'm being thick here! Basically, I'm about two thirds of the way downloading my not insignificant CD collection onto my Ipod, which I'm doing via Itunes. The C drive on my laptop is now full to bursting and I don't even have enough space left for my anti virus (big problem!). Therefore, I am wanting to transfer my itunes to an external hard drive. First, I followed the instructions on this site for Backing up itunes library by copying to a external hard drive.........
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751?viewlocale=en_US
    All that succeeding in doing was mirroring whatever I did on the C:/ drive on the E:/ drive i.e. if I deleted itunes from the C:/ drive it disappeared from the E:/ drive.
    Next, I followed these instructions for Moving the itunes media folder to the external drive.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
    This too didn't help as the media folder is not the problem, its the library as its 735kb! Am I right in thinking there's no way of moving the library to the external drive whilst wiping it from the C;/ drive? I need to get these darn files off my laptop and to use my external drive for my itunes. Alternatively, if I were to wipe the files to free up the space (as they are backed up on the hard drive) is there a way of syncing so that it simply adds new stuff to the existing music on my ipod not replacing it..
    Hope I'm making sense and that someone can help.

    First, I followed the instructions on this site for Backing up itunes library by copying to a external hard drive.........
    That's what it does. It makes a backup copy of the iTunes folder. iTunes will not use that folder or do anything to that folder.
    All that succeeding in doing was mirroring whatever I did on the C:/ drive on the E:/ drive i.e. if I deleted itunes from the C:/ drive it disappeared from the E:/ drive.
    Do you mean after you followed the instructions and copied \Music\iTunes folder to the external drive and then deleted something from iTunes, it deleted it from the external drive also?
    As above, iTunes will not use or do anything to that folder.
    Next, I followed these instructions for Moving the itunes media folder to the external drive.
    Why? You already copied the entire iTunes folder (including th emedia folder) to the external drive.
    Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
    Select *Choose library* and select the _iTunes library.itl_ file in the iTunes folder on the external.
    This too didn't help as the media folder is not the problem, its the library as its 735kb!
    What do you mean "the library"?
    735kB is small for the iTunes library.itl file and a single file in iTunes is larger than that.
    Am I right in thinking there's no way of moving the library to the external drive whilst wiping it from the C;/ drive?
    Yes. Follow my intruction above (Choose library) and iTunes will use the iTunes folder on the external.
    You can then delete \Music\iTunes on the C: drive.

  • I moved my iTunes to an external hard drive and now everytime I try to access it I get the error "folder iTunes is on a locked disc..."

    Help.  I moved my iTunes account (set up on a computer running on a school network) to an external drive, because I was out of network drive space.   I changed my iTunes shortcut to point to my external drive.  I am upable to pull music from a CD and copy it to the iTunes folder on the external drive.  But when I try to open iTunes or use a previosuly set up device I get the following error message... "The folder iTunes is on a locked disc or you do not have write permissions for this folder."  I have gone in and unchecked the read only on the folder and given my self all rights in my iTunes properties.  Still I can't get in, and iTunes will only open to the folder on the external, it won't even open the iTunes page so I can see what I have.  Help I need to be able to access those old files.

    davidfrombillings wrote:
    I thought I could just drag and drop my iTunes library to an external hard drive.
    it'll work ... if done properly ☞
    copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music or media folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on your Mac to the external, then launch iTunes while holding the option (⌥) key, click on choose library when prompted, and select the iTunes folder on the external.
    if I already have my iTunes going to the incorrect files how is it going to find the correct files again.
    you could try if this script helps:
    iTunes Track CPR v1.3 
    This script attempts to locate the files of so-called "dead tracks"--iTunes tracks designated with (!)--that you assume are not actually missing but are still located in the iTunes Music folder in their "iTunes File Order" (Music -> Artist -> Album -> file.xxx)."
    Eric Ross wrote:
    When you moved the file back did you go back into iTunes in your preferences and select the advance tab and then selected the location again or where your files are
    the iTunes media folder location in preferences > advanced tells iTunes where to put new additions to your library, not where your content currently is.

  • Moving several itunes libaries to external hard drive?

    I have recently purchased an external hard drive to free up some space on the family computer. There are several diffrant log-ins on my computer each with differant itunes libraries.
    For starters, how do I move itunes over to the new drive? How do I keep the libraries seperated? And how do I sync the ipods using the external drive?
    Thanks.

    On a windows system, with iteuns closed, copy the entire itunes folder to the exHD. Not just the 'itunes music' subfolder, but the one above it.
    Now press *and hold* the shift key while starting itunes. When prompted, choose an existing library and browse to the exHD itunes folder. Pick the itunesLibrary.itl file you just copied over.

  • Moving my iTunes movies to External Hard Drive.

    I have my movies saved on an ExHD. Can I watch those movies, saved on the ExHD, on a different computer if I just set up another itunes that coresponds with my movies file on my ExHD? So like a portable DVD case I guess you could call it.

    Have a look here...
    http://macmost.com/videopodcast

  • Moving itunes folder to external hard drive

    I moved my itunes to an external hard drive for Windows 7 using itunes 10. something.  I lost all playlists and they are gone.  Ive read somewhere you can get them back from your xml list in system but I'm a noobie on computers.  CAN ANYONE HELP?

    I moved my library from itunes folder i believe
    What do you mean by "library"?
    Which files/folders did you move?
    Quit iTunes.
    Copy the entire /Music/itunes/ folder to the external.
    Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
    Select Choose library and select the iTunes folder you copied to the external.
    That is all you need to do.

  • I have a macbook air.  I was unable to fit all my music onto it so i moved iTunes onto an external hard drive.  How do I transfer my music (80GB) onto my iPod classic?

    I recently bought a Macbook air.  I had 80gb so I moved iTunes onto an external hard drive.   How do i move that music onto my iPod classic?

    You can only sysc with one iTunes library. The new computer is a new library. You have to restore your iPod on the new conputer and then sync.

  • I moved itunes file to external hard drive and want to move the file on my pc to recycle bin. When I move i get an error message that it cannot delete ituneshelper.dll access is denied. Can I move that file to the recycle bin?

    I am trying to free up space on my pc and moving itunes files to external hard drive. I have followed instructions and believe I have file copied to new drive, but I am having trouble moving file to recycle bin as the instructions say. I am getting the following error message: cannot delete ituneshelper.dll:access denied, make sure disk is not full or write protected and file not in use. I know the file is not in use when trying to move. Any help would be most appreciated. I am on Windows XP.

    Yes. And you should not have moved that folder. Put it back. To move your iTunes library move the folder from User's Music.
    tt2

  • HT1364 I have moved my library to an external hard drive and changed the location of the iTunes media folder in Preferences, but every time I close and re-open iTunes, I have to do it all over again.  How can I make the iTunes media folder change permanen

    I have moved my library to an external hard drive and changed the location of the iTunes media folder in Preferences, but every time I close and re-open iTunes, I have to do it all over again.  How can I make the iTunes media folder change permanent?  I have an older machine with Windows XP.

    I don't believe mounting the hard drive should be necessary, unless you have several external drives and want your computer to recognise them as folders, rather than drives. I've never had to mount a hard drive, ever. If you don't know how to do it, then it shouldn't be necessary now.
    Try this:
    Prepare iTunes so that it can see the external drive.
    Make a note of which drive-letter the external drive has been allocated. (Look in Windows Exploer)
    Look at the file location for a song. Make sure it plays (and therefore that iTunes has found it). Highlight it and select File/Get Info/Summary>Where: and make a note of the drive letter for that song.
    Close and shut down the computer.
    The next time you turn the computer on again, connect the external drive
    Before you start iTunes - check the external drive in Windows Explorer. Is it ready, does it have the same drive-letter that it had last time? Can you go into the drive and see the files on it?
    Once you can, start iTunes. (If the drive lettter has changed, you need to work out why before going any further.)
    If iTunes fails to find your external drive, you need to check where iTunes is looking for your Library.
    Select the same song you checked before (presumably iTunes can no longer find it). Follow the procedure for locating it. You should be able to see where iTunes thinks the file is. It's the drive that counts. Which drive letter is iTunes looking at? Is it the same one that it was previously (which should also be the same one that the drive has now).
    What happens, which step do you have problems with?
    Message was edited by: the fiend

  • I'm having a problem with downloading multiple app updates and moving songs between iTunes and my external hard drive.

    I'm having two problems with iTunes, but I'm not sure if they're related issues. First, when I try to click "Download All Updates" for apps, only one update will download and I will get successive error messages for all of the other updates. However, if I click update for each individual app, they download fine. Why am I not able to download all app updates simultaneously now.
    My second issue is that I cannot move songs from iTunes to my external hard drive or vice versa. When I drag the files, the blue plus sign appears, but the file does not appear where I moved it to.
    Both issues have been occuring for about month. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    While downloading select Downloads in the left-hand column and make sure Allow Simultaneous Downloads is unchecked. This seems to help with partial downloads...
    The other issue doesn't ring any bells.
    tt2

  • I just bought a MBA and I need to move my photos and itunes to an external hard drive (from my old MacBook Pro) because they won't fit on the Air.  I got the photos moved fine and I followed an online tutorial to move the necessary files for itunes, but i

    I just bought a MBA and I need to move my photos and itunes to an external hard drive (from my old MacBook Pro) because they won't fit on the Air.  I got the photos moved fine and I followed an online tutorial to move the necessary files for itunes, but it didn't work.  The files copied fine, but when I tell iTunes on the Air to look at the external drive for the library, it doesn't find anything.  What I copied was the entire iTunes Media folder.  So, how do I move the necessary iTunes files from my old Pro to a external drive so I can access them from my new Air?  Whew!

    iTunes- How to move the library to an EHD
    After you move the library you need to open iTunes by first depressing the OPTION key then launching iTunes. You will be given a choice of which library to use. This can then be made a permanent change, if you wish, in the Advanced section of iTunes preferences.

  • I have purchased a 3TB external hard drive. I took it to the apple store. They moved all of my iTunes to the external hard drive. I still keep getting the message that my start up disc is full. Please help.

    What else can I do. All of itunes should be on the external hard drive. I think 3TB is plenty of space. Could it be my iphoto? I moved all those to the external hard drive too.

    lllaass wrote:
    Yes, you should format the HD.
    A Mac can natively write to a NTSF drive and that is what most drives com formatted with.
    You should use the Mac journaled format.
    Once again you are posting incorrect information
    Until we know what format the drive is it is impossible to state that it must be formatted - that is just a guess
    And a Mac can not Natively write to an NTSF drive - it can natively read it but can not write to it with special software
    And since formatting a drive erases it it is critical to tell users not to format until they have a positively known good backup
    The TOU for these forum state that you should test your answers prior to posting them  --  you obviously are not doing that and you advice is endangering users photos - please only post tested answers
    LN

  • Moving itunes 12 to external hard drive

    I have been running my itunes from an external hard drive for years. For some reason, after the last ios 8.2 update, I cant get music to stay on my ipod 5th generation ipod touch. After trying pretty much anything I could think of, and many things that the people that I chatted with at itunes thought of,  I deleted all music files completely from the hard drive on my laptop, and completely uninstalled and reinstalled itunes. Is there an updated way to move itunes to my external hard drive, or a different way to get the re downloaded itunes to recognize the music that is already on my external hard drive? I am using windows 8.1

    See Make a split library portable. If starting over make a new library at the root of the drive, e.g. as X:\iTunes, then move the media inside X:\iTunes\iTunes Media before adding the folder to the library.
    tt2

  • 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.

  • Itunes not reading external hard drive correctly

    I recently moved or at least attempted to move all my music from my old hard drive to an external hard drive.
    My original plan was to have all my music on the external and have Itunes pathed to the external so whenever I have it plugged in, all my music would be in my library.  Obviously it wasn't that easy, at least not in my case.   Throughout the process I ended up losing a decent amount of my music which ***** but what can I do now.   My question is, how do I properly have Itunes read my external hard drive and have it show my music?   I have the path set to the folder in which my music is at but the issue seems to be that when I consolidated to transfer into the external, all the songs are in individual folders by artists.  I'm lost and don't know what to do.   If I drag the music folder to Itunes, the music stays on my library whenever the external is plugged in which is what I want.  But, many songs are doubled for some reason.  
    Any help would be appreciated as this is becoming very frustrtating, thank you.

    †ry the refresh script from here http://ottodestruct.com/blog/2005/10/20/itunes-javascripts/

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