Is there a way to totally install iTunes to a different drive D: instead of on C:?

Question

I have a new computer with a small drive C: (an SSD) that I am reserving for just the Windows 7.  I have a much larger hard drive (D:) that I am putting data and other applications on.  I want to make sure that when I install iTunes (and import my library from my old PC) that it goes totally on Drive D:.
Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Hi,
I'm not sure if this will help but I recently moved to a new laptop with Windows 7 Pro 64-bit and moved my library from my old WinXP Home SP3 laptop. This new technology thing comes with a lot of headaches, compatibility issues and all (this is another story); but after trying to resolve issues I've come to understand a bit how the iTunes app works (without reading the multitudes of manuals that only serve to confuse us more).
iTunes keeps its files in a folder named, aptly, iTunes. In Windows 7 it is usually under a My Music folder and the structure looks something like this:
C:\Users\YourHomeFolder\My Music\iTunes - and may contain the folders - Album Artwork, iTunes Media, etc. - and a file iTunes Library.itl -- now this it the iTunes Library file.
In my setup, I have the iTunes Media folder in a different location (initially it was on a USB attached external drive, then later I moved it to a network attached drive). This iTunes Media folder is where all your iTunes media files are located. I have the ff folders in mine: Audiobooks, Automatically Added to iTunes, Mobile Applications, Music.
So after moving the 'gigantic'  iTunes Media to a new location (away and separate from the My Music\iTunes folder), how do I access this? If you just have a single iTunes Library, run iTunes, press Ctrl+, (or click Edit|Preferences) and go the the Advanced tab and in the iTunes Media folder location click Change and browse to the new location of your iTunes Media folder (literally). Select OK. Wait for iTunes to update everything (well not everything because this is where I'm still having issues with since I moved to a network attached storage). You may need to restart iTunes just to have all the files in your library updated.
Now you need to know one more piece of information since you might "desire" to have more than one iTunes Library. I did try this by having 2. Both were not located in the standard My Music\iTunes folders. I actually had one named D:\iTunes01 and the other R:\iTunes02. Then I copied the "iTunes Library.itl" file in each of these folders. The reason I did this? I wanted both libraries to use the same iTunes Media folder which contains all my music, videos, etc. but I want one of my iTunes Library (D:\iTunes01) configured for a specific device that I sync with it and the other folder (R:\iTunes02) configured for another device. Why you might ask? Another compatibility issue (which is another story).
So, how to switch between libraries?
Run iTunes by pressing the Shift Key and left clicking the iTunes application icon. Don't let go of the Shift Key until the Choose an iTunes Library dialog/windows pops up which gives you the option to Choose a Library or Create a New Library. Since I have an existing library I opted for the Choose a Library. Browse to your library folder (in my case either D:\iTunes01 or R:\iTunes02) and select (important) their respective iTunes Library.itl file. Click OK and your done. Next time you click on the iTunes icon it will open using the last used library. Repeat the Shift Key... process if you want to change libraries.
Hope this helps. Sorry for the lengthy explanation. Good luck.
CMaker3 <-- this should be a 5 -- number stands for the coffeecups I make a day ;-)  Cheers!