ITunes, 2 Computers; and an external Hard Drive
I am an IT tech for a company that will remain nameless. In their attempt to limit liabilities they have said all music file are to be stored on external storage owned by individuals. But iTunes is fine to use on the company computer.
My question is that I have a computer at home, and one at work. Both have iTunes, and I store all my music on an external USB drive (80gb). When I add music at home at night, I bring the drive to work and then have to go and manually add the new music to the Library there also. Most all of music is MP3 converted from CDs, no music store purchases.
Is there a way I can have both iTunes installs read the same Library file dB files, or a script I can run on a folder that will add to the library only the music that is not already there?
iPod 30GB Video Windows XP Pro 80 GB external HDD, Home PC, and Work Laptop
Hey guys and gals, I have been looking everywhere for this answer but can find nothing. I do see a lot of questions in a support fourm that have nothing to do with support.
Stuff like not enough gospel music? How is that a support issue?
Anyway, does anyone have any ideas on this problem of mine?
Similar Messages
-
I need to free up space on my macbook pro as hard drive is full!! So with 20 000 photos/video clips and itunes I would like to move this to a external hard drive!
I have followed steps on apple support but when i get to the Change itunes media folder location and chosen external hard drive it will not let me access the new folder option ?? help?errrrrrrm!
Yes external drive shows up in finder on desk top and can change to in the media folder location thing!
My external hard drive is a WD Elements. I have no idea about permissions to the external? Do i Have to format external hard drive to a mac?
I am trying to follow the steps on the apple support page to transfer files (consolidate library etc) just cant get further down steps as the new folder option is greyed out!
Thanks for you help -
Transferring Itunes data between computers using an external hard drive.
I just bought a new laptop and an external hard drive. What is the best way to go about transfering all of my 1400 songs on Itunes from my old computer to my new laptop using the external hard drive? I have purchased some songs from Itunes but mostly they were not bought there. Thanks in advance.
The guide for using the iPod as a hard drive is a good starting point. Just skip on past the part about enabling the iPod as a hard drive and read from "Is all the music together?". Substitute "external hard drive" for "iPod" and the instructions are the same: How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer
-
My ITunes Library is on an external hard drive, however, the internal hard drive on my laptop crashed, requireing a complete re-format and re-installation of Windows XP--When I re-install Itunes, what do I need to do to make sure I do not lose all of the content on the two iphones I have, and to re-associate the library with Itunes ( i know how to change the path) but I am fearful that somehow the library link will be broken since the old Itunes installation is gone, and who knows what else might go awry.
any help or advice is welcome.You're Welcome...
This Link explains the correct way of putting iTunes onto an External Drive...
If you have have not done it this way that could explain a lot...
Backup iTunes to an External Drive
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751 -
ITunes library and my external hard drive
My iTunes library is on an external hard drive (for well over a year with no problems). All of a sudden, my laptop/iTunes can't locate the files unless I manually go into the HD and find it. How do I get my laptop to automatically read the library?
Normally your iTunes library is created at <User's Music>\iTunes with the media folder at <User's Music>\iTunes\iTunes Media with the exact path to <User's Music> depending on the version of the operating system and your profile's user name.
With things in this layout you can move the main iTunes folder to a new path and things generally carry on working. (There is a minor exception for iPod Games/Mobile Applications if the library is in the pre-iTunes 9 layout.)
What tends to happen when people run out of room is that they read some advice about relocatiing the media folder rather than the library as a whole. This involves nominating a new location for the media folder, then consolidating all content to that new location, leaving the original copies behind to be tidied up by hand. While this works it removes the resiliance of the self-contained library.
Take a look at one of files that can be found. The path should be something like <Drive Letter:>\<Some Folders>\[Music\]<Album Artist>\<Album>\## <Track>.<ext>. Your media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced should be the same as this bit: <Drive Letter:>\<Some Folders>
Here are typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
There is a hidden file called .iTunes Preferences.plist in the media folder that lets iTunes know if it is in the new layout or the old one. Occasionaly this file can be incorrectly updated which could be a cause of your current issue. There is a line in the file that reads <integer>0</integer> if the folders are in the old layout or <integer>1</integer> if they are in the new one. Correct the value if necessary and restart iTunes.
Again, if that doesn't fix it, try selecting some broken tracks and using my FindTracks script. If it works for them then it should work for the rest.
tt2 -
I have my itunes media stored on my external hard drive. On this external drive I have a folder called "TV shows". I previously cut and pasted itunes TV shows to this folder to free up some space. How do I incorporate this folder (TV shows) back into the itunes library?
assuming the copy files ... when adding option is checkmarked in preferences > advanced, drag the folder into an open iTunes window while holding option (⌥).
-
ITunes 11 no longer displaying external hard drive files
My iTunes library is on an external hard drive and I have iTunes directed to the media on the external hard drive, but no media of any kind is showing when I open iTunes. This problem started today and as recently as two days ago everything was fine. I moved my entire library to an external drive a year ago and have been using iTunes forever. I have opened iTunes while holding 'option' and directing to the music on my external but I'm not able to select the music folders on the external and there is no file named "iTunes Media" on th external. There is a "iTunes Media" folder on my internal hard drive bit it contains only 3 artists since I've moved everything. The iTunes libray itl and xml files are on my internal drive as well. Any thoughts on what to try next to get iTunes to show the music on my external drive? Preferably I'd like to keep the info and playlists that I was using a couple days ago. Thanks!
I thank u all for your input espec mark but also all the various posts in discussions generally. i am pleased to say i astounded myself by working it out (but no hubris here).the answer was to LEAVE the old 'iTunes Library' folder and the old xml file in the 'iTunes' folder on mac2 and then to copy to (subsequently) replace them with the original similar files from mac1 et voila everything - songs,tiles,dates,playlists etc all show up in new iTunes screen. how pleasant when ones aimiable bumblings work!
-
Itunes cannot see the itunes music folder on my external hard drive
I recently put all of my music on an external hard drive to free up space on my computer,
However, when I am in itunes and trying to point the library to the music folder, itunes still cannot see it. Instead all it can see is the E drive WD Passport, and folders named autorun, WD Sync Data Wd Windows Tools.
Can anyone tell me how I can see my itunes music folder on my external hard drive while I am in preferences, advanced, library location, change??I don't know enough about iTunes for Windows to help you with this. But if you post your question in the Using iTunes for Windows forum you will get help from people who know more about this.
(This is the forum for Apple's Mac OS X web browser, Safari.) -
Can time machine back up an imac and an external hard drive?
I currently back up my imac via time machine but to reduce space on my hard drive I want to move my itunes library onto an external hard drive. If i do this can time machine still back up my imac and the external hard drive with the itunes library on automatically?
Regards
Toekomstoekoms wrote:
I currently back up my imac via time machine but to reduce space on my hard drive I want to move my itunes library onto an external hard drive. If i do this can time machine still back up my imac and the external hard drive with the itunes library on automatically?
yes, given enough space on the destination drive (your library may grow over time). also, the drive needs to be connected directly to your Mac.
you might want to make sure the drive is not excluded from TM backups by checking in system preferences > time machine > options.
also, as for moving your iTunes library, see this read for tips/instructions.
JGG
edited by the Jolly Green Giant (where Green stands for environmentally friendly) -
I store my iTunes media folder on my external hard drive and can no longer find it there. It seemed to becomd lost after I re-designated the default iTunes media location. I had downloaded some things from iTunes without my external hard drive plugged in and when they downloaded they downloaded to the default location on my Macbook Pro. In recognizing that, I wanted to move those files from the hard drive on my MacBook Pro to the external hard drive. When I re-selected the location as the external hard drive a copy process began. I cancelled the copy process fearing the small number of files from my Macbook Pro would over-write all of the files on my external hard drive so I quit the copy process. Now I do not see my "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I fear that I have somehow lost the path but I believe the content is still on my external hard drive although I no longer see the "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I know I didn't delete it, but it isn't there. Is there a way to make it re-appear? I would really appreciate any guideance anyone has.
Thank you.
Best,
MattWhen you change the location in preferences it tells iTunes to start, from this point on, storing new media files in the new location. It then presents you with the option to move any old files in their current locations to the new location. It doesn't move the library files which are not media files. Read the links below to understand how iTunes works because you are the one with the computer in front of you and are in the better position to understand how it stands as regards to iTunes files.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
Now, did you keep the whole library on the external drive, or did you keep just media? From your description of the situation it sounds as if you kept the whole library there and when the external was not attached it returned to default location on the internal drive. What you should have done then was plug in the external drive, hold down the option key, and guide iTunes to the library file on the external. At this stage you could have dealt with the mislocated new files on an individual basis.
I guess the key question is, did your trying to move the couple of new media files to the external drive overwrite the iTunes folder there, which because you then canceled may have also just resulted in it being deleted. I am not going to test the theory on my system.
How big was your library on the external? If it was 40GB do you now suddenly have 40 GB free?
Look for any iTunes folders on the external drive. In view options turn on "calculate all folders sizes" and see if there are any big ones. -
The store my iTunes media folder on my external hard drive and can no longer find it there. It seemed to becomd lost after I re-designated the default iTunes media location. I had downloaded some things from iTunes without my external hard drive plugged in and when they downloaded they downloaded to the default location on my Macbook Pro. In recognizing that, I wanted to move those files from the hard drive on my MacBook Pro to the external hard drive. When I re-selected the location as the external hard drive a copy process began. I cancelled the copy process fearing the small number of files from my Macbook Pro would over-write all of the files on my external hard drive so I quit the copy process. Now I do not see my "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I fear that I have somehow lost the path but I believe the content is still on my external hard drive although I no longer see the "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I know I didn't delete it, but it isn't there. Is there a way to make it re-appear? I would really appreciate any guideance anyone has.
Thank you.
Best,
MattAny ideas? Anyone?
-
After installing iTunes 11.1.5, my external hard drive holding my iTunes music cannot be acccessed. Attempting to open the iTunes folder location locks up the computer and requires a cold reboot to restore.
Hello, LoudenFam.
Thank you for the question. Try the steps in the article below as they may help you resolve the issue that you are experiencing with iTunes becoming unresponsive.
iTunes for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8: Fix unexpected quits or launch issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1717
Cheers,
Jason H. -
How can i transfer my itunes library from a PC external hard drive to iMac?
I have recently bought a new iMac but my iTunes library is on an external hard drive that is formatted for PC use, this is then linked to my old PC laptop, how can i get the library onto my new iMac?
Drag the entire library to the Mac's internal drive, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, and point it to that library. If the library only contains the music and not the iTunes database files, drag it into the open iTunes application window.
(80731) -
How do I get itunes library to move to external hard drive automatically?
I have a 250 GB Verbatim external hard drive. This hard drive has an existing itunes library from my PC. I figured out how to combine the two itunes libraries, (1 from PC and 1 from Macbook). I cannot figure out how to set up itunes to automatically save to external hard drive. In other words, I've gotten everything onto my Mac, but not onto the external, which is what I want. When I try to move the itunes folders to my Verbatim in Finder, it gives me the circle with the line through it. It will not let me move anything over to the Verbatim. Please help!
On the copying issue, if the drive was used with a PC initially it is quite possible it is formatted to NTFS. Macs can read NTFS drives but not write to them You could try to use a utility such as NTFS-3G to enable read-write, or you could use Disk Utility to reformat the drive to FAT (probably FAT32) which can be read by both PCs and Macs. FAT has certain disadvantages too, such as not being repairable by Macs, and there is a limit on single file sizes (2GB or 4GB depending upon the FAT version).
Once you get your whole iTunes folder (not just media) onto the external drive, start iTunes with the option key held down and show it the new location.
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with just storing media on another drive:
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449 -
my iTunes library is on an external hard drive; how do I set it so other users (accounts) on my imac, will also have the same library, with the same playlists
Quit iTunes.
Sign into another user account.
Hold Option, launch iTunes.
Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
Do this for all users.
NOTE: You must quit iTunes when switching users as the library can only be opened by one user at a time.
Maybe you are looking for
-
Error while running: J2SE 1.4 or later cannot be found
Hi, I just installed Java studio Enterprise 8. Installation is smooth. When I tried to run, it throws an error saying "J2SE 1.4 or later cannot be found on your machine". I know it is straight forward. But, all my other applications are able to find
-
Which table for the field "Net due date" of customer line items?
Hi All, In which table could I find the field "Net due date" of customer line items? Thanks Gandalf
-
Dear All, I would like to ask wether anyone has ever use GetBusinessObjectFromXML to create UserTables and how to do it. I have tried to do so but always getting error : "The Mete Data for this object cannot be updated, since it's ref count is bigger
-
Best way to manage different landscapes data in solman
Hello, We are interested in using certain solman functionnalities to our complete customers landscapes. Our situation is that we manage the SAP landscape of many diferent customers. Each landscape is maintained individually from the others. We would
-
How do I convert the MAP app from meters to miles?
In MAPS, how do I convert from meters to miles?