ITunes cant see library on external drive (PC)

I’ve followed all the instructions here for moving my iTunes library to an external hard drive. But every time I start up iTunes it is empty, still looking for the library on the C drive. The music is now located on the E: drive but I cannot get iTunes to look there. I did the 5 steps listed here and Consolidated the library and iTunes has moved all the music over the E: The preferences are set to look at the E: drive but when I start iTunes it still looks to the C: drive.

No there isnt any files call library in the folder i created I am now in the process of copying them back but I guess I will loose all my playlists and playcounts. I do have a Copy of my drive that i made with carbon copy cloner. So maybe it will be best to boot from there, restore and start again.
Chris it was just the media folder. I was following the instructions on the apple support page. Got to point 14 didn't get the warning but did seen to have a brand new itunes, so emptied the trash as they said expecting everything to be fine but it wasnt.

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  • Itunes cannot see media on external drive

    Hi
    I ran out of space on my drive so moved my itunes folder onto an external drive. All the files and folders are there, so I know they went across OK. I then trashed and deleted my original itunes folder. When I load up itunes now it does not see all the music on the external drive . It just looks like a brand new fresh instal of itunes waiting for some music. After a quick search I though I may have moved across the libraries. Have tried holding the option key on loading and selecting the choose library option, but when I point to the folder created on the external drive, it just says "An itunes library file could not be found in the folder "itunes media" ( that was the name i gave it) I guess i need to get itunes to point to this folder but i have no idea how. Help please

    No there isnt any files call library in the folder i created I am now in the process of copying them back but I guess I will loose all my playlists and playcounts. I do have a Copy of my drive that i made with carbon copy cloner. So maybe it will be best to boot from there, restore and start again.
    Chris it was just the media folder. I was following the instructions on the apple support page. Got to point 14 didn't get the warning but did seen to have a brand new itunes, so emptied the trash as they said expecting everything to be fine but it wasnt.

  • New iMac itunes not recognizing library on external drive

    I'm trying to move my itunes media from my older powermac to my new imac. I kept my library on an external drive, so I thought it would be simple to just move that drive over to the new imac and create a path in the media folder location in itunes preferences to the library. I've done so, but the library is not registering in the new itunes. Obviously I'm doing something wrong here, and I haven't found anything that describes my exact scenario. All I'm doing is keeping the external drive on which the library and contents are stored and moving it from the old computer to the new.
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  • Itunes not locating library on external drive

    arrrggggh...
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    edit to add.. the library (.itl) file is located on the C drive correctly, it is just not associating with the actual MPEG files on the I drive...

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    John Baughman wrote:
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  • Help understanding shared iTunes library on external drive

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    Launch iTunes with the Shift key held down, click on Choose Library, and navigate to that instance of the library.
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  • Tiger, iTunes library on external drive, no longer recognised

    Still using Tiger on the iMac.
    Software update caem up with iphoto/Pro Apps updates and a security update.
    Duly installed the lot.
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    Still using Tiger on the iMac.
    Software update caem up with iphoto/Pro Apps updates and a security update.
    Duly installed the lot.
    When I rebooted my heart sank when iTunes could not find the external drive library.
    Rebooted several times, no joy, thought "why do discs fail a few days after you think I need to back that up soon?".
    At this point also realsied the significance of telling everyone not to rely on AppleTv for a backup, having not backed up recent weeks iTunes Store purchases.
    Tachycardic and nervous connected said drive to the Macbook running Leopard and it worked instantly.
    Back to the iMac, no luck, and after much testing found the drive is simply no longer recognised on the Belkin hub it's been on for about a year. Other identical drives are still recognised.
    Unplugging the hub and connecting the drive to the Mac direct it's recognised again. Absolutely reproducible and I can't explain it.
    Have backed the content up now, but I'm convinced this is related to latest security update or peerhaps Apple team hacking into my iMac after all my negative comments about take 2
    So, I know this may be a bit OT, but then again it is to do with the iTunes library foir AppleTV.
    Any similar experiences or suggestions?
    Good time to remind everyone - remember to back up your media files - these things always happen out of teh blue.
    AC

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    I've been living the exact same nightmare. Spoke with applecare tech who was unable to help me, got transfered from hardware to software tech, eventually a supervisor acknowledged that he had no idea what was happening and his recommendation, "best I can suggest is that you try google it". Disappointing to say the least, I mean really if 'free' google supersedes the 'paytoplay' applecare, they have a business model issue. (Apple Expert Case 144795352).
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  • Create shared library on external drive from scratch

    I have seen many posts about creating shared iTunes libraries on external drives with many different configurations, but mostly with pre-existing libraries. My question is creating the library from scratch. The purpose is obviously to share songs among several computers AND only have one copy of a song as to not take up unnecessary disk space on several computers.
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    I was afraid you'd say that, because I'm a long time Mac guy and I don't have the perfect answer. Have you ever messed with remote desktop? That'd seem to give her full access and control, something I personally wouldn't do, although it may work for you.
    Another thought came to me that might work: copy over the complete library to her machine, and then when you do another major shoot, create a new catalog, edit, etc.and then import as catalog to you main one while sending her the new one.
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  • Error Code -36 When Copying iTunes Music folder to an External Drive

    _*"The finder cannot complete the operation because some data in "NAME.mp3" could not be read or written. (Error code -36)_"*
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    I was getting the same "-36" error while trying to backup to a Lacie firewire external drive.
    I had a lot of people telling me to re-format, erase, reinstall, run utility programs ... yada, yada, yada.
    First off, test to see if it is the connection type (firewire). I reconnected the offending external drive via USB, restarted the drive and ... BINGO! ... all transfers went perfectly.
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  • Consolidating in iTunes once iTunes has been moved to external drive

    Hi there,
    I am hoping somebody will be able to advise me. I followed the instructions on this video:
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    Many thanks!

    Hey guys,
    Yes, there is the portable library as well.  I worked with Kirk at Kirkville (Mac expert dude), and I basicallly had a portable setup, but he said the portable library left you open to functionality problems over time and I notiece that I didnt't get the "Script," dropdown menu in iTunes wihen it wasnt' set up like I suggested.  Also, from time to time you'd possibly lose files, run into sync issues.  He's a pretty knowledgable guy about iTunes, IMO he' the best but it's debatable, and he recommeneded highly leaving the library files on the local HD.
    Initially I didn't have it set up this way, all my library files were in my external.  But I was starting to run into functionality, and like once a week I was having to locate a file or two and it was just a pain.  I"d try to delete or move the library file to the local, but they'd show back up on the external.  Finally, he had me delete iTunes, download it fresh and then all the library files were forced into the local drive. As I understand it, most of the "right way," "wrong way," descriptions of how to move your files to extternal follow this method.  I suppose it's personal preference though, if you're not having any problems. 
    I like this way, because it functions just like it would on an HD.  Since my media is on an external anyway, if I ever need to move it, I can connect the new client or drive to the extternal wirelessly or cabled, and simply transfer them.  As long as the media is on an external, moving should be the easy part.
    Psych, I'm going to suggest if you like, message me and I can help you via email.  Then I can forward my correspondence with Kirk, and you can see exactly what he suggested and walked me through.  You may have already done much of it, but it's a good failsafe, as after I was done with his help....man the files now work just like they would if all on local.
    Those plist files should be on the local.  Did you look in your library?  Click on "Go," whle holding option.  You'll see library added in as an option (other ways to access, but i use this one).  Then go down to your ituens foflder and rummage around in there, see wha'ts all around. 
    I just double checked my external, and the only library file I have there is the iTunes Music Library.xml. 
    Psych, did you perhaps drag or copy your library initially, before realizing there was a "proper," way to move the library?  I ask this, because I did.....and it was the root of a ot of my problems.  I moved it all back, then used the prooper way, but it never fully worked properly until I uninstalled iTunes and reinstalled.  And hte big issue was teh library fiiles kept going to the external. What happens, is that iTunes is built to work with iMovies, preview, and many, many other applications that may use music or othher media.  Those apps don't know to look on the external, but will look in the user file, where their taught to find iTunes.  Having all the library files in the local, creates liek a "mirror," that tricks these apps into thinking they're accessing the media files, and functioning as if it was located llocally and not on external.  If library files aren't on local drive, then you're going to have problems. 
    To be honest, what I thnk consoldiate does, is just organizing the files.  For example if you had a media file of all your music, but it was created manually, and eadch file was in the file loose.  "Consolidate," creates an "artist," file and then puts the songs in subfiles.  I think under artist is album befor song.  If your external is doing this....then it's consoldiating..  That's the best thing I can suggest to verify it andput your mind at east. 

  • I moved all my music from c: drive(because it was full) to an external harddrive and now itunes can't find any of my music. Is there a way to get Itunes to find music on external drive without having to place all the music back onto the c: drive? Thanks

    I moved all my music from c: drive(because it was full) to an external harddrive and now itunes can't find any of my music. Is there a way to get Itunes to find music on external drive without having to place all the music back onto the c: drive? Thanks

    Hopefully you moved the entire iTunes Media (or iTunes Music) folder to a new path on your external drive. Copy your iTunes library folder out to the root of the external drive, e.g. X:\iTunes (where X: is your external drive), then move the media folder inside it. Hold down shift as you start iTUnes and keep holding untila asked to choose or create a library. Choose the library at X:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl. Should all be good.
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  • I have moved my Itunes media folder to an external drive and Itunes does not find the items in the folder

    Running Win7. I moved my entire Itunes library to an external drive to free up space on my laptop. Itunes recognized the change and all was well. That worked fine and I have synced several times from the laptop with the library on the external drive. Now the laptop is in the shop (sigh, not Itunes related a dead network card). I connected the external drive to my desktop, made sure my software was up to date. opened ITunes went to edit/preferences/advanced. Went to change Itunes media folder location and navigated to the proper folder on my external drive and clicked OK. None of the music, videos, etc, that are in that folder show up in iTunes on the desktop. Restarted ITunes, no help, reboot computer, no help. Have I done something wrong or left out a step. I could copy all the media onto the desktop individually and build new playlists but that seems like something that should not be needed? One of the reasons I moved my Itunes media folder to the external drive was so I could use the laptop for iTunes while travel and the desktop for iTunes while at home. Do I have to copy the entire folder to my desktop and take up space there? That would be counterproductive to using the external drive. I searched and saw a hint to hold down shift while starting ITunes but that did not change anything. Any help would be most appreciated!
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    Thank you for your prompt response - I did as you said and did a drag and drop into the iTunes window - it imported and got my album art from the net. When I started Itunes with the shift key down I was prompted to choose a library but since I copied over the media folder and not the library folder I was unable to select that so I guess I will have to create a new library and add in all the music, videos, etc. unless I wait for my laptop and export the library or at least that seems to be the case? In short, all my data (iTunes media folder) is on my external drive and can be added to the blank iTunes screen but I can not choose a library folder. Is there anyway around completely making all those playlists again? I am not sure my laptop will survive the shop with data intact and really hate to start over on those.
    In an unrelated question - I collect old TV shows from the 1950's. Can I make playlists within the home video folder somehow?  In other words like one for Quiz shows, one for comedies, one for police and detective shows, etc. while I am remaking all my playlists for my music if I end up having to go that route?
    Once again thank you for helping me out. I am not too Itunes savvy and really appreciate you taking the time to answer.

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