Itunes folder laction and external hard and lose of files
i use itunes 7. i use and external hard drive for my itunes folder location. i have 189.96 gb of music in that location but itunes only finds 175.96 gb. why is this? why does it not see the other files? it is does not see them in a logical why? if i clear itunes and change the location it does not see different songs then last time i did that. it is completely random at what is does and does not find. 175.96gb is the most i have gotten it to find. once it only found 147.83gb and onther 152.62gb
macbook pro Mac OS X (10.4.8)
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 let iTunes manage your music: 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.
To see your iTunes folder click on the Music folder icon in your Finder sidebar.
Similar Messages
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Hi,
I have been trying to back up my iTunes folder from my MacBook hard drive over to a new LaCie external hard drive. However, whenever I try to do it at some point during the copying I keep getting the warning "The operation can’t be completed because the item FILE NAME is in use". Each time I have tried it, it is always a different file name that comes up and at different points of the copying. Following the warning, the copying stops and cannot be restarted.
I tried copying the iTunes folder to another Lacie external hard drive that I have, and it worked fine so I am guessing that it maybe something wrong with the hard drive.
I've been trying various approaches all day and can't seem to get anywhere with it - all very frustrating, so any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks.If you don't have other backup data on it, reformatting external drive could solve the problem.
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I copied my whole itunes folder to an external drive as id run out of space on my PC. I then changed the location of the folder on iTunes through preferances, but it gave me a warning which i just pressed no/cancel to without reading it, but i didnt realise that then it had not saved the new folder location. When i deleted the original folder, everything dissapeared from itunes meaning i had to reload everything from the new, moved, itunes folder. This wasnt a problem, except it had lost all memory of playlists and play counts etc. But now, when i try and sync my phone, it tells me there is not enough space on the phone as it must be trying to add all of the music from itunes to the phone as well as what is already on the phone.
Is there a way to upload everything from the phone to itunes, including play counts and playlists?
if not....
How do i just sync my phone to itunes without having to reset the phone and losing photographs, and without itunes trying to add everything twice?
Last question, why do Apple want to make this so difficult for me? What is wrong with plane old 'click and drag'??
Help me would be greatly apprerciated!! Thanks.Close iTunes. Click the icon to start it, then press and hold down the left shift key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Choose the iTunes folder on your external drive. That should bring back all your playlists, ratings, play counts etc. You may have to settle for removing and reloading the media onto the device again. That's not too bad, but what you don't want to have happen is your apps being removed and reloaded as then you can lose settings and data. If that looks likely backup and then restore the device rather than sync it.
If for some reason rebuilding the library the way you did has moved files around then the restored library may have trouble finding things. If so post back and I'll explain what to do...
tt2 -
HT1589 iMac: How do I move my iTunes folder from one external hard drive to another external drive?
Due to file size reasons, I found myself several years ago with the need to move my iTunes Library from my desktop's internal drive to an external drive [which I also used via partition for a backup of my internal drive] I now have to move to a different external hard drive -- again for more space. I've copied the iTunes Library to the new drive, but can't seem to get iTunes to recognize and run it.
What specifically do I need to do to get this done?You could plug the WD drive straight into the TC but it will be much faster to do it with the WD drive plugged into the computer.. and just mount the TC hard disk in Finder.
To move itunes library you must follow the Apple instructions.. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
You may need to reconnect itunes to the library before you try to move it.. !! -
If I backup my iTunes Library by saving the iTunes folder on an external hard drive using the instructions contained in the link below, will it also back up all my iPad and iPhone backups as well as App Data and Documents from my devices? In other words, will it also create backups for the backups? Thank you.
Back up your iTunes library by copying it to an external drive
Furthermore, when it is time to restore the iTunes folder I copied to my external drive to a new iTunes program on my new computer, how will it merge the information once I plug in my iPad or iPhone to that new laptop to sync? If I did the iTunes library backup a couple months ago and I've added documents/music/pictures on my devices since then, what will happen when I try to sync it with the new laptop now working off of the iTunes library backup from a couple months ago since the information is no longer the same? Which information will dominate and thus be kept? Will it delete the new information/data/pictures/documents/music off of the devices since it is not on the iTunes program when it syncs?
Sorry for so many questions, but they are all related to backing up and restoring iTunes. I am not very tech savvy if you cannot tellIt would be a good idea to look into a bigger hard drive. They are not that expensive any more and can save a lot of headach. This is even more important if you are buying music from the iTunes music store. If you lost those files they are gone.
The point of having it on your PC and iPod is to have a backup. If the iPod fails, or you need to go back to the DVDs and find they are scratched, or just can not be read you have lost days of work converting and organizing all of those songs.
Or the iPod could hard drive could fail and then you will have to try to bring all of those files back from DVDs. You end up with a mess since some songs will probably be on multiple DVDs, have different names ect. Trying to reorganize it all can be a pain. -
How do I create an iTunes library on an external hard drive?
I have a MacBook Pro running OS10.6.8 and iTunes 10.3.1.
I have simply run out of hard drive space on my laptop.
I want to create a secondary iTune library on an external hard drive.
(I know how to create a new iTune Library - it ends up in my Music folder on my laptop hard drive).
So how do I:
a) create or move this folder to an external hard drive, and
b) once done, how do I move my video files (television programs and movies) from my laptop iTune folder to the external hard drive?
Thank you for any assistance.no need to create a secondary library - too troublesome, IMHO. you can spread your library over as many drives you can connect to your Mac (wired or wirelessly):
iTunes > preferences > advanced.
point iTunes media folder location to the external
on the same tab, ensure the copy files ... when adding option is checkmarked
okay out of preferences
highlight the content to be moved in iTunes and right-click
select consolidate files from the pop-up menu
wait for the process to finish
when done, you may delete the original files from your boot drive.
alternatively, you could move the whole shabang to the external HD:
copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music or media folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music to the external, launch iTunes while holding the option(⌥) key, click on choose library when prompted, and select the iTunes folder you copied to the external.
when done, be sure to point iTunes media folder location to the external so that new additions to your library will be put there. also, you need to make sure the external is mounted on your desktop before you fire up iTunes. -
Duplicating the set-up of iTunes stored on an external hard drive to a new computer
I need some help setting up iTunes on my new computer. Currently I run iTunes off my hard drive with my itunes folder on an external hard disk(E:) (to save space on my main hard disk). The itunes >Advanced>iTunes media folder location setting = E:\itunes and everything works great. I am getting a new computer and want the same set-up. Can someone help me with a procedure to do this? Is it as simple as, 1) Down load itunes on the new machine. 2) Plug in external hard drive E:\. 3) Set Advanced>iTunes media folder location setting = E:\itunes? What about other saved preferences, etc?
It won't quite work as you suggest. Your library database is still somewhere on your C: drive. Changing the location of that preference only controls where iTunes will put new media. A new empty library won't magically find any media that might be there and even if you import it, playlists, ratings etc. will be lost. If you have any Apple devices iTunes will detect the "new" library and want to wipe them out.
Do the following:
With iTunes closed, copy the contents of C:\<Users>\<Users's Music>\iTunes to E:\
Hold down shift and click the icon to start iTunes. Keep holding shift until asked to choose or create a library. Choose the library file at E:\iTunes Library.itl.
Check your stuff still plays.
Close iTunes. Rename E:\iTunes as E:\iTunes Media. Start iTunes, test it again.
Close iTunes. Create a new folder called E:\iTunes. Move iTunes Media and all the files/folders you originally copied into E:\ into E:\iTunes.
Shift-start iTunes again, now opening E:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl.
Check your stuff still plays.
Your library is now portable, connect it to any computer running the same build of iTunes, shift-start iTunes to connect to it and it will work.
tt2 -
Just a little history on what I've already tried. I have my itunes folder on my external hard drive with an alias linking to my macbook pro. My hard drive is networked from airport extreme. Streaming content is not a problem. Syncing my iphone is the problem. I just get the pinwheel and a message stating sync unsuccessful because itunes was unable to connect. It takes a very long time to change any settings in itunes for mu phone.I have 8g of ram so that shouldn't be a problem. Any help would be appricated.
The best solution would be two different types of backups, one local (in your own home) and one elsewhere. So, option 3 is the "best" solution.
I, personally, use Crashplan to backup all of my computers because it's much more convenient than an external hard drive.
With an external hard drive, you can either use Time Machine to create the historical/incremental backups OR you can create a bootable clone periodically using SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner.
I don't know of any way to make the machines mirror images of one another - as far as I know, the best you could do is transfer data from one to the other at time of purchase and then use something like DropBox to keep files in sync.
~Lyssa -
I am running iTunes on an IBM compatible system running Windows XP with a relatively small hard disk (70gb). I have 4 kids with 4 IPOD Touches, multiple IPOD Nanos, etc. Their apps and album art are eating up the hard disk space. I changed the Media Folder through Edit, Prferences, Advances, iTunes Media Folder to an external hard disk. The new music downloads and purchases go there but the apps and other items do not. How do I get the apps and other iTunes software and downloads to go to the external hard disk
There is no built in function to make this happen.
Your options are:
Upgrade the existing hard drive.
Try creating a link for the app folder on the external drive... this may or may not work.
Realistically, a larger hard drive is a better solution, then use the external drive for keeping a backup of the ENTIRE iTunes folder and any other personal data on the system. -
I moved my iTunes library to an external hard drive due to lack of space on the PC. I uninstalled it from the PC at the time to increase space. My wife is a user on the computer and shares the same apple account. I discovered that iTunes was back on the PC hard drive when I tried to sync my iphone and it would not for lack of space on the PC. If I uninstall I tunes from the PC where I am the user will it affect my wife's itune account which is still on the PC?
Close iTunes. Click the icon to start it, then press and hold down the left shift key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Choose the iTunes folder on your external drive. That should bring back all your playlists, ratings, play counts etc. You may have to settle for removing and reloading the media onto the device again. That's not too bad, but what you don't want to have happen is your apps being removed and reloaded as then you can lose settings and data. If that looks likely backup and then restore the device rather than sync it.
If for some reason rebuilding the library the way you did has moved files around then the restored library may have trouble finding things. If so post back and I'll explain what to do...
tt2 -
Let me begin by saying I'm new to the Mac world as well as to the realm of online forums so I apologize if this is a question that was already asked and/or if it is a very noobish question...
But anyway, I just recently got the new Macbook Pro 15" with RD and I am curious if I can keep all of my Itunes media on an external hard drive without keeping any of it on the Macbook itself and have Itunes still function (when the HD is connected of course). I am trying to keep the computer memory clutter free and not fill it up with music and stuff so I want to keep all of my media on a 1T Buffalo external hard drive so the computer stays like brand new for a long time..Right now I have about 5G worth of music on my hard drive and I thought it was only on the hard drive and I just recently found out that it is also within the music folder on the computer itself. Any thoughts? Sorry if it is an odd question, I can try to rephrase the question if need be. Any tips or advice is greatly appreciated, Thanks!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. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
If you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
Longer answers if for any reason you do not think all library files are inside your iTunes folder (changed preferences settings at some point):
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168
2011 ilounge article: Transferring your iTunes library - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/ - An article with good background information (similar to the links above), particularly if you are not sure your media files are all grouped for quick answer above. Unfortunately under the single term "transferring library" it describes two very different moves; relocating just your media (not really transferring your library and not recommended unless you really need this configuration), and relocating media+database (really your whole "library"). Make sure you understand the difference before electing to move only media. -
How do I have itunes use/detect my external hard drive and place music on the external drive from the itunes store? There are no music files on my pc yet. I will like to do this after installing itunes 11 on my pc for the first time. I am using windows 7. HP computer intel Dual Core. Thanks for any help!
Hey idw3,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities, and thanks for the question. Follow the instructions on this article to move your iTunes Media folder to an external hard drive:
iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
Regards,
David -
I moved my itunes library to an external hard drive and then I tried to sync my ipad. I got a message that says my ipad is synced to another library and it will erase my ipad, which I don't want to do. I'm not sure how to fix this problem, any ideas?
Ok. progress...
So is your media folder called iTunes Music or iTunes Media? And does it have a folder called Music inside it?
Before going any further you should first attempt to use File > Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder "<Media Folder>" (ignore if grayed out). This will make sure that any iPod Games or Mobile Applications get placed inside the iTunes Media folder which is needed for portability.
If your iTunes Media folder is called iTunes Music, close iTunes, rename the folder as iTunes Media and start iTunes again. iTunes will automatically adjust. Close iTunes again.
On your external drive rearrange the folders that you have already copied there so that they match the layout in your active library. You should end up with a folder called X:\iTunes where X: is the external drive letter, and the media folder is X:\iTunes\iTunes Media. If the library layout was upgraded then you will need to create a Music folder inside this and move all the artist folders and Compilations into Music. You will also need to copy iPod Games and Mobile Applications from your internal drive into the new media folder. Next copy the files iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel and the folder Album Artwork from the internal drive into X:\iTunes. The preceding manipulations should make the internal and external copies of your library match without you having to copy all of the media over again.
Now hold shift as you start iTunes. Click choose, browse to and open X:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl.
Finally use File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate files. This will ensure that any stray files that might have been added from outside your original media folder will be copied into the new one.
You can now reclaim the space used by your library on the internal drive, however before you do so I would advise you to obtain another external drive and make use of this backup tip.
tt2 -
hello,
if i back up my itunes library to an external hard drive and then add subsequent music and want to back up the newly added music a few days later, can i do it without backing up the entire library again? or do i need to back up the entire library each and every time i back up to the external hard drive?Just copy Users/yourusername/Music/iTunes (containing your library-files) to your external drive as well as that (extaernal) folder that contains all your audio-tracks.
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I have and apple tv,,..how do i play movies,from my apple mac,onto the apple tv..my movies are not on my itunes,but on an external hard drive...i just want to mirrow whats playing,on my mac to the tv...
Are the movies in the correct format:
Video formats
H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
Audio formats supported
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through
When you say tit only sees your music folder, are you saying it only sees your music folder or does it see other empty folders.
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