ITunes forgets media folder is on external hard drive
Hi
I have recently started using a Time Capsule with an external hard drive attached. I have moved my music and video to the external hard drive to free up space on my MacBook Pro hard drive. I have set up iTunes to play from the external hard drive (which works fine), however, although I have changed the location of the iTune media folder in Preferences it keeps reverting to the iTunes media folder on my Mac's hard drive. Is there a way to stop it doing this?
Thanks
Rob
If you have iTunes set to default preferences this is the way to move it:
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.
While you can move just media (and leave the iTunes library files on the computer) I personally don't see too much advantage in doing just that, and several disadvantages. In other words I do not recommend: iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
If you're starting to work with this, these link might help undertand:
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
iTunes 9: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847
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To be precise, I've moved my iTunes Media Library to the same external hard drive where my TM backups are stored, although there's plenty of free space on that drive for both.
As I write that, however, it strikes me that if that external drive fails, I've lost my entire iTunes media directory AND my TM backup. So I suppose I should use a separate external HD for each, right?
But my main question is whether or not TM will still back up that iTunes media folder even if it's no longer located on the same boot drive as my main machine, which is a Mac Mini.
The whole reason I'm doing this is because my MM has a 250GB solid-state drive that is rapidly filling up because my iTunes library is 150+GB.mende1 says:
I recommend you to store the library on another partition on the external disk and keep the first volume only for Time Machine backups.
and you say:
As I write that, however, it strikes me that if that external drive fails, I've lost my entire iTunes media directory AND my TM backup. So I suppose I should use a separate external HD for each, right?
From what people report here I'd say more people lose collections through whole drives failing and not just individual volumes becoming corrupt. A drive failing will take out all volumes on that drive.
Whatever the scenario, you will need multiple external drives. For convenience you could do as mende1 suggests and partition the TM drive. Keep TM on one part and your library on the other. This would be convenient because then you would only have one external connected to your Mac most of the time. However, then you should do as you observe and back up the partition used for iTunes to another external drive as often as you deem necessary. Basically you always want two copies of everything on two different drives, but they don't all have to be on the same two drives. Your TM drive acts as the backup for your computer and the primary for iTunes. Your computer acts as the primary for what's on TM and the second external acts as the backup for iTunes. -
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!
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How do I move my iTunes media folder to an external hard drive on my iMac with OS 10.6.8?
I am running out of space on my iMac hard drive so I bought an external hard drive. I want to transfer my iTunes music library onto that drive. I think I have to do it through iTunes, but I can't even see the hard drive on iTunes like I can see other devices. The drive is definitely connected. I can transfer files on my iMac drive directly to the external drive using the Finder.
Quit iTunes.
Copy the entire /MusiciTunes/ folder from internal drive to external drive.
Hold Option & launch iTunes.
Selelect Choose library... and select the iTunes folder you copied to the external.
After you make sure everything works, you can delete /MuusiciTunes/ folder. -
I used my time capsule (1st gen) as an external hard drive to store my iTunes files and my iTunes app is on my main iMac. Now, I've decided to move those iTunes files from my external hard drive (TC) back to my iMac where my iTunes app is located. What is the best way to do this?
Is the Time Capsule the right piece of kit for the job?
Not really, no.
TC is a dumb as board hard disk in an airport extreme router. It has no media servers.. no backup.. it is slow and designed for TM target for laptops. The major one here is lack of backup. Any files you put on the TC can and will be lost at some point.. and to backup you need to have a computer connected to it with an external hard disk.. and a 3rd party backup because TM is too dumb to back up network drives.
TC is designed to spin up slow and spin down quickly at the end of backup. You will have issues when you stream media from it.
ATV needs to connect to itunes server.. not the library. You will still need a computer running. Same for lots of things.. since apple designed their system to be dependent on itunes.
The best idea is a media computer.. a mac mini is ideal. Don't need the latest greatest.. but an actual mac running itunes. Unfortunately it doesn't have large internal drives.. so it is still a bit kludgy in needing a fast external drive.. but at least you have automatic backups. -
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?
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How to use itunes, and sync ipod from an external hard drive
All of my music files are on my external hard drive. I moved my itunes media folder to my external hard drive. I have 150 gig of music and only 25 gig free on my macbook, so I'd like to put it all on my ipod without putting it on my computer, as there isn't enough memory. Every time I try to move the music from my external hd to itunes it starts adding music to my computer's internal hard drive- i thought this would be solved by having my media library in my external hd but it isn't I'm not sure how to get around this. I've already followed the directions here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449 but it didn't accomplish what I wanted: For all my music to show up in itunes, and be able to sync my ipod to it, without the music being on my computer's internal hd. I have a macbook.
Make sure the copy to iTunes media folder is unchecked.
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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 (⌥).
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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. -
Can I update to itunes 9.2 even though I have moved my media files to an external hard drive?
I moved my ITunes media files to an external hard drive. If I upgrade to ITunes 9.2 will ITunes still know that the media files are located on the external hard drive?
Not sure since I haven't used iTunes 9 in awhile, but if it doesn't, the fix is pretty simple:
Go into iTunes > Preferences > Advanced and change the location of the media folder to your external HD. -
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.) -
Saving iTunes Movies/TV Shows to an external hard drive
I need to free up space on my dell laptop so I would like to move my iTunes movies/tv shows to an external hard drive while keeping my music on my internal hard drive. So I would like to have two different libraries, one for music on my internal and one for movies/tv shows on my external. What is the simplest way to do this without wiping out my movie collection?
You can create multiple libraries with a shift-start of itunes.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesWin/8.0/en/15502.html
Press AND HOLD the shift key while starting itunes, and create a new library on your exHD.
Name it something like Movies - don't take the default itunes1 name which will not make sense later.
The new library will be blank. Before you do anything, change the itunes preferences > Advanced tab.
The "Copy to itunes Media Folder" and options needs to be turned ON.
You need to change the itunes media folder location to your exHD.
Now, go to your internal HD to the Movies folder using Win Explorer. Drag that Movie folder and drop it onto iTunes (the source list over on the left, onto the word LIBRARY).
Another way to do it is itunes menu > File > Add folder to library
Repeat for the TV shows folder.
This will copy the files to your exHD, since you already changed the preference to "Copy to itunes Media Folder"
Make sure you can play a few seconds of several movies/TV show to satisfy yourself that it all went well.
Double-check the file locations in iTunes by doing a right-click > show in Windows Explorer.
They should be on your exHD.
The files will still be on your internal drive. You can either delete them using itunes or Win Explorer.
If you use Win Explorer, you'll get ! file not found marks in your original music library.
Things to remember about using multiple libraries:
1) iTunes always uses the last library it opened. You have to remember to shift-start between libraries.
2) Every time you do a shift-start, double-check the iTunes preferences advanced to make sure the "itunes media location" and "copy to itunes" is set how you want.
3) It is easy to forget which library you last had opened, so train yourself to always use a shift-start. -
I recently bought a mac pro. I previously had a macbook that I had set up for iTunes to run off of an external hard drive. How do I set up my mac pro to run off of this hard drive? I have been trying to figure it out for the last hour and have had no luck.
I have tried to move my itunes folder on my mac pro to my external hard drive but am having no luck. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.If you had the entire library running from the external drive it should be a matter of holding down option as you start iTunes and browsing to the library on the external drive.
If you'd followed the advice to move the media folder only then ideally you need to recover the library folder from your Macbook with a view to making the library portable on the external drive.
Otherwise you're going to have to simply import the content into a new library, losing rating, playlists, play counts. etc.
If you have any devices that sync to your library see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2
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