ITunes Library Backup - HELP

As I lost a lot of iTunes content during a computer upgrade a couple of years ago, I haven't been relying on the backup methods listed through Apple Support.
My preferred method, especially since my 500GB storage on my laptop has been fast consumed by all my naughty iTunes film and telly purchases, has been to create folders on an external hard drive device and individually drag and drop films and telly into these backup folders. (I then backup these backups on a further external device.) Once I have confirmed the items have been successfully backed up, I then delete them from my iTunes library on my laptop to make space.
In the past 3 weeks I have been unable to do this. I can drag the items from my iTunes library, but they are failing to drop into the folders created on my backup drive, or simply into a folder on my laptop.
Have I managed to alter a setting on my laptop or has there been changes to the iTunes that now prevent you from backing up in this way? ASSISTANCE PLEASE!

lke73_historian wrote:
My preferred method, especially since my 500GB storage on my laptop has been fast consumed by all my naughty iTunes film and telly purchases, has been to create folders on an external hard drive device and individually drag and drop films and telly into these backup folders. (I then backup these backups on a further external device.) Once I have confirmed the items have been successfully backed up, I then delete them from my iTunes library on my laptop to make space.
Why not use Time Machine?
Once I have confirmed the items have been successfully backed up, I then delete them from my iTunes library on my laptop to make space.
So you don't wan tthese in iTunes?

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HT1751 After "Restoring iTunes Library Backup" it wont link to the files in the iTunes folder. I've followed the correct procedure, and iTunes lists all my music correctly (but with no artwork), but can't locate any of the files. Using Windows 7. Help ple

After "Restoring iTunes Library backup" it wont link to the files in the iTunes folder. I've followed the procedure as described, and the iTunes folder is in the correct location. iTunes lists all my music correctly (albeit with no artwork), but can't locate any of the files.
I've been restoring my iTunes folder from a backup hard drive to a new computer on which I've downloaded the latest iTunes (10.7). If this is a newer version than the one I backed up with could this be the problem? (I had the latest (to my knowledge) iTunes when I backed up the folder about 3 weeks ago, was this version 10.7?)
Or is the version of iTunes (within recent updates) not an issue when restoring a library?
Using Windows 7.
Any help please?

From the top of the page where the scripts live...
The general method of use is to download the script to a folder of your choice, e.g. your Desktop, Downloads folder or create a folder at ...\iTunes\Scripts. Select a playlist or highlight some tracks in iTunes and then double-click on the script to execute it. If no specific tracks are selected the script will try to work with all tracks in the current playlist. Some scripts offer a choice of track by track confirmation of changes or fully automatic processing of the selection. Many of the scripts can optionally display a progress bar while running.
You are strongly advised to backup your entire library, or at the very least the iTunes Library.itl file, before use. Test the behaviour of your chosen script on a small group of files first to make sure it does what you want before applying it to large numbers of files.
Most builds of Windows will execute *.vbs scripts when you double-click them. If that doesn't happen then you might need to visit the Add/Remove Programs or Programs & Features control panel to enable the Windows Scripting Host. I can track down details if you have issues.
Backing up and restoring data is an area that is often glossed over. Most people don't try to learn much about it until they've lost something important. (Me too )
If your iTunes library was in the usual layout then normally copying the whole iTunes folder from the User's Music folder in the old computer to the User's Music folder in the new one will usually work fine. Ideally this is done before iTunes is installed so that there is no empty library to replace, and all settings are picked up from the old library. This post contains more details.
tt2

Ipod will not show up, in iTunes library please help.

Ipod will not show up, in iTunes library please help.
I just updated to the newest version of ITunes well, not just but a few days ago. Anyway I have windows 8, and in ITunes my Ipod 5th gen will not show up. I have tried somethings such as unpluging repluging, going to services and restarting, basiclly everything on yoyutube, none still work. It's ***** to cause I just wanted to put music on my Ipod, if anyone has an idea of what to do please give some suggestions.
Thank you, for trying to help.

Hello Stephen19wfwake,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
For more information on this, take a look at:
iPod: Appears in Windows but not in iTunes
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1363
1. Try the iPod troubleshooting assistant:
If you haven't already done so, try the steps in the iPod Troubleshooting Assistant (choose your iPod model from the list).
If the issue remains after following your iPod's troubleshooting assistant, follow the steps below.
2. Restart the iPod Service
3. Restart the Apple Mobile Device Service
4. Empty your Temp directory and restart
5. Verify that the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver is installed
6. Change your iPod's drive letter
7. Remove and reinstall iTunes
8. Disable conflicting System Services and Startup Items
9. Update, Reconfigure, Disable, or Remove Security Software
10. Deleting damaged or incorrect registry keys
Best of luck,
Mario

My itunes won't launch even after reinstalling. Looked in itunes folder and somehow lost itunes library? HELP!

My itunes won't launch even after reinstalling. Looked in itunes folder and somehow lost itunes library? HELP!

The first thing I'd suggest is to get a good antispyware checker and give it a go at your system. Some recent spyware has been reported by other users to shut down iTunes or prevent it from launching. From user reports, Ewido seems to be the best at catching it. You can download a free version of Ewido here.
If that doesn't cure the problem, try deleting the iTunes preference files:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
and
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Data\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
You might have to turn on "show hidden files" to find them. (Right click "my computer", select open, select Tools menu -> Folder Options. Select View tab, "show hidden files" radio button is in the center scrolling panel.) Delete them or if you want to be able to put them back if it doesn't help, drag them to some other location. This will force iTunes to run the setup assistant the next time you launch iTunes. Note that you'll have to go back and set any preferences you've changed from the default.
If that still doesn't work, try this:
Bugie: Perform a Thorough & Complete Uninstall and Reinstall of iTunes/QuickTime.
Hope this helps.

Itunes library damaged - help!

My Itunes library became damaged today. All of the sudden I have only 158 songs in my library instead of over 4000 and all of my playlists are gone. There is a "damaged" Itunes library icon in my music folder now which was created at 10:45 this morning and modified at 1:16p.
Also my IPhoto has been acting strangely for the last couple of weeks. I've had to recreate my photo library a couple of times over that time and some of my photos have disappeared altogether. I downloaded the IPhoto Manager program last night and had some luck with it but I'm wondering if these issues are somehow related.
Thanks for you help.

Restore that backup you take regularly... Ah, OK.
*Empty/damaged library after upgrade/crash*
Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. In the *Previous iTunes Libraries* folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename *iTunes Library* as *iTunes Library (Empty)* and then rename the restored file as *iTunes Library*. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.
See Music Folder Files Not Added and Super Remove Dead Tracks for clean-up tools , if required.
tt2

Corrupted iTunes Library Issue - Help!

So I'm running an Intel-based version 10.6. Today I downloaded an Apple Update trying to fix a keyboard issue, and when i restarted found that my iTunes library is gone, save for maybe 400 apparently random songs. I have not lost any of the music itself, just the library. I can't seem to recover it - there's no evidence of the past library and restarting didn't magically bring it back.
Is there some step I'm missing to restore the previous iTunes library, or do I now have to manually go through and re-add everything? It's all scattered about different places, is the problem, and its about 22,000 songs. I have a 120G iPod synced to it, is there a way to sync just the library from the iPod to the iTunes?
My other idea is, since I'm almost out of space on the 120G iPod anyway, and since I have another way to charge it, maybe just backing all my music up onto a hard drive, deleting it all from the computer, buying a second iPod, and starting new and just not re-sync the old one ever (only charge it). Thoughts?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
PS - I don't want to erase all the music and re-add everything to iTunes from the iPod, because the last time I had to do so I lost some stuff.

The central file to everything is the library.itl file in your Music > iTunes folder. Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to that file. If you're lucky then it will be the one you need. If not then it is hard to determine where the file might be. Normally an update should not affect something like the iTunes library but if your file directory was having issues (did you verify with Disk Utility first?) then who knows? This is why one backs up before installing system software updates.
If you have a backup then let us know. You may be able to rescue a copy of the iTunes Library.itl from that and replace the bad copy in your iTunes folder.
Since your media are scattered about it may be a painstaking task adding them all again but it may come down to that. Again, back up...

Can I restore iTunes library by help of iPod?

Hi,
I had iTunes library on a stationary computer which had a hard crash. Had the library synked to my iPod touch. Can I restore iTunes library to a new computer by help of the iPod? How?
Best regards,
Lovisa in Sweden

It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer.
Have you failed to do this?

I scraped my old computer disc and lost all my data including my itunes library backup. I recreated a new itune library on my new computer but it only contains my purchased music,apps,books and movies. I Can I reverse a sync Ipod to Itunes?

How can I rebuild my itunes library on my new computer that will include all my downloaded CD's. My new library only contains my purchased music,apps.books and movies, (My library on my old computer is scraped)
The library on my ipod is intact. I don't dare to sync with the library on my new computer because I will loose my cd music. Can I do a reverse sync IPOD to Itunes?

Browse the app store. You will need a special purpose app to help you.

Use of an external drive for itunes library - backup options?

Hi,
I have a dell laptop with 60GB of memory and I just purchased an 80GB ipod classic. I cannot upgrade the storage in this laptop. Originally I was thinking I would just buy a new laptop. But given that all laptops now come with Windows Vista and reading about all the issues that users have had with Vista and Itunes I do not think that would be a good idea. Do you agree that I should just stick with my Windows XP Machine?
So I was thinking I would change my music library so it resides on an external drive. My only concern with this - is how do I keep a backup of this external drive? From reading all the forum posts if this external drive failed it can be done moving the information from an ipod back to another drive using third party software but it sounds risky.
Any thoughts on how others are handling this would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Karen

Karen, most 3rd party software is pretty easy to use. The one thing I need to point out that relying on the iPod can be pretty risky, too. What if iPod is lost or stolen? What if you have an iPod problem that requires a restore? I would suggest that as a secondary backup for the EHD, you either burn data discs or possibly consider a 2nd EHD, since you can buy them pretty cheap these days. Right now, I backup to 2 different EHD's, then burn data discs as needed of my iTunes library, just in case I would be unlucky enough to lose everything.

ITunes Library Consolidation Help

Hello there, I am new to the forum. I've been researching a little bit with little luck so I thought I'd try here.
I am about to finish building a new quad core computer and would like to move my 72 gb library over to my new computer. The only thing is I also want to keep all the song information (especially the date added and such)..but I don't know if it's possible...I just wish I could somehow replicate my library because my library is organized by the dates in which each song was added...
I've read about Library Consolidation...but I'm not sure if what I have in mind of doing is correct...
So basically..this is what I have in mind...
I'm going to buy a small (150 gb) internal hard drive and put it in my old computer. I will press the button that says "keep everything organized" and will change the itunes folder to be assigned within the new internal hard drive. I will then consolidate everything into the new drive.
Right there I have a question. Is it still okay to consolidate even though the music is all in different places? Barely any of the music is in my iTunes folder (most is in different partitioned drives), and so I am afraid if I try consolidating the files iTunes will freeze or not know what to do.
Back to what I would do...so then I would take the new hard drive which hopefully has all the music and install it in the new computer. I would then install iTunes on the new computer, and simply insert all the songs from the hard drive? In doing that, wouldn't all the files' information be gone? (Most importantly date added, because the date would now be different?) The only reason I really need date added is because I initially add all of the songs backwards so that they play in order when the songs are sorted by date added. Otherwise, all the songs would be out of order...
So yeah...I basically was wondering if the process I have in mind is correct, and also if theres any way to keep the file information.
Lastly, what does export library mean?
I'm very sorry for the long post, but I have been trying to find out how I would go about doing this with no luck from anywhere...I hope you guys can help me out. I appreciate any help.
Thanks.

+Is it still okay to consolidate even though the music is all in different places?+
Yes, that's exactly what the Consolidate Library command is for.
+In doing that, wouldn't all the files' information be gone?+
The ratings, Date Added, etc are store in the itunes library.itl file. That is another important file to copy over.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
The XML file can recreate a library but the Date Added will go missing. The ITL is the important one.
+Lastly, what does export library mean?+
It exports a list of your library into an XML file, so other application that read XML could use it.

Itunes library backup not working

I currently have a backup of my itunes library file as well as the itunes music. I lost the orginal xml file and when I open itunes, I get a blank database library. When I try to add to library, nothing happens.
Should I try something else to get the back up to take or do i need to import all the music into the library after I import the datafile?
Thanks
jf

Jeff hello,
Trash the iTunes Library file in your iTunes folder and put back the backup copy... check the name is correct 'iTunes Library'
Put all your backed up music in the iTunes Music folder.
Start iTunes and it should all work... as a check set the preferences > advanced > general tab NOT to copy any files when adding to Library and DO keep iTunes Music folder orgaized... OK any changes.
From the file menu select 'add to library' and choose the iTunes Music folder.
let's know how you get on Jeff ... TP
iMac 800MHz PowerPC G4 17 Flat Screen. G4 iBook. Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I am FREAKING OUT! Somehow I have lost my entire Itunes library! Help!

I have a dell dimension 2400 desktop pc. I have the 30 gb ipod photo, older model. I don't know what the **** I did, but tonight when attempting to clean up some empty folders on my computer, my entire Itunes Library was deleted. I can't find it anywhere! I wasn't prompted or anything to confirm what was about to happen, but when I opened Itunes back up, it was completely empty. Now when I try and put back on the "Itunes" songs it can find on my computer, it is only a fraction of them. Somehow, if possible, I just want to restore my Itunes as if I hadn't touched it, back to 2 hours ago! I am lost over 4000 songs! Some of the songs were downloaded, some ripped off cd's, some off Itunes. Someone please tell me it can be fixed! My ipod still has everything on it except for abunch of unchecked songs that were still on the computer.

if you have all the songs still on your ipod you can put them back on your computer from the ipod... just DONT LET ITUNES SYNC WITH YOU IPOD when you plug it back in. change the settings to manual control for syncing ipods or your itunes will delete all of them. i dont know what to do for the unchecked songs... i had a similar situation and i used a mac program to take the songs off of my ipod. hope this helps.. just google for an application that will let ya take songs off the ipod.

Partial iTunes library backups

Ok, by now I already know by heart how to properly do a whole iTunes library back up, and I’ve found plenty of good support info’ here regarding it, and the safest ways to do it.
Now my big dilemma that is still cracking my head and I haven’t been able to find the answer to it anywere, is what is the best way to do “partial” backups of the library?
I mean, I have this library of over 6,000 songs, and I need to do a back up on HD of say some 700 of them. If I try to select them all, and just drag them directly either from iTunes or using Finder, they system gets locked and just doesn’t do it. Seems environments like iTunes or Finder just can’s handle that big loads of info’ to transfer in one single step.
The only way it goes through is if I select them in batches of up to say 10 songs each time; but at that pace, I’d have to go through the same steps over and over some 70 times in order to finish my back up on a HD.
Is there a more practical and efficient way to do something like this?

dizny71 wrote:
1. If I move the iTunes folder does this also move the apps and movies with it
if you let iTunes keep your library organized (preferences > advanced) and all your content is inside the iTunes music (or media) folder, yes.
2. What is the best practice for backing up my library once it's moved to the external? Does Time Machine back it up since the pointer is directing it to the new external or should I use another backup program like Carbon Cloner to backup my iTunes data?
if the external is connected directly to your Mac, there is enough space on the TM destination drive, and the external is not excluded from backups, TM will back the drive up.
http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/2.html
also ckeck out _*The Complete Guide to Backing Up your iTunes Library*_
JGG

TRYING TO SYNC A SHARED LIBRARY WITH LOCAL ITUNES LIBRARY - PLEASE HELP

Hi. I am so desperate. I have not been able to update my iPod for 6 months and am about to go OS and would love to download all my recent music.
The prob is that all our music is in a Shared iTunes library (called iTunes server, on my husband's computer. We are networked). There is not much in my local iTunes library. I am trying to drag all the music from the Shared iTunes library into my local iTunes library but am having no luck.
Does anyone know how I can make my local iTunes library reflect what's in our shared library? Once I work that out then we can do the same and update my husband's local iTunes library, which is where I update my iPod from (since mine is a work computer and has no USB access). Thanks alot if you can help... DESPERATE

When iTunes Match is is on, you don't sync music or playlists with your computer.

ITunes library backup on Time Machine disk

Never used Time Machine before, and I am getting a new ext hard drive this week for this purpose.
Can I also manually put files on the Time Machine backup as well? Basically, does a Time Machine drive mount normally in that I can create folders and copy files to it, as well as use it for Time Machine's automatic backing up?
Reason I ask, is I'd like to backup my iTunes library to a folder on the drive as well as have it do Time Machine backups. Also, if this is redundant, and Time Machine will have all this stuff safely backed up (with easy access), let me know. Thanks.

skiltrip wrote:
Never used Time Machine before, and I am getting a new ext hard drive this week for this purpose.
Can I also manually put files on the Time Machine backup as well?
You can, but there are some cautions. See #3 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
Basically, does a Time Machine drive mount normally in that I can create folders and copy files to it, as well as use it for Time Machine's automatic backing up?
As you'll see in #3, yes.
Reason I ask, is I'd like to backup my iTunes library to a folder on the drive as well as have it do Time Machine backups. Also, if this is redundant, and Time Machine will have all this stuff safely backed up (with easy access), let me know. Thanks.
Unless you tell it not to, Time Machine will back up almost everything on your system. It does exclude a few things automatically, such as system work files, most caches, your logs, and trash.
You might want to review the Time Machine Tutorial
and perhaps browse the rest of the FAQ.

ITunes Library Backup - HELP

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