ITunes library backup issue

I recently wanted to backup my library to disk (update my backups) but apparently I no longer have that option, any ideas? Only thing I've done to my iTunes other than purchases is a recent software update.

Following recent changes in the terms and conditions of the store you can, in general, download music, apps and books to your authorized devices as often as you wish, with the proviso that the content has not been withdrawn from the store. Ideally you should still maintain a backup as suggested above as restoring this will be much easier/faster than downloading past purchases.
tt2

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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

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 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)

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?

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

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.

New computer / itunes library possible issues

I'm about ready to transfer my itunes library/songs to my new laptop. I've scanned the forums to find out the obvious stuff, so now I have a few additional questions.
First, my current condition. All of my music (8000+ tracks) is sitting in an external hard drive. The latest library files have been burned on a CD, and I haven't plugged in my ipod since. My new laptop has itunes 8 loaded, nothing else. Conventional wisdom tells me that all I need to do is load the library files, then plug in and transfer the song files, and then my music, playlists, play counts, etc should be fine.
Here's my concern: my old desktop (where my itunes library resided) was too wimpy to handle all the GBs of my collection, so the library is programmed to look for song files directly on my external hard drive. Will this be an issue? Further; I have less than 1000 songs originally loaded on the desktop itself, and even though all those songs are on the external hard drive, I believe itunes is still pulling from the desktop drive (I know this because if the hard drive is not connected, itunes can still play these few tracks and no more; I didn't have the nerve to delete these tracks to test further).
Whatever the solution, I would like to keep all my play counts, but if that is not feasible, I can live with it (its the music, not the stats that matter, eh?).
So in summary; can I plug and play, and if not, what's the smoothest way to get my library to recognize all my tracks? Thanks!

OK, I finally made the plunge, with 95% success (more on that later).
First, I ran with the assumption that I had consolidated my files on the external hard drive long ago (back when I started using the external) and that I didn't need to do it again.
I assumed this based on two things. One; when I temporarily changed the internal drive folder name, the files still played via the external and didn't play at all when the external was unplugged. Two; I found a post on another message board that said that if itunes cannot find it's programmed path, it'll go with the default itunes path.
Anyway, the following steps I took were successful:
I had downloaded v8 on the old computer to match with the new.
I copied both itunes library files onto my external drive.
I made sure that the external drive was F: for both computers. (a step I found on another discussion board)
I copied the library files over the blank library files of the new laptop.
Then I set my itunes preferences to organize files.
Then I consolidated my library to the new compter's drive as my means to download from the external (something that I also found explicitely on another message board).
So, everything seemed to work, except that those files that I had originally loaded on the old computer's drive never transferred from the external to the new computer. This only represents a fraction of my music, so I'm mostly relieved that the system works. I realize had I consolidated the first time, as I was instructed, I wouldn't have this problem (so much for being ultra careful, but still making an assumption leading to a shortcut leading to a 'd'oh!' moment).
I'll start a new thread later on ideas on how to move over the remaining music without messing up what's already there. But at least this finishes the thread on moving from an external to a new computer. Thanks!

Large iTunes Library Streaming Issues

I left sync on and it filled up the 40GB drive with about 7,000 of my songs.
I then went to the sources in Apple TV and selected my iTunes library for streaming. The screen displays:
Loading "iTunes Library" and the spinning icon shows for about five minutes. My screen then goes blank, and the AppleTV resets itself. When it comes back on it asks me for my language choice, and then asks if I want to recover my AppleTV, continue, or reset to Factory settings.
I have tried this a few times with the same results each time. Any help is very much appreciated.
Hardware - Apple TV, Mac Mini, 500gb external drive with music and movies
Network - Linksys cable modem and switch with a wired connection to the Apple TV.

Well the journey continues. I "factory reset" my Apple TV last night after another unsuccessful attempt to stream my music through Apple TV. It can see my iTunes Library under "sources." It says that it is loading and then after six minutes or so (I timed it) it restarts the box and presents me to select my language preference as it did when I initially installed the AppleTV. Once I do this it gives me three choices. I can "Restart" or "Restore Factory Defaults" or "Recover". If you chose "Restart" the machine reboots again. If I try and stream again, six minutes later I am asked what Language I want. If I try recover, it tests the system and says everything is good. I decided to perform a Factory Reset, and this did not work either.
I have a large iTunes Music Library, and have been using it successfully streaming through Elgato's EyeHome product for a couple years. We have had issues with new software updates, but they were very quick to provide solutions.
HERE IS WHERE I AM CURRENTLY AT:
I went to my computer, turned off iTunes, went to my iTunes folder and copied all of the files from the iTunes directory (remember my music is on an external drive) to a folder in another location. I was surpried to see my iTunes.xml file was over 150mb in size. I then restarted iTunes and of course had no music in it. I am now importing my file library in again to see if it helps. Maybe I has a corrupt iTunes file.
Anybody else with any ideas? Apple?

ITunes Library Deletion Issue

Hi, thanks in advance for the help.
I am running iTunes on a PC with windows XP Pro. I have my library stored on my external hard drive, as it is too large for my internal.
The problem is that, about 30 minutes ago, I unplugged my external, and then replugged it back in a few minutes later. This is something I do on a regular basis, as it is how I usually move my data around the house.
However, once my PC had gone through it's usual auto-read of the external, when I opened iTunes, my library was no longer there. This is incredibly frustrating, as I had just spent several hours customizing "My Top Rated" and other play lists. There doesn't seem to be any reason for this malfunction whatsoever, and I would like to know what can be done to resolve the issue.
Thanks again

ed2345, I misspoke. I should have said I have already placed a duplicate copy of the files on the external drive (the original files are still in place) and repointed my media files location to the external drive. what I'm trying to do is basically re-point my current itunes library to the files on the external drive as opposed to the files on the internal drive. When I try to organize my library, itunes freezes. When I try to consolidate my library (which is what I thought was supposed to help accomplish this) itunes freezes.
I'm working with about 45 GB of music files, and I don't know if the size is what is causing iTunes to crash, or if it is something else. Sorry for the confusion.

How to Retore Music and iTunes Library backup after Hard Disk Crash?

My Windows Vista is not booting and HP recommends I should go back to factory setting, which means I will have to create new Windows user profile etc. I have a complete backup of Music folder, iTunes folder, iTunes library files etc.
1. What should I do to ensure that my iTunes works with all rating, playcount, played dates etc. intact?
2. Would my purchased content - e.g. iPod Touch apps work fine, if copied to the same directory?

+I have a complete backup of Music folder, iTunes folder, iTunes library files etc.+
That's good! You've backed up the metadata, since its stored in the itunes folder. It's in a file named
iTunes Library.itl
Get your PC repaired, install itunes, restore the backup files, and everything should work.
Here is a good article from iLounge that discusses itunes content vs itunes library. You are pretty much moving your library to a new PC, at this point.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/

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.

Itune library backup question

OK, I am a novice and still learning. I have an external harddrive and I have backed up my iTunes library to it. Question. Do I need to keep my library on my C drive also??

Have your songs backed up to another drive to have additional copies for safe keeping while you are still running your iTunes library from the files on your computer? If so then you need to keep the originals there. If you actually want to run iTunes from your external drive then you might find these articles useful:
iLounge - Managing your iTunes Library on an External Hard Drive
iTunes for Windows - Moving your iTunes Music Folder

ITunes Library Relocation Issues

My iMac was acting a bit funny, so i backed up everything i needed on two separate external drives. I copied and pasted my entire iTunes folder with library files and everything, then trashed the itunes folder on my local drive. Now I would like to start accessing my iTunes library solely from the external drive to leave room on my local drive.
For some reason, whenever i locate my media, it creates a second itunes folder on my local drive in my "Music" folder. how can i stop this from happening?
also, it doesnt seem to have retained my play counts.
i realize after some research that this is not the suggested way to relocate and entire itunes library, but it seemed logical.
I'm running iTunes 10.5.2 on Mac OS X 10.5.8
any suggestions?

Welcome to AD!
Try these directions, even though the article title is about something different.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967

ITunes Library relocation issue

I have to take my iMac in for service and it may be gone for a week. My iTunes Library is on an external drive. It is basically my only source for TV and movies.
A week without TV is an awful prospect.
I tried hooking up my MacBook Air to the external HD with the iTunes Library. Held down the option key while opening iTunes, chose the iTunes library I always use with my iMac and got the message that I could not use that library because an itunes library file is missing.
Does each computer have a different itunes library file that needs to be included with the library in order to use it? I know you have to be sure to move that file when you move the library but I didn't realize that one Library wouldn't "just work" with another computer.
What do I need to do?

Some info here...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451
If the external HD just contains your iTunes Media folder (where the actual songs/movies are stored) then you don't have any of the library files until you get your iMac back. By default, these live in the iTunes folder in your iMac's music folder, regardless of where the actual media files are located.
But if that's the case I'm not sure how you did this...
Held down the option key while opening iTunes, chose the iTunes library I always use with my iMac
For iTunes to even attempt to open a library, there has to be an ITunes Library.itl file there, which would not be in your ITunes Media folder.
A quick fix would be to drop the whole media folder from the external HD on to the iTunes on the MacBook and let it import everything. Before you do that make sure the option to copy music files to the iTunes Media folder is NOT ticked in Preferences/Advanced.

ITunes library backup issue

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