Itunes library both on external hard drive and mac.

Hello.
I wish you could help me. I transfered my itunes library to an external hard drive. However, there are times that I would forget to put it back on. Now, there are some files that itunes can't locate.
How do I back up the new files i have on my itunes to the external hard drive.
Thank you very much.
Patty

update to the question above -- I went into Time Machine and restored my iTunes library, so it is showing what music I have again in there. FYI in advanced settings, I kept the setting that the music is stored in the Seagate HD.
BUT when I click on any music, it still cannot locate the file (all the music media files are still stored on the Seagate ext. HD)
So -- how can I get the iTunes library to re-connect with what is in the Seagate HD?
Thank you!

Similar Messages

I moved my itunes library to an external hard drive and now when I try to sync my ipad it says it is already synced to another library.

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

HT1751 if i back up my itunes library to an external hard drive and then add subsequent music and want to back that up a few days later, can i backup the only newly added music without backing up the entire library again?

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.

If I've downloaded my music to an itunes library from an external hard drive and I have several duplicate songs, is there an easy way to delete the duplicate songs? Or, do I have to go through my entire library song by song to delete duplicates?

If I've downloaded my music to an itunes library from an external hard drive and I have several duplicate songs, is there an easy way to delete the duplicate songs? Or, do I have to go through my entire library song by song to delete duplicates?

In iTunes, File>Display Duplicates

Can I create a "new" iTunes library on an external hard drive and transfer my iTune library to save space on my laptop

Can I create a "new" iTunes library on an external hard drive and transfer my iTune library to save space on my laptop hard drive

Yes. Just copy all your music to a folder on your external. Then delete the music on your computers hard drive.
It is not quite that simple. If you do that you will end up with many broken links and will have to re-create your library from scratch . iTunes does not like it when you move or rename files or folders and doing so between drives is guaranteed to result in exclamation marks indicating you have broken the links to all your media files.
If you are content with moving the whole library to an external drive (usually the best thing for most people), try:
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 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 new location of the library.

I have two apple id's one from my old laptop and one from my iPhone. I saved my iTunes library to my external hard drive and then tried to transfer it to my iMac. My music skips like a scratched cd now and I can't add any to my iPhone. Help please!

I have two apple id's one from my old laptop and one from my iPhone. I saved my iTunes library to my external hard drive right before my old mac laptop died and then tried to transfer it to my new iMac. Now when I try to play my old music it skips like a scratched cd. Also, now I can't add any music to my iPhone unless it was purchased recently through itunes and downloaded through icloud. I tried to "Organize" my library in hopes of correcting the problem but my iMac just ejects my external harddrive part way through. Please help!

Ejects the harddrive?
Of what did your old Mac die?
It sounds to me like you have some file corruption somewhere. Either in the transfer of your library to the external or the external itself is flaky if it keeps ejecting.

Can I keep my itunes library on an external hard drive and still use it??

Hello,
I recently purchased a new laptop because my old computer wwent on the fritz. Luckily I backed up my library on my external hard drive. My question is can a) connect my itouch and ihone to my nex computer and b) run my library strictly from my hard drive and not import everything to my new computer?
thanks for the hep!!

tothatc wrote:
Hello,
I recently purchased a new laptop because my old computer wwent on the fritz. Luckily I backed up my library on my external hard drive. My question is can a) connect my itouch and ihone to my nex computer and b) run my library strictly from my hard drive and not import everything to my new computer?
thanks for the hep!!
On Windows, hold Shift (not alt), launch iTunes and select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder you copied to the external drive.

I transfered my itunes library to an external hard drive, and its accessible, but I can't burn a cd now. I need help!

I transfered all my music to an external hard drive, and changed the location in the preferences options in itunes. I can add music to the library, i can play music and make play lists, but I cannot burn a cd. What's happening, and what can i do to fix, or get around this problem?

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

I have my iTunes library between an external hard drive and my PC. How do I get all of it onto the PC? When I consolidate it leaves the songs on the external drive.

My iTunes library is split between an external hard drive and my PC. How do I get all the songs onto my PC? When I consolidate, it brings the names of the songs to the PC but they are empty files.

Hold down the "option" + "command" keys and launch iPhoto.
Select the "Rebuild Thumbnails" choice.

I moved my itunes library to an external hard drive and now I can not update my phone and my apps aren't showing in the sidebar of my library. How can I fix this?

I moved my whole library onto an external hard drive but now when I plug my phone in, it can't back up, it can't update and my apps stopped showing up on the side. It still charges and syncs but I can't update the software. I use a PC. Does anyone know how to fix this?

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

How do I put my iTunes library onto an external hard drive and accessible?

I am thinking of investing in external hard drives to hold my itunes library and then streaming this using a streamer. Does anyone else do this. I am not sure how this would wirelessly or over ethernet. Ideally wireless since I don't have many ethernet ports in the house

Vin Duggal wrote:
I am thinking of investing in external hard drives to hold my itunes library and then streaming this using
IMHO, a NAS connected to your router would fit the bill perfectly.
Ideally wireless
if your network is wireless-n capable, it should work fine. however, i have all my gear hardwired to my network and thus have no hands-on experience using wireless.
I don't have many ethernet ports in the house
there are ethernet switches.

How do I move just my movies folder (not the entire iTunes library) to an external hard drive and still be able to watch movies?

My movies library is getting frighteningly large, and I want to move it (not the entire library) to an external HD, and still be able to watch the movies (when the HD is connectec). How would I do that?

It's not a feature of iTunes but can be done using various work-arounds.
Small hard drive? Split your iTunes library across multiple volumes - http://www.macyourself.com/2009/04/24/small-hard-drive-split-your-itunes-library -across-multiple-volumes/ - copying media folders to external, then deleting from internal, then adding again.
Splitting & Managing Your iTunes Library - http://machintsandtips.com/i-j-k/itunes/splitting-managing-your-itunes-library/ - using option+drag to override iTunes from copying file to your default media folder.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/10160819#10160819 - Change location of media folder to start putting files on second drive. Note later follow-up post about leaving 'organize media' and 'copy to drive' checked.
TuneSpan: (OS X app) A utility that allows you to distribute the media files in your iTunes Library across multiple drives. - http://tunespan.com/ - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tunespan/id528459889?mt=12 - Requirements: OS X 10.6.6 or later, 64-bit processor

HT1751 Followed instructions on how to consolidate iTunes library, move to external hard drive and restore library back up but my iTunes is still empty.

Recently bought a new macbook pro and obviously the first thing I want to do is move over my itunes library from my PC and keep my playcount.
The instructions I followed are here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
As I got down to Step 7 in 'Restoring your iTunes Library backup', I chose my iTunes library file and waited for everything to be restored but then nothing came up on my iTunes. My iTunes is still empty.
Is there perhaps another way for me to transfer my iTunes library and my playcount will still be retained? Help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Recently bought a new macbook pro and obviously the first thing I want to do is move over my itunes library from my PC and keep my playcount.
The instructions I followed are here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
As I got down to Step 7 in 'Restoring your iTunes Library backup', I chose my iTunes library file and waited for everything to be restored but then nothing came up on my iTunes. My iTunes is still empty.
Is there perhaps another way for me to transfer my iTunes library and my playcount will still be retained? Help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Can I safely move my iTunes library to an external hard drive, to free up memory?

As an elementary music teacher, I have more than 10,000 songs in my iTunes library.
I also have a lot of video footage of my students' performances.
I need to free up memory and am wondering if there is a safe way to move the iTunes library to an external hard drive, and, if it is safe, how difficult will it be for me to access it from the external hard drive.
On my school computer, one of the "techies" moved that iTunes library to an external drive and ended up quadrupling the size of it, so want to be sure that if this makes sense, that I do it the right way!!!
Thanks so much!

Can I move those songs to an external hard drive?
yes.
Will that improve the speed of my computer?
maybe. what is the total capacity of your boot drive and how much free space is left ?

ITunes library transfer to external hard drive disaster

Hi
I have a G5 which is about five years old and slowing down. I wanted to move my iTunes library to an external hard drive and then delete some of the stuff on iTunes in the hope it might alleviate the pressure on the memory.
I found a number of websites all suggesting the same procedure, eg that which is outlined in this video
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10242259-49.html
However having done so I then found that iTunes could not locate every file for the song I wanted to play. I rashly thought the best way to solve this problem would be to drag the entire library from the existing 'iTunes music' folder into iTunes. However now I have a number of duplicated albums and songs.
I should be extremely grateful if someone can suggest a way of undoing this mess of my own making.
Thanks

You would do better to post in the iTunes forum, I'll ask the Hosts to relocate yur post.
Good luck,

Itunes library both on external hard drive and mac.

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for