ITunes library cannot locate files saved on external hard drive

Hi, most of my music files are stored on my external hard drive. iTunes has decided it can't locate them and i'm wondering if there is any way of doing that without have to re-create my library from scratch or individually locate each file (approx 92GB of music)?!? I tried the tutorial on re-creating an iTunes library hoping that in doing so it would locate the files but no luck... i spent a LONG time organising that library and i'm really hoping i won't have to start over... thanks!

I have the same problem. I tried following the procedures for "Using Multiple Libraries" without success, even though the instructions explicitly state that you can name your iTunes library (the folder containing all of your iTunes content and the iTunes Library.itl file) whatever you like and store it anywhere.

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  • Itunes cannot locate files stored on external hard drive

    I use a maxtor external hard drive for my music storage(f:itunes) with 7000 songs on it. My Itunes library all of a sudden stopped locating the files. Through forum posts, I used advanced/change file location to f:itunes, and the only way I could hear the songs was to open the f drive and individually click on each file.
    I thought using library/consolidate library would solve this problem, now I have 2 or 3 copies of each song. Some of them play (with Fdrive connected) while others still show the cannot locate source message. When I tried a few songs I deleted the ones that would not play when clicked on, while keeping the ones that did. After deleting, the original ones now won't play.
    How do I get my original set up to work, with Itunes library on my laptop to only display 1 track not 2 or 3, and play from the source files contained on my external HD? The other puzzling thing is when I connect my external drive, the prompt that asks what you want to do with the Maxtor displays a "F:\ access denied" message. Is this the main cause of my issues?

    Well, before you wipe out your library and start all over, there is something to try.
    You have to have the option set for itunes 'keep itunes folder organized' checked.
    Change the location back to the default by pressing the reset folder location.
    You will get a message asking if you want itunes to copy everything to match your settings. For god's sake, do NOT say yes or it will copy everything onto your C: drive.
    Let it do its stuff. Then when it is finished, change the setting back to F:
    +i-tunes music folder location to F:\mp3s+
    Again, do NOT answer that question as yes.
    Depending on how large your library is, this can take a while. My library has 27K tracks and it takes over a half hour. But you might get the links back. What this does is force itunes to look at all the paths.

  • I can only access the itunes library if i plug in my external hard drive.  is there a way to add the music to my internal hard drive?

    i can only access my itunes library if i plug in my external hard drive.  how do i find where the itunes songs are on my external hard drive and how do i move them to my computers internal hard drive so i no longer have to have the external hard drive plugged in?

    When the drive is connected, use the Organize Library command in iTunes. If the entire library is located there, drag it to the internal drive, launch iTunes with the Shift key held down, and point it there.
    (59363)

  • Itunes library cannot locate files on new computer

    I've attempted to transfer my itunes library from one computer to another; however, when I click on the music, I get an error message:  "the file for the song cannot be used because the original file cannot be found".  I attempted to import the library using Homesharing initally, then attempted to transfer it via an external harddrive.  When the computer is connected to the external harddrive, the music will play.

    I know how infuriating it can get and how you start to doubt your own sanity. The best thing is to go back to basics.
    1) Locate your actual music files.
    If you look on your new computer, by default your music should be stored in my music\itunes\itunes media\ if you cannot see folders in there which contain your music it is fair to assume the media isnt on your computer. I tend to suspect that the music is on your external hard drive which is why it plays when you have that plugged in.
    If you find the music on your hard drive I would go into preferences in itunes and tick the option in advanced that I mentioned previously, then, in itunes go to file and "add folder to library". If you cannot see the menu bar which contains "file - edit - view - controls - store - help"   you may need to press ctrl B to show it, alternatively if you click on the little box in the top left corner of the itunes screen and drop the menu and select "show menu bar"
    So now when you press the add folder to library simply browse to where your actual music files are, find the folder which has all you r music etc in it and then click "select folder" in the bottom right of the window.
    If you have done all that correctly and have ticked the "Copy media to itunes folder when adding library" option in "edit / preferences / advanced" your music should be copied from your external hard drive into the itunes folder and all should then work properly.
    Fingers crossed lets hope thiat works for you.
    Just a thought - if that creates duplicate entries in itunes then I would select all your music in itunes and delete it, then go through the above again so you only have the one set of music.
    Steve

  • Moving iTunes library from PC to Mac using external hard drive

    Hi there,
    I recently bought myself a MacBook Air. This is my first Apple computer as I'd always used Windows before. On my old computer (running Vista), I built up a huge iTunes library. I really want to move this over to my Mac but there are two things which are making this a bit more complicated than it needs to be:
    1. I want to keep all of my playlists, play counts, date added etc.
    2. I don't want the songs to be stored on the computer, I want them kept on an external hard drive. So the library will show all the songs but I need to actually have the external hard drive plugged in to play them. Also saves me a **** of a lot of precious Mac space.
    I have read a few things about how to do this so I'm a little along the way. I consolidated all my music files on my old computer and copied them over to the Hard Drive. But from here I just can't get it right. Assuming I've done nothing from this point, what would be the next steps you would take to make points 1 and 2 happen? I will try again based on your instructions but if it doesn't work then I come back and specify at what points it isn't working.
    I would be ever so grateful for some guidance on this.
    Cheers

    Did you close iTunes on your old computer before you tried to copy it?
    If that is not the case right click on the itunes Library.itl in finder.
    Usually found in username/Music/iTunes
    Select Get info and in the box that appears on the left scroll down to the bottom and check the permissions.
    When that is resolved it should just copy over
    Here is the Apple Article
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1751

  • Trying to move iPod touch to new computer.  iTunes library from old computer already on external hard drive.  Don't want to lose playlists, apps, etc.  Help?

    I am trying to move iPod touch to a new computer.  My iTunes library was already on a 1 TB external hard drive.  I downloaded iTunes on my new computer, plugged in my external hard drive with my iTunes library, and changed my iTunes media folder location (preferences-advanced) to my external hard drive location. But now all my songs are "checked" (all were not before) and none of my old playlists are present.  When I plug in my iPod touch to the new computer, it asks if I want to erase and sync.  I do not want to lose my playlists, apps, etc.  How do I move over to my new cpmputer without erasing my iPod and losing stuff?

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  • Moving itunes library from a pc to an external hard drive

    1. how is this done ?
    2. once my whole library is on the hard drive can i selectively move songs over to itunes on my pc ?
    thanks for your help.

    1. how is this done ?
    2. once my whole library is on the hard drive can i
    selectively move songs over to itunes on my pc ?
    1. Plug Ext HD into the comp you are copying files from. Find your music folder. If you left it at the default it will be in your My documents: My Music folder, otherwise do a search for *.mp3 to find your music. Copy your music folder over to the Ext HD.
    2. I am assuming that you are copying music from an old comp to a new comp here. If this is right, then just create a music folder, copy over all the songs or some of the songs from the Ext HD, then point Itunes to the music folder using File: add folder to library.

  • I cannot view files on my external hard drive

    I have an external seagate hard drive.
    When I plug it in, I can only see half of the files.
    (the new ones)
    I know there are old pictures and videos on it,
    and the data amount accounts for it.
    I have tried to verify and repair the disk.
    It said that nothing was wrong.
    I have recently updated to Mavericks.
    My mac pro is about 3 years old
    and my Seagate disk is about 5 years old.
    How do I view these old files?

    Can you see the files on another computer? Since you have it formatted to also work with Windows, can a Windows computer see them? If so, do you have enough disk space to copy the files off to somewhere else?
    The last line of the screen shot states partitions need to be updated. If you can salvage the files, I would reformat the disk.

  • Itunes cannot locate my files on the external hard drive - I changed preferences but still not locating songs?

    itunes cannot locate my files on the external hard drive - I changed preferences but still not locating songs?

    This work for the most part:
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/20361846#20361846

  • I had backed up my I-tunes files to an external hard drive but after my computer crashed when I try to reload from the hard drive the message comes up saying I-tunes library cannot be read because it was created by a newer version. Help please!

    I had backed up my I-tunes files to an external hard drive but after my computer crashed and I restored it when I try to reload from the hard drive the message comes up ""I-tunes files cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of I-tunes". Help Please

    Upgrade the version of itunes on the new computer
    Itunes.com for free download.
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  • I am a long time iTunes user but a new MacBook owner! :) I keep the majority of my music files on an external hard drive.   I'm trying to view all those files on my MacBook through iTunes.   With windows you would go to : File/Add To Library, and iTunes w

    I am a long time iTunes user but a new MacBook owner! I keep the majority of my music files on an external hard drive.   I'm trying to view all those files on my MacBook through iTunes.   With windows you would go to : File/Add To Library, and iTunes would add all your selected files to your music library BUT WOULD NOT COPY THEM TO YOUR HARD DRIVE.  In other words, if the external hard drive was connected, you could listen, drag/drop, and edit the files.   When I tried the same thing with my new MacBook... it actually started coping the files to my MacBook harddrive.  I don't want that, it's millions and millions of mp3's that I don't want to keep on my computer, only my external hard drive.   Can anyone help?    I'm sure it's something easy, I'm just so new to the Mac world.   Being an iPhone owner for many many years I'm picking up things fast, but this is getting the best of me!  Help !

    In iTunes 11 uncheck the preferences setting in in the iTunes Preferences panel "Advanced > Copy Files to iTunes Media folder when adding to Library"

  • HT1473 Help I just moved my music files to a external hard drive and am using the new crappy version ( i know my opinion) of itunes and cant add the files to my libray it gives me the add file to library option but not the add folder to library option wha

    Help I just moved my music files to a external hard drive and am using the new crappy version ( i know my opinion) of itunes and cant add the files to my libray it gives me the add file to library option but not the add folder to library option what am i doing wrong?

    In iTunes 11 uncheck the preferences setting in in the iTunes Preferences panel "Advanced > Copy Files to iTunes Media folder when adding to Library"

  • I recently moved my Aperture Library file to an external hard drive.  Can I now create a vault to be saved on my Time Capsule for the Aperture library on this external hard drive?

    I recently moved my Aperture Library file to an external hard drive.  Can I now create a vault to be saved on my Time Capsule for the Aperture library on this external hard drive?

    One thing to bear in mind, if you are using Time Machine on your Time Capsule and have it set so the TM backup includes your external drive, you will effectively be backing up your Aperture library twice on the same drive, once with Time Machine and once with the vault. This isn't a problem unless you start to run out of space.
    Another thing to note, vaults on network drives used to be flaky (i.e. not really supported) and required workarounds to be able to use them. I'm not sure if this has changed, but I just managed to create a vault on my TC ok.

  • TS1717 I cannot get iTunes to automatically launch at startup in Windows 7. I need it to do this so my Apple TV 'finds' my Music Library, which is stored on an external hard-drive, connected to my Windows 7 PC.

    I cannot get iTunes to automatically launch at startup in Windows 7. I need it to do this so my Apple TV 'finds' my Music Library, which is stored on an external hard-drive, connected to my Windows 7 PC. Anyone know how I do this? I cannot seem to find anything on Google, which is surprising.
    iTunes helper launches OK, but not iTunes itself. Am I being dim?
    Thanks

    The iTunes application should be installed on the system drive. You may need to repair iTunes to fix that error regarding a missing .exe.
    To organize your library properly see Make a split library portable.
    If you don't have a working version of the library that can be transformed into a portable shape I have tools and techniques that can repair the broken links.
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  • TS1967 In the past, when I updated iTunes, some items would be 'lost'. I quit updating, still running 10.6 i do keep my files on an external hard drive, which I plug in before starting iTunes. If I leave the drive off, and update, would that keep me from

    In the past, when I updated iTunes, some items would be 'lost'. I quit updating, still running 10.6. I do keep my files on an external hard drive, which I plug in before starting iTunes. If I leave the drive off, and update, would that keep me from losing any files? Also, does anyone know how to search the iTunes store by price? I'm particularly interested in movies and audiobooks... Thanks

    iTunes does not have provision for automatically storing one kind of media on a separate drive, so you have some basic decisions to make first.  Do you want these movies to still appear in your iTunes library, or are you content with browsing filenames on a drive in Finder when you want to look for one?  The second's the easiest thing because then you don't have to have an external drive permanently turned on and attached to your computer (wired or wireless).  To do that you literelly only need to drag your movies folder to an archive drive and delete movies from iTunes.  To watch them again you can add it back to iTunes while holding down the option key so the movie is used from its location on the external drive.
    There's ways to move the movies to an external drive while keeping them in iTunes but the external drive iwll always have to be turned on and connected to the computer or you will see a bunch of broken link exclamation marks.
    Realize what you are talking about is not "backup".  Backup (which you should do) is putting a second or more copy of items on external drives for the day when your internal drive fails and everything on it is lost, inclduing all your home photos and perhaps things that have been pulled from the iTunes Store and can no longer be re-downloaded.

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