ITunes with External HD Question

I recently bought a Seagate 200gb external harddrive to store my music and various other media on. I want to import the songs to my library and play them from the external harddrive. When I add music from the external drive, iTunes copies it onto my internal harddrive in my MacBook Pro. I changed the iTune music flder location to the external harddrive, but it still copies all the songs on my external harddrive. Is there any way around this?

iTunes: Moving your iTunes Music folder
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748

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Managing iTunes with external drive

I just recently moved my iTunes music folder to an external drive. It's working beautifully.
It's easy enough to make sure that I have the external drive attached when listening to or importing new music from CD's. However, if I have my iTunes constantly open so that it downloads new podcasts, can I do so without always having the external plugged in and then "consolidate library" to add newly downloaded podcasts to the external?
Not sure if that makes sense, so let me clarify how I THINK this would work. If my external is plugged in, it will automatically place new podcasts in the music folder on the external. However, what happens if it downloads (or attempts to download) a podcast when the external is not plugged in (but iTunes is running)? Does it then place the podcasts on the internal drive until I later plug in the external? Then I would just have to "consolidate library" to move the newly added to the default external drive?
Sorry for such a convoluted explanation. Hopefully one of the top gurus understand what I'm trying to say. I know that I've seen it discussed and posted about before, but I can't seem to find the past posts that address this specific question.

I just do this manually because I'll end up deleting the content from the internal library anyways. You might want to check if consolidate merges content from your internal library /volumes/Macintosh HD/Users/you/Music/iTunes/ to your external library if the external library is selected when you launch iTunes. If that works, then you should be fine; however you would probably want or need to delete the files from your internal anyways. I've always considered consolidate to be a method of bringing referenced files into the library (you have songs that you imported without having the add to library checkbox selected).
I have been using an external on a machine hooked up to my HDTV for a couple of years and sometimes I need to sync items to that system from the internal or another machine (network). I just keep that library on the external selected and either transfer purchases or copy over a podcast (if I'm using sneaker net) and double click it.
For example, if I subscribe to something like GROOVELECTRIC, download a podcast, then simply double-click the actual file, it is added into my podcast directory on the external and placed in the correct location in the podcast tree.
So, if consolidate doesn't do the trick you can try just selecting the files in your library and launching them to have them copied to your external or you can try using the Add to Library function from the file menu. Figuring out a way to delete the files from the internal after merging/importing/consolidating seems to be the last piece I need to work on.
I haven't revisited this for a while, but I'd like to hear about any trick you come up with.
You will still need your internal library set up to mirror the podcast subscriptions you have on the external, so a full deletion of that library does not seem to be the solution.
Good Luck,
-j

Difficulties Using iTunes With External Drive (NAS)

Hello,
I apologize if this question has already been asked (and answered) but I was unable to locate an answer with a search.
I am working on a PC with Windows 7. I have two iTunes libraries in separate user locations: one is a collection of MP3 files (for my iPod) and another—in a separate user log-on called Lossless—consists of all my lossless codec music files.
When I transferred the lossless codec files from the hard drive on my computer to a Network Attached Storage (NAS) connected by a hard-wired router (designated “Z:”), I configured iTunes to locate the files under “Z:/Music”.
Here’s the glitch: Although iTunes is finding “Z:/Music”, the iTunes program reports: “The song __ cannot be played because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?”
Here’s the question: Even though I have iTunes correctly (I believe) pointed to reading the NAS (my “Z:/Music” drive) why is iTunes unable to read the file and play the music?
Any advice and suggestions would be most welcome.
Many thanks.
Jazz4Ever

Barging in,b noir - I don't think it has anything to do with being on a NAS drive. It's the way the files were moved.
+When I transferred the lossless codec files from the hard drive on my computer to a Network Attached Storage (NAS) connected by a hard-wired router (designated “Z:”), I configured iTunes to locate the files under “Z:/Music”.+
+Here’s the glitch: Although iTunes is finding “Z:/Music”, the iTunes program reports: “The song __ cannot be played because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?”+
If you just move files in Windows Explorer, itunes loses the paths.
Configuring iTunes to locate the files under “Z:/Music” only affects FUTURE additions-it doesn't change all the paths on whatever is already in your library, which is what most people expect to happen when they change that preference setting.
You needed to run the consolidate command on your lossless library.
Here is a good background article from iLounge on that:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/
Move everything back the way it was and run the consolidate.
Or, if you don't care about ratings, playcounts, etc....just make a new lossless library and add your Z: lossless files to it.

Syncronise iTunes with external drive

Hi,
firstly I am new convert, I have been using PC's for years, but Vista finally killed my faith, so here I am....
Anyway, with my iTunes on the PC I had this wonderful little app that let me syncronise/update my iTunes library with the latest music I had on my external drive, this was a great util and saved me much pain.
But clearly the app will not work with a mac and I see there is no feature in iTunes to do this (yet).
Simply put, my large collection of music I want to remain on my network storage and be updated when I add new music...
Can anyone suggest a simple way of doing this...?
Thanks
BizBo

Ok - your iTunes Library file is on the internal HD - that is what I am understanding and you keep the tunes on an ext HD. If that is the case then there is no problem. All new tunes are stored on the ext HD as directed in iTunes prefs>Advanced>General - your Library file is located on the internal. Everything will be up to date.
I have multiple libraries but I keep the iTunes Library file and the .xml file for that library on the same drive as the tunes.
Hope this helps.
MJ

Newbie to MacBook needs help with using Itunes with external hard drive...

I got a MacBook yesterday. I am trying set my Itunes up but having a big problem. When I try to sync music from my external TB hard drive into Itunes, the music is apparently being copied into the laptop HD and is being synced from there, instead of straight from my TB HD. I WANT the music to sync straight from the external HD and NOT being copied in the Mac HD first and then synced like it is doing right now. I don't want to use the Mac's hard drive because I have limited HD space on my Mac and unlimited external capacity. Can anyone help me in setting this up. i've looked for answers but can't seem to find on here. Thanks for all the help. I love this Mac and this is the only real bump I've had. Thanks again.

Turn off the option to "copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library" is set in the iTunes -> Advanced preferences". iTunes will then just link to the tracks on the external drive rather than copying them to the internal. If you also want future imports and purchases to be saved to the external drive, change the location for the iTunes Music folder in the iTunes -> Advanced -> iTunes Music Folder location preference.
Regards.

Reset itunes with external HD or IPOD?

Not sure where to look for this problem. Long story short, girlfriend broke old computer (Windows) so now I got a new MAC! Need to set up I tunes now. Should I go to my external HD and just import all my songs, or will that require re-tagging them and spending hours upon hours organizing them again? Please help with a link to old threads or something...if you know. Thanks! By the way, I love her more now than before.

Sorry it's taken so long for anyone to respond, but you should just be able to import all the songs back in. The playlists won't be there, but the tags are stored in the actual files, so you shouldn't have to retag anything.

Playing itunes with external speakers

I was wondering if anyone knew how to set up my computer to play itunes music on my speakers that i have set up for surround sound for my tv. Is this used by itunes air?
thanks

...I know its possible I know somebody who's done it.

Can i connect a external hard drive to apple tv 3 generation, for see my movies itunes with out use streaming or icloud?

can i connect a external hard drive to apple tv 3 generation, for see my movies itunes with out use streaming or icloud? in apple tv 3 and 2?
That i want to know is i can connect a external hard drive to apple tv, for see my movies that i keep in my external hard drive, i dont want to see then whit the streaming and icloud, or used my laptop o pc for access de movies and stuff.
i put iny spanish to, because i feel my english is not so good, but i hope you understand me.
if i can´t connect a external hard drive, wich others media players divices you know that can see itunes movies?
¿quisiera saber si se puede conectar una memoria externa al apple tv, para ver el contenido de itunes que tengo guardado en esa memoria como peliculas, ect?
lo que no quiero es usar la icloud, o el servicio streamig para ver mi contenido, ni tener que usar la computadora para ver mi contenido el la tv?
y de no poderse conectar que otros dispositivos media pleyer conoces para ver peliculas de itunes en la tv?

Welcome to the Apple Community.
can i connect a external hard drive to apple tv 3 generation
Unfortunately not.

How can I burn an audio CD in iTunes with my music library on an external drive?

I keep my entire music library on an external hard drive. I just tried to burn a playlist in iTunes, and iTunes goes through all of the motions (asks for a blank cd, says it's burning) and then it says "Finishing burning" for a while. Then iTunes tells me I have a blank CD in my computer.
I fear the issue is that the music is not on my computer. However, I've added all of the music folders to iTunes, and it plays them off of my external hard drive.
Please help! Thanks.

Great suggestion. I had quickly considered burning a disc outside of iTunes with Burnz only to learn that trial period had ended. So...thanks to your 2x4 blow to my head, I tried a Finder burn and got an error, too: The disc can’t be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media. Doing a big of research indicates this might be simply a dust problem in my MacBook and can be resolved with some compressed air. Checking my toolbox shortly and I'll report back! Thanks!

ITunes with an External HD

I am currently using iTunes running on my PC. I have it set up NOT to copy files to the Media Folder. I have my media on my EHD and imported all folders into iTunes. My question is, since the actual Library file is on the PC, and my media is stored on the EHD (in generic folders I imported into iTunes), is there a way to copy the iTunes Library to the EHD and have all of those needed files sit on the EHD? Will copying these files and Pointing iTunes to them on the EHD allow any NEW downloaded/imported/ripped media (directly from iTunes) to then sit on the EHD?
Basically just running iTunes on the PC, but EVERY other file/library/media on the EHD? Is this possible?

Launch iTunes with the Option key held down and create or switch between libraries as needed.
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TS2446 I forgot my security questions how do I buy some thing on iTunes with out them?

I forgot my security questions how do I buy some thing on iTunes with out them?

See my User Tip for some help: Some Solutions for Resetting Forgotten Security Questions: Apple Support Communities.
Send Apple an email request for help at: Apple - Support - iTunes Store - Contact Us
Call Apple Support in your country: Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service

Having trouble with the security questions for iTunes. Tried to reset them, but the mail from Apple never comes . . .

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You need to ask Apple to reset your security questions; ways of doing so include clicking here and picking a method for your country, and filling out and submitting this form.
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Transferring itunes with an external hard drive

I bought a new computer and need to transfer itunes. It is backed up on an external hard drive, but won't transfer correctly to the new computer. This includes many of the purchased songs. How do I get them all to transfer/play?

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.
To see your iTunes folder click on the Music folder icon in your Finder sidebar.

HT1688 hey i just wanted to ask a question? so i am getting a new iphone so what do i have to do do i just back it up on itunes with the sim card or does it back up without the sim please i need to know thank you

hey i just wanted to ask a question? so i am getting a new iphone so what do i have to do do i just back it up on itunes with the sim card or does it back up without the sim please i need to know thank you

This article will tell you everything you need to know: Transferring information from your current iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a new device

I can't buy and songs on iTunes with my iTunes gift card because it asks me questions that I have forgotten the answers to

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You need to contact Apple. Click here, phone them, and ask for the Account Security team.
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ITunes with External HD Question

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