ITunes won't load library from external HDD.

I'm a DJ in Miami. I have 1TB+ of music. I have it in my HDD that I've used for months with my Macbook Pro Retina. For some reason I opened iTunes a couple days ago before a gig & my HDD wasn't loaded to the library. I went into the preferences & chose my HDD again but when I click apply it just closes the window & nothing happens. My music & playlists won't show up. Everything is still on my HDD so I know that's not it. I even formatted my Macbook & installed a fresh copy of Mavericks hoping that would solve it but it won't work. I have a backup HDD as well but iTunes won't load it either.

I think if you are using iTunes in a semi-professional capacity you need to learn how it works:
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392
You will normally only have one .itl file. It is the library file, along with a smattering of support files and folders. Most of your files are just media files but it's the .itl that gives it all structure. The reason I can't answer your question is most people don't understand "library" has a specific meaning in iTunes. It isn't just media, it's the whole lot working together. Now some people split their library and keep the main files on the main drive, and media on the external. Better is to keep it all together, either on internal or external.
You should have a .itl file somewhere. Conceivably if your drive is corrupt or something weird happened then it might be gone. That's what backups are for. If nothing else you should have old copies of the library fro when you last upgraded iTunes. Did you do a spotlight search?
If your library file is really gone then you will have to build it again:
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451

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I tried to install iTunes (11) on a new computer with Windows 8. I keep the iTunes library on an external drive. I tried to move the media files over to the newly installed iTunes within the hard drive program files, but it doesn't seem to work. The relevant threads in the forum are a bit over my head (I am brand new to Windows 8, having leaped over from XP). Is there some simple way to straighten out the paths on iTunes so that it will properly play songs from the external drive, show my old songlists, etc?
I've now uninstalled iTunes from computer. Would like to reinstall without too much headache ...

Hello there FunkyMuzak,
iTunes can be set to use the library on the external drive, and save new content.
To have iTunes open the alternate library on the drive use this option:
Steps to create or choose a different iTunes Library file
If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
If you are using Windows, hold down the Shift key and from the Start menu and choose All Programs > iTunes > iTunes.
If you are using the Mac, open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option key.
You should see one of the following screens:
From: iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1589
And to tell iTunes to save your new media when you buy songs or movies, etc., use this part of our article named Where are my iTunes files located? found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
Discovering and changing the iTunes Media folder location
Note: You would usually only change the iTunes Media folder location to share music between accounts on the same computer. See this article for specific steps on how to accomplish this. Also, see this article if you want to know how to move your music to a new computer.
Mac OS X: Click the iTunes menu and choose Preferences.
Windows: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
Click the Advanced pane. iTunes displays the location of your iTunes Media folder.
You can then:
Note where your media folder is, such as for backing up your media.
Use the Reset button to reset it's location to the default (which is the iTunes folder).
Click the Change button to select a folder for a new location. Once you change this location:
If you make a new or alternate iTunes library, the new location will be used by that library.
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Thanks
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I would troubleshoot or dump the LaCie in favor of something else.
LaCie have been trouble enough in the past with FW ports, power adapters, shorting of cables, running very slow when connected off PCIe SATA using USB/eSATA cases.
But you never say if this is a FW800 case, or what interface, that is so slow. Resetting FW ports is a troubleshooting trick designed just for LaCie cases. Along with swapping cables and power adapter.
I would give all your drives a shot of Alsoft Disk Warrior to insure that the directory and file system are okay. And look at the hardware test in DW output for spare blocks vanishing on the drive.
Using SATA drive, case, and controller of course should be fast and done in seconds, not minutes.
http://www.macsales.com/firewire

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Hello forum - I am both perplexed and frustrated. I have moved my entire itunes library from one external drive to another network drive. I re-pointed iTunes to it's appropriate library.itl file. All music, movies, audiobook, etc. seem to appear. Two things do not appear:
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2. The "Shared Library" icon on the left hand side is also vanished. It does appear that home Sharing is on - but no icon.
I'm using the latest version of itunes, OSX Mountain lion 10.8.2 on 15" MBPr 2.3GHz.
FWIW - originally library was on a WD MyBook external drive. I transferred it to a WD MyBook Live Duo drive which is plugged into my airport extreme (latest model).
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Ok - I may have resolved this (let you know in about 2 days...). New question;
I did a library re-organization with iTunes. The heirarchy of folders seems weird - is this normal or "ok"?
On external drive:
There is content located in Music, Movies, etc. but there is alos content including Music, Movies, etc in the "iTunes Media Folder" - is that the way it i ssupposed to be? Seems like all music should be in one place - yes/no?
Thanks - Steve

ITunes won't show library on external hard drive

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This is relevant portion of the support document with a bit of editing for clarity.
If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
Using a Mac click the icon to open iTunes and immediately press and continue to hold down the Option key.
You should see the following screen:
If iTunes opens normally, close it and try again.
Once you've got that dialog you have two options. If your previous iTunes library database is stored on the external drive use Choose Library to browse to it and open it. If you only have the media folder on the drive then use the Create Library option to create a new iTunes library at /iTunes on the external, move the media folder to /iTunes/iTunes Media and then add it to your new empty library.
tt2

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iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

TIm,
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After reviewing your post, I have located an article that can help in this situation. It contains a number of troubleshooting steps and helpful advice concerning iTunes for Windows issues. If you follow the directions in order it may help:
Removing and reinstalling iTunes and other software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1923
Thank you for contributing to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
BobbyD

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ITunes won't load library from external HDD.

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