Library Saved on External Hard Drive - New Computer

I downloaded iTunes 9 on my new computer. All of my old itunes folders are saved on an external hard drive. How do I get itunes to pick up my itunes library from the hard drive?

Tried Holding shift while opening itunes, but that didn't do anything. Can't
Try again.
Doulble click the icon to launch iTunes then immediately press and hold Shift.
Would it work to just drag my iTunes Music folder to itunes and let it import everything from there?
Only if you want it all copied to your internal drive.
Much easier just to select *Choose library*.

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ITunes library saved on external hard drive. iTunes on new computer does not recognize.

Hi, My entire iTunes library (roughly 100gb for iPod Classic) has been saved to an external hard drive. I just built a new computer (Windows 7), and loaded the latest version of iTunes. I have changed the library location in Preferences on both the General tab and the Advanced tab to reflect the location on the external hard drive. The new library location has been saved, but the music on the external hard drive still does not show up in my iTunes library. The only things that show up in my iTunes library are only a few items that have apparently been saved to iCloud (although I never set up an iCloud account - nor do I want one). How do I get iTunes to recognize the external hard drive library instead of the other? Thank you.

Craig H100 wrote:
Thanks. Realized something though...on the old computer, Windows XP had a problem (R6034) that prevented iTunes from opening or upgrading.
For general advice see Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates.
The steps in the second box are a guide to removing everything related to iTunes and then rebuilding it which is often a good starting point unless the symptoms indicate a more specific approach. Review the other boxes and the list of support documents further down page in case one of them applies.
Your library should be unaffected by these steps but there is backup and recovery advice elsewhere in the user tip.
tt2

Running iTunes from external hard drive, new computer, where to start?

I've seen several threads relating to this, but I'm a bit confused. For some time we have been running iTunes from an external hard drive with no issues. We now have a new laptop with windows 8, and I'm not sure where to start to set up iTunes (we replaced the computer with a laptop). Do I need to do a new install of iTunes on the laptop? Do I install it to the hard drive (C) or to the external drive (G)? My biggest source of concern is losing the library. I also want to be sure that we can continue to run iTunes from the external drive, I don't want it taking up space on the laptop hard drive.

With more & more people looking towards external drives as a storage solution, it's important to warn them, that although using one within iTunes is a great idea, it comes with its issues & can be a step towards a disastrous sequence. In such a scenario, each time iTunes is launched it'll look for the library that resides on the external drive, & if that drive's not connected, iTunes will open with an empty library. You know what's comming next, rite ? An empty iDevice. This happens because 'by default' iTunes is set to Auto-Sync & if you're using an external drive, the potential for a messy problem goes way up. So in short, remember these points. when using an external drive(library).
. Always connect your external drive prior to lauching iTunes.
. Always ensure iTunes sees your external library prior to connecting your iDevice.
. Disable the 'Auto-Sync' feature from within iTunes prior to connecting your iDevice.
. Always wait to connect your iDevice until thee aforementioned points are confirmed.
As stated earlier, using an external drive with iTunes isn't a problem in & by itself. But if the external drive's disconnected & the 'Auto-Sync' feature's left at its default setting(enabled), a family member could loose all their data simply by connecting their iDevice to the PC/Mac. Or be in for a time consuming lesson.
PS: At the very least one should research the topic themselves. http://ipod.about.com/od/advanceditunesuse/a/Itunes-External-Hard-Drive.htm

Use iPhone 4 to play iTunes library from an external hard drive without computer

Hello all-
I use iTunes for playback of my music library. My library is too large to be stored locally on my MBP so I use an external hard drive. I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to use / setup an iPhone 4 to be able to read the iTunes library files and access the music stored on the external hard disc for playback WITHOUT the use of my MBP or any other computer. I may be asking too much but essentially it is just code that is written into iTunes that allows this to happen, between computer and external hard drive as well as iPod and it's hard disk. Of course I would need to be able to connect my iPhone to the external hard drive. I figure the dock to usb cable would suffice.
Any help is appreciated!
r

thanks for the quick reply! I was hoping to not only access the individual files, but use an actual user interface that could read the iTunes library files that I already have created via iTunes on my MBP, and provide me with an iTunes like playback experience, similar to how the Remote app works or the iPod app. Thanks though, I might use NetPortal for other applications though.
r

Cloning external hard drive new computer

Hi,
My HD on my old iBookG4 recently went kuput. Luckily I have been cloning fairly regularly to an external hard drive using Carbon Copy Cloner. I just purchased a new iBookG4 from a friend, and would like to clone the old hard drive (on the external) to the new (on the new computer). So, using the new computer, I went online and downloaded CCC, I plugged the external drive into the computer, and I attempted to do just that. The trouble is that when I open CCC, it doesn't give me that option. Under "Source Disk" it lists both the external HD and the computer's HD as options, but under the "Target Disk" it only lists the external HD as an option. This obviously doesn't help me since I need to clone to the new computer's HD. Anyone know what I can do?
P.S. - there is nothing on the new HD that I need to keep, so I don't mind overwriting the whole thing.
P.P.S. - What will CCC do if the new computer doesn't have all the software that the old HD had? I have yet to purchase Microsoft Office and install it on the new HD, but some of the files on the external HD are Office files. Will it just skip over those files during the clone (assuming I can get it to clone at all)? Can I selectively copy those files later once I have installed Office on the new HD?

You could start from the OS on the external if that device is a FireWire400
enclosure with Oxford-type chipset; and if there is a copy of CCC on there,
run it from there. To erase (secure-erase, or overwrite destination drive with
zeros, and then reformat the computer's internal hard disk drive, you can
use Disk Utility.
There are several options, including using the booted OS X Installer's version
of Disk Utility and have it do the tasks to repair disk, erase, reformat, etc; and
depending on what you have in the way of a clone, Disk Utility can restore a
system from another volume without use of a clone utility.
If your clone can boot the computer, then it is a good volume; but if the drive
enclosure does not allow that to occur, you have to be sure the clone is good
and you can prepare the computer's drive is ready to have the clone on it.
There are a few questions that come up, and I have danced around them;
as they would determine how you could proceed, depending on the situation.
Bombich's Carbon Copy Cloner web site has some good info for basic use
and if the clone was pre-tested to work in the same model of computer, it
should work once it is cloned back into the computer's internal hard drive.
Is the size of newer computer's hard disk drive adequate for the size of the
older computer's clone? Since you can't have two systems on the same
hard disk drive (OS X, etc) and that internal drive already has a system on
it, that would have to be erased. To use the Secure Erase option in Disk
Utility would be the better way to handle that since the feature will also wipe
the data by overwriting one-pass (or more, if chosen, takes a lot more time)
and that also defragments the drive at a basic low-level. A good thing.
PS: Your second PS/PSS should not matter so much, if you clone in all the
content of the first clone, back into this computer, and if that works OK, then
you can install an Office app and you may be able to open them with the
newer version of Office, or convert them, etc if necessary to the new version
once you have it and launch the documents via the newer app. If you don't
want them on the new re-clone into this newer computer, it may be harder
to selectively not import only a handful of documents. That's your call.
Anyway, what else can you say?
Good luck & happy computing!
{ edited for PS }

I had an HP laptop with Itunes on it and kept my library on an external hard drive. I had a 160gb classic Ipod. My computer died and i am buying a new one (mac is out of budget) When I get my new computer, obviously I will download Itunes. My Ipod s

I had an HP laptop with Itunes on it and kept my library on an external hard drive. I had a 160gb classic Ipod.
My computer died and i am buying a new one (mac is out of budget)
When I get my new computer, obviously I will download Itunes. My Ipod still has all the music on it and the external hard drive is ok.
I don't want to "erase" or lose any information when I sync with a new itunes that is "empty"
What are the steps? After I download Itunes and set the folder location to my external harddrive what is next? Will Itunes recognize my IPOD? Will it load the music/list from my ipd or external into itunes?
Thanks in advance

The following user tip is worth checking through:
Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device

HT1151 I have my iTunes library on an external hard drive that was connected to a PC, now I want to connect to my new iMac and load the iTunes library onto that computer, can I do that?

I have my iTunes library on an external hard drive that was connected to a PC, now I would like to connect that hard drive my new iMac and load the iTunes library onto that computer, can I do that? Looking for a solution that keeps me from re-ripping my CD collection.

Here are the official Apple Support instructions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Ciao.

HT5085 I bought a new computer. I backed up my old computer and put my itunes library on an external hard drive, that I then uploaded to the new computer. However, how do I access my Itunes account and use the $25.00 or so credit that Ihave and purchase

I bought a new computer, I backed up my itunes library on an external hard drive from the old computer. I then uploaded the external hardrive to my new comupeter Windows 8 - How do I access my apple store account to purchase additional music and use the $25 or so dollars I have in credit. ?
Thanks - Patti

You should be able to log into your account via the Store > Sign In menu option - if the drop-down menus aren't showing the control-B should them to show.
Your balance should be accessible wherever you are signed into the account. My account's balance shows at the top left of the store's page on my computer's iTunes, and by logging in to view my account via the Store > View Account menu option (that option will only show after you've signed in).

I just saved my iphoto original library to my external hard drive, now how do i create new space on my hard drive and create a new iphoto library

i just saved my iphoto original library to my external hard drive, now how do i create new space on my hard drive and create a new iphoto library

Trash the copy of the library you just moved. Then Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
But do you want to have two iPhoto Libraries? Why not just use the one on the External?

I got a new computer and backed up my iTunes library to an external hard drive. The external hard drive is not allowing me to access the drive. Is there a way to transfer the songs from my iPod touch to my new computer?

I got a new computer and backed up my iTunes library to an external hard drive. The external hard drive is not allowing me to access the drive. I no longer have access to the old computer. Is there a way to transfer the songs from my iPod touch to my new computer?

That's a bummer, didn't realize the exHD files were corrupt, esp if you have tried from another PC and not just this new computer.
You can get purchases from the itunes store transferred from an iPod using these directions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848?viewlocale=en_US
If you want everything (meaning non-itunes songs, app data, photos, etc) you need to buy a 3rd-party ipod manager that support iTouch. Here is an iLounge article to start your research:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/P2/

HT1386 I have a new computer. I have copied Itunes library from an external hard drive. Itunes now tells me I cannot sync with my Ipod as it thinks the 20gb on the computer are different to the 20gb on my Ipod touch! What have I done wrong? How can I fix

I have a new computer. I have copied Itunes library from an external hard drive. Itunes now tells me I cannot sync with my Ipod as it thinks the 20gb on the computer are different to the 20gb on my Ipod touch! What have I done wrong? How can I fix it? Alan

See:
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive: Apple Support Communities
Sync Your iOS Device with a New Computer Without Losing Data - How-To Geek

I copied my itunes library via an external hard drive. now when i connect my ipod to the new computer i can see my music but my apps are disabled

i copied my itunes library via an external hard drive. now when i connect
my ipod to the new computer i can see my music but my apps are disabled

Here are the official Apple Support instructions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Ciao.

I recently had to back up itunes play lists to external hard drive, how do I restore the library from the external hard drive to the new computer

I recently had to back up itunes play lists to external hard drive whilst computer was fixed. reinstalled itunes but dont know how to reinstall my music from external hard drive. help?

The same way the library was copied/moved to the external drive.
Copy it from location A to location B.
Then point iTunes to the correct 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.

How do I authorize my MacBook Pro to add new files to my iTunes library on an external hard drive?

Recently I switched from a PC running Windows XP to a MacBook Pro running OS X 10.5.8. I successfully imported my iTunes library from my external hard drive. The existing files play without a problem, but the computer is preventing me from loading any new music or podcasts onto the external drive. This includes podcasts through iTunes as well as outside sources such as Amazon. I get a message which reads that I am not authorized to make changes. I am the administrator on this computer. What should I do now? Thanks for your help.

What exactly is the message you are seeing?
I successfully imported my iTunes library from my external hard drive. The existing files play without a problem, but the computer is preventing me from loading any new music or podcasts onto the external drive.
This is confusing. If you "import" the library it is on your internal drive, but you say it is on the external. Anyway, I think the drive's the problem. Highlight the drive in Finder and get info on it. If it says it is NTFS format that is a format commonly used with Windows but Macs can only read NTFS format, not write to it. You will either need to reformat the drive (ideally to Mac extended) or buy software which will ket you use NTFS drives with a Mac computer.
NTFS drivers for Macs (there may be others):
Paragon NTFS - http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/ - recommendation: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18708633
Tuxera NTFS 2012.3.2 - http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/33122/tuxera-ntfs
NTFS for Mac OS X 9.5.3 - http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/26288/ntfs-for-mac-os-x
http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/ and http://i.vishalagarwal.com/post/30387627819/ntfs-write-on-lion-or-mountain-lion

Library Saved on External Hard Drive - New Computer

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