Library Transfer to New Computer Gone Horribly Wrong

I got a laptop for Christmas, so I tried to use my iPod to transfer my library from the old computer to the new laptop. I followed all the directions, but when I got to the last step that said all my songs and playlists and everything should be in itunes, nothing was there. And there weren't any further directions for what to do if that should happen. So I imported the file that I had transferred and I thought I had solved my problem, but when I double-click to play any of my songs itunes comes up with an error that says it can't locate the song file. It would take forever to go through individually and match up all the folders, not to mention the whole thing is somewhat jumbled and some files are missing completely. I need help figuring out what went wrong, and if I should start over and try the DVD method or something else...i have roughly 1000 songs+video so I don't know how many DVDs that would end up filling.
Help please!
Windows XP

I would seriously thing about getting a larger drive for your computer. If you are talking about your Thinkpad, then probably the best thing to do is invest in an external hard drive. You can buy them ready made or put one together for very cheap.
If you then set up your iTunes to work off the external hard drive, you should then be able to get all your tunes off the iPod and into the external drive.
Patrick

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I recently purchased a new PC. I had backed-up my old computer on Carbonite, so I was able to transfer my iTunes library to the new computer when I downloaded my info from Carbonite. Is there a way to restore my playlists?

I recently purchased a new PC. I had backed-up my old computer on Carbonite, so I was able to transfer my iTunes library to the new computer when I downloaded my info from Carbonite, but the playlists are gone. Is there a way to restore my playlists?
Most of my playlists are on my iPod. If I use my iPod to transfer, will the songs double in my library? Also, how do I do this?
Thank you for any & all info you can provide!
Julie

If you had backed up and restored your library properly you should have ended up with the playlists too. Did you import the media folder from the backup drive into a new library rather than restoring the entire iTunes folder?
See also Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

Hello, I'm trying to transfer my old itunes library to a new computer using home sharing. It's switched on in both computers, but I can't see the old library in the new computer. But I can see tracks from the new computer on the old one. Please help.

Apologies for poor syntax, my arm's a little sore. Yes, one computer (old) is vista, new is Windows 8. Shouldn't I be able to import the whole library using home sharing? Am I doing something wrong? Thank you in advance

I am having the same issue. I recently purchased a new laptop and I have spent the last 3 days using the home share to slowly transfer all 22,000 songs. However yesterday morning when I turned on both computers to continue the process I am having the following issue:
both computers are running the same windows OS (8)
both computers are running the same version of itunes
both computers are logged in with the same apple ID
both computers have home sharing turned on
Now however I can see the NEW computers itunes library in the drop down box on the OLD computer, however I can not see the OLD computers itunes library on the NEW computer. I can no longer see "HOME SHARES" on the drop down LIBRARY list on the new computer. I've taken the following steps to correct the error:
reset the router
completely shut down BOTH computers and brought them back up
reopened itunes
re-logged in on both PC's
re-activated both PC's with home share
The articles and help from the apple sites are worthless and it says if you can't see a library just turn home sharing off then back on - I've completed the above steps NUMEROUS times. After spending 4 days on transferring my music I really do not want to have to start over by using an external hard drive and then importing that way. I would like some help on discovering why the new laptop is no longer seeing my old library. (When it has been working up to this point)
Thanks in advance.

How do I transfer my itunes library to a new computer from my iPhone. The old one no longer works.

How do I transfer my itunes library to a new computer from my iPhone. The old computer no longer works.

You should be able to:
Backup the device to the new installation
Transfer your purchases into a newly authorized library
Recover any other media using third party tools as suggested in this post from forum regular Zevoneer
Restore the device from the backup
This process should switch the association of the device to the new library, preserving the data and settings in your apps.
May also be prudent to attempt a backup to iCloud directly from the device before you start... Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup > iCloud Backup > On. It won't save any media but it would preserve the general account settings and documents in case anything goes wrong while you are trying to extract your other data.
When you get it all fixed, make a backup!
tt2

HT201269 How can I transfer my old iTunes library to a new computer?

I just got a MacBook Pro and I'd like to be able to access the iTunes library from my old computer on it. I've tried Home Sharing but it doesn't allow me to transfer my old library to my new computer, it just allows me to listen to the songs from it. I'd like to be able to sync my iPhone with my current computer without the "Erase and Sync" message popping up. I've authorized my new computer to access my iPhone and I don't understand why I'm not allowed to transfer my old library to my new computer.

Have you tried the Migration Assistant that came with your new MBP?

How can i transfer my entire ipod library to my new computer

I just purchased a new computer and rather hook the old computer to the new one I want to use my Ipod to transfer my library but it will only transfer the purchased songs. Is there anyway to move the ipod library to the new computer using the ipod only? Help

See this migrate iTunes library post and do it properly.
tt2

Due to a divorce all my music is on my iTunes and iPod. I had to buy a new computer and want to transfer my Library to the new computer. How can I do this without using an external drive and use new computer just like I do the old one? Thanks.

Due to divorce, all my music is on my iTunes and iPod. I have had to buy a new laptop and want to transfer the library to the new computer before deauthorizing the old one. I dont want to have to use an external drive every time I want to listen to my music. How can I do this and have the same basic iTunes setup as before? HELP!

You might consider itunes match for moving CDs you've copied into your itunes library if you dont have a way to use home sharing.
iTunes match is an optional service offered by apple that costs about $25 a year. It scans your music library and if it finds music that is already in apple's itunes catalog it'll automatically "unlock"/"store" these in the cloud for you. Items that it does not find in the catalog it'll upload and store these in the cloud for you and you can download them on your devices. See http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

HT1589 how can i transfer my library to a new computer? old computer is not working

how can i transfer my i-tunes library to a new computer? my old computer is not working.

It has alwasy been very basic to always maintain a backup copy. Have you failed to do this? not good.
You would have to take the hard drive out of your old computer and connect it to your new and transfer the info.

I found information on how to transfer my library to a new computer. I am going to use an external hard drive for this and transfer my itunes folder to the new computer. I will then download and install a new version of itunes on my new computer. My q

I found information on how to transfer my itunes library to a new computer. I am going to use an external hard drive for this to transfer my itunes folder to the new computer.
I will then download and install a new version of itunes on my new computer.
My question is this. When I do this, will itunes have all my album artwork for all my library? My library has a lot of my own music and I have spent quite a bit of time copying album artwork that itunes did not add. I am really hoping I don't have to do this again!
Thanks for your help!

If you follow the directions in this Link...
Copy iTunes to an External Drive
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
Everything should be carried across...

How do I transfer my itunes music library to my new computer

How do I transfer my itunes music library to my new computer (not a mac owner)?

These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
If you have an iOS device that syncs with contact & calendar data on your computer you should migrate this information too. If that isn't possible create a dummy entry of each type in your new profile and iTunes should offer to merge the existing data from the device into the computer, otherwise the danger is that it will wipe the information from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2

Can't play music in Library upon transfer to new computer

Trying to move my library to a new computer. My I-pod is broken (otherwise I'd use it as a "hard drive" to transfer the music, so I used an external hard drive. I copied the iTunes folder from the old computer to the hard drive. Then downloaded the newest iTunes version on the new computer. I transferred (or at least I think I did) the library to the new computer. When the external hard drive is plugged in, I'm able to click on and play any song in the library. However, when I unplug the external hard drive and try to select a song, I get a message stating "the song (name of song) could not be used because the original file could not be found". I am assuming that I somehow didn't transfer the files correctly, but I'm at a loss for how to do it. The new computer is Vista, the old was XP. I'm familiar with XPs capability to open Window's Explorer and copy and paste from one place to another. But I don't see Window's explorer on Vista and therefore don't know how to copy and paste from one drive (in this case my exteranl drive) to the C drive on the new computer. HELP!!!

Hi Sunshine Coda
Since no one has yet responded with a definitive answer try this:
Open iTunes.
From the Store menu, choose "Deauthorize This Computer…"
Enter your account name and password.
Click OK. A message appears reading "This computer has been successfully deauthorized."
Click OK.
Repeat steps 2 through 5 above. If you see the same message reading: "This computer has been successfully deauthorized," then your computer was using multiple authorizations.
Continue to repeat steps 2 through 5 above until you see a message reading "This computer was not authorized. To authorize this computer, play a song or video you have purchased using this account."
Then, try to play that song again. You will be asked to authorize the computer, after which the "already authorized" message should cease appearing.

I have a new computer. How do I transfer my itunes library to the new computer?

I have a new computer. How do I transfer my itunes library to the new computer?

See either of these two articles.
How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
B-rock

How to transfer my itunes library to a new computer

How to transfer my existing itunes library to a new laptop?

These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
Note if you have iOS devices and haven't moved your contacts and calendar items across then you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should merge the existing data from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2

How do I transfer my my library to a new computer?

How do I transfer my music library to a new computer?

iPhoto- How to move the Library to an EHD
iMovie- How to move the Library to an EHD
iTunes- How to move the library to an EHD
Restore above to the appropriate locations on your new computer.

How do i transfer my library to a new computer

I have just bought a new computer and want to transfer my library to the new computer but cant seem to work out how to do it. does anyone know how?

Unless you have a backup somewhere, then no.
You need the entire iTunes folder located in the My Music directory on your old PC.
You will still be able to redownload your iTunes purchases but any non-iTunes purchased media will be lost as well as playlists, play counts, etc...

Library Transfer to New Computer Gone Horribly Wrong

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