Migrating iTunes library from old mac to new, and library is on external HD

Hi, I'm trying to figure out how to point my newly set up iTunes to my old iTunes library file located on my external HD. It wants to build a new one.
I have a new iMac 5K I just got Friday. I have an old Mac Pro 2007 running 10.7.5 (the latest software I could update to due to hardware restrictions.)
Unfortunately, I can't do a straight up Migrate from the old one to the new one, due to the difference in OS. I got most of the iMac set up, but am having some issues with iTunes. My entire iTunes library is on an external HD, and it has been for quite some time. In preferences under advanced, I had my iTunes Media folder location set to the folder that was on the HD.
So when setting up my new iMac, I set the same preference in the new iTunes, so it has access to all of my music, but I don't remember how to point the new iTunes to that "iTunes Library" file so that all of my playlists and settings are in there. Intead iTunes keeps building a folder and library file on my Music folder that's on my iMac.

A library is everything in an iTunes folder, not just media. In particular, iTunes is looking for a file called iTunes Library.itl.
You do not tell iTunes to use media by pointing to it in preferences. You tell iTunes to use a library file which itself knows where the media are kept. You tell iTunes which library file to use by holding down the option/alt key while starting iTunes and pointing it to the correct library file. If this file was on the external drive in a complete iTunes folder there then all you have to do is point it to that folder on the external. If you didn't really have your entire library on the external drive but only had the media files there then you need to copy the iTunes folder on the old internal drive to the exact same location on the new computer and start iTunes.

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You talk about “importing”, but it looks like what you really did was just copying those folders. Also, it looks like you copied the folder where the messages are stored, but not the file where the account settings are stored...
Mail stores most preferences and all account settings in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist (except the passwords, which are stored in the keychain). Everything else, including all your messages and mailboxes, is stored within the ~/Library/Mail/ folder.
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I just bought a new IMac and want to move my IPhoto library to the new Mac. Old mac is running IPhoto 7, New one has 8.0. I haven't been able to find a definitive answer on how to do this. I need to keep my Keywords. Tried to start Migration Assistant but after 20 minutes spinning it's wheels "calculating size" I gave up.
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Given that you've already started using the iPhoto on the new machine then yes, copying the iPhoto Library Folder from the external HD will certainly affect things. If you copy it to the default location in your Pictures Folder it will overwrite the new one.
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Message was edited by: wurliuchi

Yes, put the old Mac into FireWire Target Mode and then simply drag the Library from the Pictures Folder on the Old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new one. Then Launch iPhoto. That’s it. Iphoto will update the Library. Note: *There is no importing involved!*
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How do I transfer my itunes library from old computer to new computer

How do I transfer my itunes library from old computer to new computer?

See this migrate iTunes library post.
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I transferred itunes library from old PC to new PC. The content all shows when I launch iTunes on the new PC now. The previous content does not show in iTunes but folder still looks like it is on hard drive on new PC. Suggestions on how to properly merge?

Before you connect any device to a new library go to the Devices tab of the the preferences panel via Edit > Preferences (Windows) or iTunes > Preferences (Mac) and ensure the box next to Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically is ticked. You can now safely connect the device to your computer without the danger of media being automatically deleted or overwritten.
To get all your content off your connect your iPad to your new computer.
Then use a 3rd party piece of software to transfer your content
I have found Senuti useful but there are others listed in the article I linked to in a previous post.
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Here's an Apple article:
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Hello,
I recently purchased a new laptop and am having trouble getting my library to transfer to my new laptop, i followed this step by step process http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329?viewlocale=en_US and in the end ended up with no music on my ipod and no music in the itunes library on my new computer...
So then i went into Itunes on the new computer and clicked import library under File, so i found the Music folder that i had transferred over and it imported the music but all my playlist were not there, just songs. So i ended up syncing my ipod back to my old computer so i would get all the songs and playlist back on as it was originally before this whole process...
My desktop runs XP while my new laptop runs Vista Ultimate w/ SP1 home edition, dont know if this matters...
So not sure where i should go from here, i have already Authorized my laptop with the itunes store , i was thinking of uninstalling Itunes on my laptop and starting over from scratch, will this help?
BTW when i did the original transfer i used my Ipod as the hard drive as it had plenty of storage room left on it, i do have access to a 250GB external HD i was thinking of using that and trying that to transfer the library...
So if anyone can tell me how to transfer my Itunes library from old comp to new laptop it would be greatly appreciated...

The method you used should work if followed exactly.
The key points are - is your music all together? It must all be in the iTunes Music folder in the iTunes folder.
When you copy the iTunes folder to the iPod you get the library database with your playlists and the iTunes Music folder containing the music files.
Since you had trouble doing this with the iPod, why not try copying your iTunes folder to the external drive.
The method is identical the one for the iPod except you leave out the iPod specific stuff.
You install iTunes on the new PC, then you drag the newly created iTunes folder out the Music folder to the desktop, then you copy the iTunes folder from the EHD into Music, replacing the one you dragged out.
When you have done that, you need to check that your account has full control of your iTunes folder - Vista is fussy about that - you will not be able to edit track info if you don't have full control.
Vista file folder permissions help
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/2464a180-e5dc-45d1-a2b8-3c8a 2b571e9d1033.mspx
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/25/how-to-take-ownership-and-grant-permiss ions-in-windows-vista/

Migrating iTunes library from old mac to new, and library is on external HD

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