Migrating Library From Old External Drive To New External Drive - How?

So my current external drive is filled to the max so I need to buy a new one. I have a lot of playlists (representing albums) but if I get a new hard drive, will the playlists and their contents be linked to the music correctly? If not, how am able to accomplish this to insure a flawless transition?

You might find this article useful: iLounge - Transferring your iTunes Library to Another Drive

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Migrating info from old Macbook Pro to new Macbook Pro and old laptop loses charge midway and transferring stops. After recharging how do I get things going again?

Migrating info from old Macbook Pro to new Macbook Pro and original laptop loses charge midway thru. After charging again how do I get things going, do I start from the beginning?

Agreed. Don't even think about starting a long, disc-intensive process like that without both machines powered by AC.

During an aborted migration attempt from old Macbook Pro to new machine running Yosemite my recently installed apps and settings have been placed in a deleted user folder. How do I reinstate them?

During an aborted migration attempt from old Macbook Pro to a new machine running Yosemite my recently installed apps and settings have been placed in a deleted user folder. How do I reinstate them?

I suggest starting over. Boot into Recovery mode, wipe the HD, reinstall the OS, and, on first boot, use the steps in Pondini's Setup New Mac guide to do the migration.'

Problems moving library from old external drive to new one

I keep all my music on an external hard drive connected to my laptop at home. I am now spending several months away from home, and couldn't take my external drive with me.
I planned to handle this by using iTunes backup feature to put my whole library on DVD, then buy a new external hard drive to take with me, and sse iTunes backup feature to rebuild the library on the new external HDD.
However, I can't get the library to restore/re-load/re-import from the backup DVDs. The iTunes backup/restore instructions tell you to open iTunes then insert the backup DVD. When I do that, I get the following error message:
"The Disc "Backup2007-07-09" cannot be read. An unknown error occurred (-69)."
However, I can read the DVD using just going through My Computer, so I really don't believe it's a problem with the disc.
So, if this backup method isn't working, how can I re-create my library on the new hard drive? I have dozens and dozens of playlists, a lot of them smart playlists that depend on such things as play count, rating, and date added, so i really need to keep all my tags.
I thought of two possible work-arounds.
Plan A: Copy all the music myself (ie, not using iTunes) onto the new external hard drive, using the same filename and path as they had on the old external hard drive, then import the Library.itl file that's on the backup DVD (manually copying over the default one created by iTunes).
Would that work? The big annoyance of this plan, I should add, is that, looking at the files on the backup DVD, i can see that iTunes added a number behind each folder name (ie, "01 Al Green") and behind each album title (ie, "01 Al Green - Greatest Hits"). It seems to me I would have to go through and manually delete all the numerals in both artist and album names in order for the .itl file to point to the right place. That would take hours...
Plan B: (Really not a great plan, but I'm grasping here...)
Give up on the backup altogether. Keep adding music and podcasts to my library as is. All my music that is sitting on my far, far away home HDD will get the exclamation point next to it in iTunes. Then, when i try to sync the ipod, if i'm thinking this through right, iTunes will go ahead and add the new stuff to my ipod, but all the old stuff will just not copy over, and then at the end of syncing i'll get the error message to the effect of "itunes didn't copy song x because the file could not be found." This option is far from ideal, as my playlists won't update, but at least i'll still have the playlists.
Do either of these sound like they would work?
Any other suggestions?
Any help would be very much appreciated.

If you can you connect both external drives to the computer at the same time, it would be easier to use the "Consolidate Library" utility in iTunes to move (actually copy) your media to the new drive.
1- Open iTunes preferences and select the Advanced tab. Change the location of your iTunes music folder to a location on your new drive. Also select the options "Keep iTunes music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library". Close the preferences dialog.
2- On the iTunes menu, select Advanced/Consolidate Library. This will gather all your media and copy it to the new location (the folder you designated in step 1).
3- After the consolidation is complete, verify that your music still plays, and check "Get Info" on some items to verify that iTunes is looking at the new location.
4- Optional. Delete the original files on your external drive. Do this only if you are certain that everything copied over to the new drive.
5- Optional. Close iTunes and locate your "iTunes Library.itl" file. This is typically in your iTunes folder, which may be on your computer's drive and not the external drive. Move this file to somewhere on your new external drive. Next, hold the Shift key as you launch iTunes and you'll be prompted to "Create Library" or "Choose Library". Select "Choose Library" and navigate to where you put the "iTunes Library.itl" file. This is a one-time step that tells iTunes where to boot the library from.

Moving my iTunes library from old hard drive to new laptop

I apologize if this has been discussed before, but, just today I punched my laptop screen and shattered it (the laptop has been asking for it lately, it's been acting up and I was planning on buying a new one anyhow). I removed the hard drive and it's perfectly fine, no damage. I bought a new laptop a few hours after breaking the old one and I was wondering how, if possible, I can move my iTunes library from my old hard drive to my new laptop. I read about a hard drive case that comes with a USB cable and one of those things that plugs into my hard drive that I can then plug into my new laptop and my old hard drive will show up.
Sorry, it was a bit of a mouthful. Anything anyone can suggest is greatly appreciated.

tonybassplayer wrote:
Thank Chris I have just done that. How do I now get them in to Itunes ?
If you simply copy the iTUnes folder to /Music/ and launch iTUnes, everythign will be there. No need to import anything.
This will work the same with iPhoto.
Simply copy the Photo library to /Pictures/ folder and launch iPhoto.

Moving itunes library from old hard drive to new laptop

I need to move my itunes library from my old hard drive from my now defunct laptop to my new one
Can someone please advise how to go about this so I avoid making mistakes that I have with iphoto etc when doing the same
Many thanks
tony

tonybassplayer wrote:
Thank Chris I have just done that. How do I now get them in to Itunes ?
If you simply copy the iTUnes folder to /Music/ and launch iTUnes, everythign will be there. No need to import anything.
This will work the same with iPhoto.
Simply copy the Photo library to /Pictures/ folder and launch iPhoto.

How move my itunes library from old external harddrive to a new bigger external harddrive

i have my itunes library on an external hard drive but now i want to move the itunes library over to a new bigger external hard drive . i just got a new imac and I want to keep my music and movies content on off my imac. I finally just got my imac itunes to recognize the old external hard drive but now I want to move to the new 2tb harddrive. Any help would be appreciated

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Migrate iTunes Library from old Leopard computer to new Lion

I am finally retiring my trusty old G5 desktop in favor of a new iMac with Lion in anticipation of iCloud this fall.
We have been using our G5 to sync and store all of the music and apps for the entire family for about 7 years.... Everyone's iPhone, iPod, and iPad is synced to the old computer.
How do I migrate all of this to the new computer??
I have tried to Migrate from my Time Machine Backup for the G5 (kept with this in mind) and Migration Assistant refuses to recognize the Time Machine disk. It shows on the desktop and in Time Machine on the new computer, so I am quite sure that it is attached!
I tried to copy and paste from the backup into the new computer's iTunes Library, but I am refused due to permissions problems. I assume this is for the purchased items from the iTunes store.
Any suggestions??
thanks
Terri

Try this site : http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/SetupAsst.html
(From discussion forum thread : https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2759954?start=0&tstart=0

How do I transfer ITunes library from old hard drive to new hard drive

I got a new computer and trying to transfer my ITunes library ( Apps, Music, video's). How do I go about this. I copied the library to my backup drive. I can't transfer the files. What am I missing ?

This is the method I would normally recommend:
Backup with this User Tip, restore the library to the new computer using the same tool, keep the backup up-to-date in future. Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer need to access protected content on it.
You can use your iPod classic to move your library to a new computer but if you don't already have a backup copy of the library (and your other important data) now is the time to think about it.
tt2

Can i migrate data from old 2008 macbook to new macbook pro retina? if so, how?

if anyone can help me this, i'd be grateful. have had a frustrating few hours trying to answer this question. just bought a macbook pro, retina, running mavericks. i can't figure out if there's any way to get my data off my old computer, onto the new. i can't upgrade to snow leopard because my computer won't run it. whenever i have tried connecting the two computers via ethernet, the new computer won't recognize the old (though i think the old recognizes the new). i don't have a time machine backup, because my computer is so old and full, that it became corrupted. (which is why i got a new one). does anyone have any answers or suggestions on how i could do this? thanks. --nancy

If the migration assistant doesn't work and you have no backup then you will have to take another path that involves a little more manual work. Anyway in your situation a fresh start seems like a good idea. So set up your new Mac with the same username and afterwards copy your user folder from the old to the new either using your ethernet connection or an external USB drive. This will also bring your user's Library folder along and retain most of your settings at least as far as they are applicable in Mavericks.
HTH
Martin

Upload my current ITunes Library from old laptop to my new laptop

I have my ITunes Library on my old laptop. I want to put the library on my new laptop. How do I do that?

How to Copy and Move your Music Files from One Computer to Another
This is the conceptual framework with related and important links. Apply and adapt it to your specific situation and equipment resources.
The safest, quickest, and most optimal method to move your Library to a new computer is to actually clone the entire ‘iTunes’ folder (directory) structure, rather than just copying just the song files. By copying the entire ‘iTunes’ folder and all sub-folders, you capture not only the music files, but the all-important ‘iTunes Library.itl’ database file (usually located in the ‘iTunes’ folder), which contains all the data about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). See: What are the iTunes Library files?
Install iTunes on the new computer. Then go back to your old computer and move (copy) the "iTunes" folder which usually resides inside your "…\My Documents\My Music" folder from the old computer to the exact same place (both Drive Letter and complete Path) on the new computer. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will look and behave exactly the same way it did on the old, Play Counts, Ratings, Comments and all!
NOTE: It is usually safer moving files between computers with the same version of iTunes!!
Here's a list of methods to copy and move your music files from one computer to another:
1) Use an External Hard Drive (ExHD) to move the complete files and Folder structures from one computer to another (my preferred option). You can clone’ the entire ‘iTunes’ folder structure in one very easy step. Also great to have available for complete backups of your Library. External hard drives now run less than $100 for 200-250GBs of storage. See This Link
2) Directly connect the two computers....
- 2a) Connect them through a Router &/or Network
- 2b) Directly connect using an Ethernet cable: Straight for using at least one Mac; or Crossover for PC/PC Instructions here.
- 2c) Connect them via a USB-to-USB Network Bridge. Example here. There are various types out there (use Google).
....Then copy the files from one computer to the other.
3) Use the iPod as a transfer device, as this extensive Apple link explains. It will be a bit easier if your iPod has a larger capacity than your music collection, otherwise you will need to perform multiple copy/move transfers. This well written process also works fine while using any other data transfer medium (ExHD, Flash Drive, DVD, CD, Zipp, Jazz, etc.).
4) Burn several DVDs (at 4.7GBs each) with your music data files and folder structure, and load them onto the new computer. Re-writable DVDs are more cost effective (if your DVD drive can manage these types).
5) Burn 6x more on CDs (at 700MB each) than in #4 above and load the files and folders on the new computer. Re-writable CDs are more cost effective (if your CD drive can manage these types).
6) Use a larger USB Flash drive (1GB - 4GB) to move the files and folders. Best if the flash drive is larger than your Library, otherwise you will need multiple copy/move transfers.
These are links to various additional instructions on performing the transfer (read them all, but some listed steps may not be required depending on your specific situation):
Switch from PC to Mac Using the iPod
hudgie: Migrating iTunes for Windows to a new PC
How to copy music between authorized computers

Transferring iPhoto library from old MacBook Pro to new Mini

I am trying to transfer via Wifi the iPhoto library from my MacBook Pro (10.7.5) to new Mac Mini (10.9). Finder will not move the file to the new machine because it says I do not have the correct permissions. iPhoto on the mini can see but will not open the iPhoto Library on the old mac. Any ideas?? Thanks!

see > How to migrate data from another Mac using Mountain Lion and earlier
Personally If I was only wanting to copy photos, I would copy the old iPhoto Library to an external hard drive and then import them from the external hard drive into iPhoto on the new computer.

How do I transfer my iTunes library from old Vista computer to new Windows 8

How do I transfer my iTunes library from an old vista PC to new Windows 8 computer, can I utilise my I pod 160Gb classic, any help would be appreciated.

From your OLD computer...
Copy your ENTIRE iTunes FOLDER to an External Drive... and then from the External Drive to your New Computer..
Full Details Here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
Also...
Have a look at these 2 Videos...
http://macmost.com/moving-your-itunes-library.html
http://macmost.com/moving-your-itunes-media-to-an-external-drive.html

Can I migrate data from "old" user account to new user after clean install?

I've just done a clean install of Snow Leopard on a MacBook Pro (I erased system drive before install). I've upgraded SL to 10.6.2 using a generic administrator account. And I have an exact bootable clone of my old data (SuperDuper backup on external drive).
I don't care about migrating all my old software; I'll reinstall it. But I would like to migrate system preferences, mail accounts, iCal calendars, and keychains etc. And some silly part of me wants to REname my username. (Also: I can't use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant because some part of the old image has Microsoft Entourage hooks in Mail and MobileMe that I want to get rid of.)
So here's my question: if I create a new account with the NEW user name I want to start using, can I STILL then copy over my old data? I don't know which of the below stuff has my old user name embedded in the data. Here's the list:
Your data in ~/Documents
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Calendars (copy the whole folder)
Also in ~/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need)
~ /Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist *This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.
~ /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/Safari (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iMovie (copy the whole folder)
~/Pictures/iPhoto library
~/Music/iTunes
~/Movies/iMovie
Thanks for any input! I know a lot of people here have done clean installs, so I appreciate anything you can share.

santranyc wrote:
I've just done a clean install of Snow Leopard on a MacBook Pro (I erased system drive before install). I've upgraded SL to 10.6.2 using a generic administrator account. And I have an exact bootable clone of my old data (SuperDuper backup on external drive).
I don't care about migrating all my old software; I'll reinstall it. But I would like to migrate system preferences, mail accounts, iCal calendars, and keychains etc. And some silly part of me wants to REname my username. (Also: I can't use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant because some part of the old image has Microsoft Entourage hooks in Mail and MobileMe that I want to get rid of.)
what exactly do you mean by that? you can use Migration Assistant to migrate your user only (no applications). that should most likely suffice and i don't think Entourage will be a problem. you'll have to delete various entourage folders in your documents folder afterward if you don't plan on using it anymore.
So here's my question: if I create a new account with the NEW user name I want to start using, can I STILL then copy over my old data?
yes, as bdmarsha said, your user name is not mentioned anywhere in your home directory.
I don't know which of the below stuff has my old user name embedded in the data. Here's the list:
Your data in ~/Documents
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Calendars (copy the whole folder)
Also in ~/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need)
~ /Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist *This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.
~ /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/Safari (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iMovie (copy the whole folder)
~/Pictures/iPhoto library
~/Music/iTunes
~/Movies/iMovie
Thanks for any input! I know a lot of people here have done clean installs, so I appreciate anything you can share.

Transferring Library from Old iPOD mini to new computer...

My computer was fried about a month ago. My company's IT department replaced it, but I lost my library of iTUNES entirely from the hard disk. The whole library is of course on my old iPOD mini. I want to transfer the library from the old iPOD mini to my new computer and then, in turn, to my new NANO - which I am very excited about. I have installed the nano and the iTUNEs on my new computer. I am fearful that if I plug my old iPOD mini into the new computer, with the blank library, that it will erase the iPOD mini library. HELP!

DO NOT attach & sync your full iPod to an empty iTunes!!!
These links will give you several methods of recovering whatever songs remain on your iPod; some free, some third-party software, some more comprehensive for restoring Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, etc. Read them and their associated links before deciding on a strategy that works for you. There are many various third-party software programs that will offer a more robust process, or an easier GUI. Do a Google search for them if the links below leave you wanting…
Don King Resurrected: Deleted files from hard drive (free user steps – music recovery only)
MacMuse: Computer Crashed (free user steps – music recovery only)
Copying music from iPod to computer (a primer on various methods and software)
Copying Songs from Your iPod to a Mac or PC (resource for 3rd party software)
iPodRip Software
PodUtil Software
Senuti (Mac OS X v10.3 or higher Recovery Utility)
XPlay (Windows software For Music Recovery &/or Cross-Platform Functionality)
XPlay Photo Browser (For recovering Photos)
Extremely Simple Method: (just to recover the song files)
1 - Open iTunes
2 - Edit=>Preferences=>’Advanced/General’ tab
2a --- Select ‘Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library’: checked
2b --- Select ‘Keep iTunes Music folder organized’: checked
2c --- Click OK to store changes
3 - Attach your iPod to the PC and hold down the ‘Shift+Ctrl’ keys until the iPod is fully recognized (this will defeat the auto-sync process)
4 - If you get a dialog box to link the Library, decline this option
5 – Within iTunes: File=>Add Folder
6 - Browse to and open ‘My Computer’ (click on the ‘+’) and select the iPod
7 - Click OK
8 - The music files should start to transfer back into iTunes
8a –- this will take some time depending on your PC and the amount of songs on the iPod
No Playlists, or Ratings, Last Played, & Play Count attributes will be transferred from the iPod to iTunes using this method
After recovering your song files, strongly consider developing a thorough backup strategy for just this type of situation (and many other potential disasters).
You need at least two full sets of your music, not including what is on the iPod:
-- One full set on the PC within iTunes (on internal HD or ExHD)
-- One full set on an separate external backup medium (CD/DVD/ExHD/other)
-- One (full or partial) set on the iPod
Music files on just the iPod and only one other medium is not considered having any backup.
If you cannot store your complete music files on the computer’s internal HD, then create and maintain at least two external sets (any multiple combinations of ExHDs, DVDs, CDs).
Backup both the music files and the Library database file (iTunes Library.itl). What are the iTunes Library files?
Here is a post on developing a thorough backup strategy:
http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=-1&messageID=1498152

Migrating Library From Old External Drive To New External Drive - How?

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