Moved files from external drive to internal, now can't delete duplicates

I had my music on an external drive, but then I got a new Mac with plenty of space and I copied the files onto the internal hard disk. Now two copies of every song show up, which is annoying. How do I remove all the old ones? There are thousands I cannot do it one at a time... I don't see any way to sort on the field that shows the exclamation point, so I could select them all together.

from the horse's mouth: _*How to find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library*_.
also, there are 3rd party apps that can help:
TuneRanger (commercial)
_*http://www.araxis.com/find-duplicate-files/*_ (free trial)
_*http://dougscripts.com/itunes/itinfo/dupin.php*_ (commercial)
JGG

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Moved library to external drive ... now can't reconnect files HELP

Hi all. I've searched this forum for answers to my problem but to no avail.
In effort to free-up hard-drive space on my iMac, I decided to move my entire Aperture library folder to my external g-drive. Then, when I started Aperture up again, I opened preferences and pointed to the new library location on the external. I thought it would be that easy...
At first, it seemed to have worked--the files were all showing up in Aperture. However, when I tried to edit or export any of the images, I got a warning message:
"Versions with unavailable master images cannot be exported. The selected master image is either offline or not found. Please reconnect it and try again."
Also, there's a little yellow yeild icon with an arrow above on the images... I guess this indicates that there's a connection problem?
What should I do? I tried right-clicking the main "Library" icon in Aperture and clicking "Relocate Masters for Library..." but that resulted in another error message:
"Unavailable master images cannot be relocated. One or more of the selected master images are unavailable. You can relocate all available masters, or cancel, connect the required drives, and try again."
I have no idea what to do next? How do I fix this? I have a shoot today and I will need this resolved.... If anyone has any idea, please take me thru this. Oh, one more thing--I have over 11,000 photos so forget manually connecting each one.
One more thing: I am downloading Aperture 3 and will definitely migrate. Will it be easier to connect these files to Aperture 3?

OK, I couldn't figure it out so I set everything back to how it was before the move. Everything is working now and all the files are still in the original location.
Now, I want to move the entire library to the external drive. I've looked into this...please correct me if I'm wrong with the steps to move entire library from my computer to a external drive (note: I don't want to use the computer HD to store/process the photos--I want it all done from my external HD)/. Here's what I found in Aperture help...this is the closest thing I could find for directions on moving the entire Aperture contents from one location to another permanently. Will this work?:
"Transferring Projects from Another System
If you work with several computers, or work on projects with other people, you may find it necessary to transfer projects from one Aperture system to another. Transferring projects is a simple import process.
To transfer a project from one computer to another:
1 Select the project you want to transfer, then choose File > Export > Project.
2 Enter a name and choose a location for the exported project.
3 If your project contains referenced images, select the “Consolidate images into exported project” checkbox to transfer the original masters as well as the previews and metadata as a self-contained project that another Aperture system can use.
If you are transferring projects with referenced images to another computer and want to transfer just the referenced image previews and not the masters, don’t select the “Consolidate images into exported project” checkbox.
4 Click Save. The project file is exported to the location you chose.
5 Connect or network the two computers together. For more information, see the documentation that came with the computers.
6 Open Aperture on the computer to which you want to transfer the project.
7 In the Projects inspector, select Library.
8 Choose File > Import > Projects.
9 In the Import dialog, navigate to the location on the other computer where the project you want to transfer is stored, select the project, then click Open.
The selected project appears in the Projects inspector."

Merging Files From External Drive To Internal Drive

Here is the deal. I have a notebook (Windows) with two internal drivers (C&D) and two external drives (G&H). Currently the iTunes program is located on my C drive with the other iTunes folder under "My Music" on the C drive. I have all of my music on the G drive and all of my movies and TV shows on the H drive.
What I want to do is somehow get all of my music, movies & TV shows onto my D drive so that my content is with me when I am away from home. I am going to scrap the external drives.
I know I can just copy the files over from the external drives to the interal drive and re-add them to iTunes but I really don't want to lose my album/movie art.
I am not sure how the "consolidate library" option works. If you have any advice I would be appreciative.
Sorry if I am beating an old horse but I tried searching the forums and could find an answer for my circumstance.

from the horse's mouth: _*How to find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library*_.
also, there are 3rd party apps that can help:
TuneRanger (commercial)
_*http://www.araxis.com/find-duplicate-files/*_ (free trial)
_*http://dougscripts.com/itunes/itinfo/dupin.php*_ (commercial)
JGG

It is very difficult to import audio files from extern drives (NAS) into the new garageband

it is very difficult to import audio files from extern drives (NAS) into the new garageband.

Are you trying to open an audio file in GarageBand or a GarageBand project?
To open an audio file drag it from your NAS to a real-instrument track in GarageBand.
If you are trying to open a GarageBand project - can you open the same project, if you copy it to your system drive?
Trying Google translate -
Bent u probeert om een audiobestand in GarageBand of een GarageBand-project te openen?
Om een audiobestand slepen uit uw NAS naar een real-instrument track in GarageBand openen.
Als u probeert een GarageBand-project te openen - kunt u hetzelfde project opent, als u het kopiëren naar uw systeem schijf?

Moving files to external drive - need Mac and PC compatibility in future

Hello -
I'm moving a client's video files to an external drive so they have the original files. I'm moving both the DV files (always usable with program that accepts DV files) and the Mac project files in a separate folder (in case they ever work on them in a mac - includes all the referenced files). I know they won't be able to open the latter on a PC but I'd still like to include.
BUT, can they get any external drive? If I plug it into my computer and move files, are they going to run into problems if they use then on a PC? Thinking about getting this one for them (they are paying but want a good price for them):
http://www.buy.com/prod/western-digital-500gb-my-book-essential-usb-2-0-external -hard-drive/q/loc/101/206409667.html
Thanks for your help -
Alexa

Don't have a solution for you, but I did encounter a very similar bug.
I was moving files from one iMac's external drive to another's internal drive, using a drag'n'drop move command on a directory. The move generated an error message, maybe the same as what you saw (I'm not sure), then aborted the move. Only one small file had been moved, and the source directory was gone! Not in the trash. Mac OS X 10.4.8 on both systems, an iMac DV and an iMac 24. The external drive was formatted as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)."
This sure seems to be a basic programming mistake. So, for me, it's back to doing 3 steps: copy, verify, delete. It's lousy not to be able to rely on proper execution of a basic command, but I've never won an argument with a computer.

Moving music from external drive to new computer, not showing music

Hello,
I was running iTunes 7 or 8 on Windows XP on a laptop. I ran out of room on the laptop and followed Apple's doc to move library to external drive and point iTunes to the new location. It's been working that way for over a year.
Old laptop crashed and I purchased a new laptop running Windows 7. The external drive is fine, and I was able to restore info and pics backed up to that drive on my new laptop. I installed iTunes 9 on the new laptop and tried several things to get it to see the music folder on the external drive, but it doesn't see the music at all. I even copied everything to the iTunes Media folder on the new laptop, but nothing shows up at all. I assume it has to do with what library files are available and where they're located. There are no library files on external drive, only a My New Music Folder. The old laptop can be on for about 10 minutes before it crashes, so I could try to retrieve the old library files if I knew what I needed and where to find them, but I hope I can do it without having to turn on old laptop. Any help is much appreciated. Are my playlists gone? Help!

If everything on the external drive is in WMA format then that method would work, otherwise you are likely to get duplicates, which is why I suggested you work with the Not Added folder.
Different audio formats have different ways of compressing and storing the information from the original source. Most software and hardware will only work with a limited range of formats. iTunes cannot play WMA directly, but can convert it to one of the formats it will play. Given this is a clean install of iTunes that format is likely to be AAC if you haven't changed it. MP3 may be a better choice if you might want to put the media on some non-Apple device in future, otherwise ACC is supposedly slight more efficient, i.e. a smaller file for the same quality.
The main factor affecting file size is bit rate. The more original data that is kept, the larger the file and the more closely the reproduced music will match the original source. WMA is a lossy format typical bit rates are 128kbs and 256kbs. Conveting a 128kbs file to, for example, a 256k AAC file results in a file larger than the original, but no better quality.
If you put Windows Explorer in details view you should be able to enable a bitrate column and scan through to see what the current values are. You can adjust your import settings as given. You may want to import in more than one batch if there is a mix of bitrates.
tt2

Moving files from one drive to another

How can I move a batch of files from one drive to another using Bridge CS4?

There are two methods. One involves your operating system and the other uses Bridge.
Using Microsoft (sorry to you Mac users) have Windows Explorer open to the directory containing your files. Click and drag the directory from one drive to another. Conversely if you want to copy just a selection of the files follow this routine.
Create a duplicate named directory in the destination drive. Select the file you wish to move and do so from directory to directory.
In Bridge it is even easier. In Bridge ensure that the Folders sub pane is open and visibile. Just click on the source directory and click and drag it to the destination drive.
Testing on my part (I routinely move up to 30 gigabytes at a time) has demonstrated that Bridge adds a little time to the process depending on the size of the source files. I suspect that this has to do with additional overhead of the program.
To be safe I would recommend that you do use the copy method instead of moving the directory. This is a failsae in case any problems crop up during the process. It takes mere moments to delete the source directory after the copy routine has run.
Wayne Webb

MOVING mp3-files from external drive into iTunes automatically

Hi all,
for historical reasons (mainly because I was coming from Windows years ago) I have stored all my mp3-Files (audiobooks, songs, etc) on an external harddrive. My iTunes library is stored on the external drive, too and all media content in my iTunes library is manually linked to the external drive. Today the option iTunes >Setting >"Let iTunes manage your library" ias well as "Copy filed to iTunes Media folders" is UNchecked.
In my iTunes library there is only a subset of all mp3-files included.
Now, I would love to get my library moved to the mac as well as the audio and video-files, and let iTunes manage the storage of the library!
As far as I know once I move the library (manul or automatic) to the Mac and check the option to let iTunes manage the and copy content, then iTunes will COPY the medial files to the Mac.
Given that I have only included a subset of my entire repository in iTunes I will then end up with a mess of mediafiles on my external drive where some are doublicated while others aren't. I will be impossible to figure out afterwards what is included in iTunes and what isn't.
Hence the perfect process would be if iTunes could, while executing the import following the automation-Option (see above) and MOVE the files from the whereever and bring it to the place it want's it to be.
Is there any way to get this automated and get iTunes MOVE the files instad of copying?
That would be a tremendous help!
Many Thanks for your thoughts!
Mattthias

Hi mradvanyi,
For help with adding music files to iTunes I would suggest looking over the steps in this article -
iTunes: About the Add to Library, Import, and Convert functions
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1347
If this does not help, please respond and we will see what else can be done.
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Brett L

Moving Windows from external drive to a new internal partition

I have Windows 7 installed on an external drive connected to my Mac Pro, which I access by rebooting into Windows. I am transitioning from the Mac Pro to a new MacBook Pro and want to copy the Windows disk (with all its installed applications and data) onto the laptop's internal drive. Without creating a partition with Boot Camp and reinstalling Windows, how can I do this?
Thanks, Eric

Hilal Malawi wrote:
Thanks, but that site doesn't have a clear answer.
Correct. As it clearly states, there are too many variables to have detailed solutions for every possible situation.
In the 'pink' box, which best matches my situation, the instructions begin with: "•You must be logged on to the account being moved...".
That's not clear at all. How do I log in to an account that doesn't exist yet? Connecting a hard disk that has a home folder to a new Mac doesn't allow me to 'log on' to that home folder's account, because it doesn't yet exist on the new Mac.
You may have to set up user accounts "from scratch." Then change the ownership and permissions on the old home folders so you can copy the contents of the sub-folders from the old home folders to the new ones.
If you're comfortable with permissions and Terminal, this may help: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20013630-263.html

Moving files from External Hard Drive TO Macbook Pro

I just got my Macbook Pro and want to move some files from my external hard drive to my Mac but this message keeps pooping up: "There are some locked items in the Trash. Do you want to remove all the items, including the locked ones, or just the unlocked items?" and my options are "Stop" or "Continue". I selected "Continue" but the same dialogue appears with only the option "Okay" so when i click on it, nothing happens (i.e. nothing moves)
However, my trash is empty so i don't get what the "locked items" are.
Can someone please advise me on what to do?
Any help would be really appreciated.
If this helps, i have a macbook pro with retina display, 13-inch, Early 2015 (OS X Yosemite - Version 10.10.3)
(3.1GHz Dual Core Intel Core i7, 16GB 1866MHz)

Have you tried reformatting the drive with Disk Utility?
If the external was formatted by windows, the it's likely in the wrong format.

Copied files from external drive, now "read only" on Mac HDD

I recently moved a large amount of files from my old PC to my new Mac. I copied the files from WinXP to a USB hard drive, then connected the drive to my Mac. After I copied all the files to the Mac I noticed that the majority of them are set with permissions that say "You can only read this file". How do I take ownership of these files so I can delete/rename some of them?
Thanks!

Select your file and open the information panel. By owner and access, change the permission.

Moving images from external HD to internal - lost metadata (mac)

got myself in a bit of a pickle here...
got a new imac - and upgraded from LR2 to LR4
all images are stored on an external hard drive - i *want* all of my pictures on the internal HD
so i copied the pictures folder to the internal HD - opened LR4, updated the catalog file (moved it from the extHD - pointed it to the new location on the internalHD)
apparently the lrcat file didn't get informed though - i had blank spaces in grid-view where there used to be pictures
so.. jiggered around with it until it found all the pictures (they appeared in grid view) - except, now there were alternating picture/blank-spaces
i discovered a way to "find" all the missing pictures - then "removed" them
unfortunately, when we checked our work, we found that the meta-data didn't come with the pictures that remained - so, no stars, tags, flags, etc.......
good thing is.. i still have the original files and LRCAT file on the extHD
can somebody help me right this ship??
(i think i want to just uninstall LR4 and start all over)

Obviously you can just use the Finder to copy the external iPhoto Library to your new Mac Pro. You should change the name of it first so you don't get the two mixed up or accidentally replace one with the other.
If you want the old and new photos in a single library you have a couple of choices. The free choice would be to import the "several images" from the MacPro's current library into the external library.
An easy way to merge two libraries is to use iPhoto Library Manager. It's available here: http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/
It has some functions in the free download version but more advanced functions require the US$19.95 shareware fee.

Transfer iTunes files from external drive onto new iMac

I had all of my iTunes files on an external hard drive with an old eMac. I want to transfer the files to my brand-new iMac.
It's easy to copy the iTunes Library folder from the external drive onto the iMac hard drive, and change the preferences so that new songs are stored onto the iMac, but it doesn't change the settings for iTunes. Then, if I "Add to Library" I get two copies of everything: the file that's on the external drive PLUS the file that's on the new iMac. If I delete all of the "old" duplicates, it will mess up my playlists.
Isn't there an easy way to point iTunes to the new Library on the iMac and have it change the location setting for all of the songs?

okay, let me rephrase my question:
when you moved your files from the old Mac to the external, did you
(a) drag the entire iTunes folder from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music to the external
or
(b) use the +consolidate files+ command to move the files to the external
if (a), connect the external to the new Mac and launch iTunes while pressing option on your keyboard. when prompted, click on +choose library+ and select the iTunes folder on the external.
if (b), copy the iTunes folder from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the old Mac to <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the new one, overwriting the iTunes folder in place there. connect the external to your new Mac and fire up iTunes normally.
if you want to move the media files from the external to the internal disk of your new Mac, go iTunes > preferences > advanced and point +iTunes media folder location+ to the iTunes folder in <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music. also on the advanced tab, make sure there is a tick in the boxes next to +keep iTunes media folder organized+ and +copy files to ... when adding to library+.
then file > library > organize library > consolidate files. this will copy all your media files to the location you specified earlier in the advanced tab. when done, you can (if you want) erase the external and use it for other purposes. or keep the files there and use the external as your backup.
JGG

HT1660 move iTunes library from external drive to internal drive

I had to move my iTunes library from my internal hard disk to an external one so that they could replace the recalled hard drive on my iMac. Is moving the library back to the internal drive as easy as dragging it into the Music/iTunes folder?

iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.

Error -36 when trying to copy AVI files from External Drive to Mac

Hi
Hoping for some help with a problem I appreciate others have faced.
I bought a new video camera recently and have just tried to copy the AVI files from the first few videos to my mac but am getting the error code 36 that states the files cannot be read or written.
The format of the camera is MS-DOS (FAT 32) but when I tried changing it to MAC OS Extended it did something to the camera so the mac could then not recognise it when I tried to re-connect it via the USB port.
I've been able to copy the files onto my friends Windows laptop no problem so don't believe them to be corrupt.
Have also tried the dot_clean fix but this didn't work.
Could there be another reason for the error? Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

BDAqua wrote:
I hear 3rd Party, or HW Raid 0/1/5/10 are OK, but 6 months is the absolute most I got out of my many screaming RAID setups before they completely lost it!
Bummer. I'm not really doing this for speed though, just for total storage volume and constant, worry-free, no-brainer back-up. I guess RIAD in general is something I need to study up on. Would a simple mirror of one 500GB drive to another (back-up) - and do that twice - be a better, more reliable way to go?
I've used Tri-Backup3/4 for years for Backups, it's fast, automatic, reliable, works in the background if you wish...
Back-up software always seemed to have some kind of a hiccup to it, but I'll certainly look into Tri-Backup3/4. I used to Retrospect years ago, a rather fussy thing if I recall.
Now, on the Safe Mode boot - not a success BUT a different result!
I got the -36 again, but this time it was the external drive FILE that errored, not the OS-resident drive.
In other words, pre-Safe Mode the error said "...because some data in "ZillaHAL" could not be read or written." (ZillaHAL is my OS-X drive).
In Safe, it read, "...because some data in "WinXP Pro.vmem" could not be read or written."
"WinXP Pro.vmem" is the virtual machine file - which basically is a simple Mac volume (folder) containing all of the files to run my XP virtual machine.
Also, this time, a file* did manage to remain on the external drive whereas before, after the error, no file at all remained.
* a generic icon appears, but it shows a size of 16+GBs. The actual file is 18.13GB - I did manage to shrink it down the other day (from it's previous 25GB).
Well, that's it for now. I'll be away for three days, so don't mind me if I cannot reply back for a spell.
Thanks BD,
mp

Moved files from external drive to internal, now can't delete duplicates

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