Moved itunes library from external drive, now i have two of everything

Moved all my music from an old computer to an external HD and onto a new computer.  I was able to make the move, but now all the songs have double.  How do I correct this?
I am on a PC w Vista, crappy I know.

Thanks!

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  • Moved itunes library to external drive..now issues..

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    I am having the same problem.   - everything was fine, and I thought I had figured it out, It looks like I messed up on a step though.  I copied the ENTIRE folder to my external drive.  Then when I opened Ituned while pressing the option key, I think I selected the wrong thing (pretty sure I selected "create library" , when I should have selected "choose library".
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    I followed the instructions on the support website exactly to transfer my media to an external hard drive (a network attached storage device), it worked immediately. When I quit itunes and re-open it, the library location has reset to the old location, I can change it to the new location and it works but the next time I log in its back to the wrong place.
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    iTunes can be set to use the library on the external drive, and save new content.
    To have iTunes open the alternate library on the drive use this option:
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    If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
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    If you are using the Mac, open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option key.
    You should see one of the following screens:
    From: iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
              http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1589
    And to tell iTunes to save your new media when you buy songs or movies, etc., use this part of our article named Where are my iTunes files located? found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
    Discovering and changing the iTunes Media folder location
    Note: You would usually only change the iTunes Media folder location to share music between accounts on the same computer. See this article for specific steps on how to accomplish this. Also, see this article if you want to know how to move your music to a new computer.
    Mac OS X: Click the iTunes menu and choose Preferences.
    Windows: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
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    If you make a new or alternate iTunes library, the new location will be used by that library.
    Existing files will not be moved unless you choose File > Library > Organize library and choose the option to "Consolidate files."
    Cheers,
    Sterling

  • Moving iTunes Library to External Drive

    Hey there,
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    iTunes: Moving your iTunes Music folder
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    The above article includes moving the folder to an external drive.
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    As a best practice, you should move your content to an external drive and import references to into iTunes rather than moving the whole database and app files. In iTunes > Preferences > Advanced, uncheck "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library". This will keep all your music and movies on the external drive, but iTunes and all references to the content on your desktop.
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  • Importing iTunes library from external drive

    Cannot play iTunes after importing library from PC into Mac.

    Simply highlight and delete
    But doing so it will also trash all  playlists, data added, ratings, etc.  Something the OP said about having to rename lots of files during a previous library rebuild suggests to me they may even be stored in WAV format.  If the OP deletes them from the library all the labels will be lost, they will get added back with only file names as track information and they will have to be renamed again.
    This will delete not only the reference to the file, but the library.itl file that Limnos refers to.
    I don't think so.  The file will still be there, it will just be stripped of any entries.
    Now you should have an empty iTunes.
    Now go to where the files are on your external drive. Two options. Choose the one you prefer:
    In iTunes, go to >> Preferences >> Advanced -- Select the location of your files on the external drive. Tick OK and iTunes should re-add all the files. Depending on how many, it may take some time as it organises everything. But your files will remain on the ext drive. Any new songs you get will get added to your external drive by default now.
    Changing this preference setting will not get iTunes to inventory the files in the media folder, nor add them.  It simply tells iTunes to put any new media added in the location selected.
    Or, select the files on your ext drive, hold down OPTION and drag the files into iTunes. It will add them to your library, but leave the files on your external drive. Note that any new files you add directly to iTunes (like from the store) will be added to your default iTunes folder, not the external drive.
    Well, yes, it will do it, essentially creating a brand new library that the OP will have to organize again vs. using the existing organization. My reservations about the need to rebuild the library from scratch still exist.
    If the OP desires to keep storing media on the external drive in the long run it is best simply changing the preferece to use the external drive for media storage.

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    No longer an issue.

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