Moving files from external hard drive to library

Hi,
I have recently bought a mac and transfered my library from my old laptop to it. There are a number of songs missing from the library though.
I have a number of them on an external hard drive and want to move them from this to the library on my mac.
As there are around 97 missing I don't want to this individually for each one and wondered if there was a way for itunes to look on the external hard drive and then copy the file to the library by itself. I can point the library to look to the external hard drive but obviously once i disconnect it, it can no longer play.
Is it possible for itunes to look in the extrnal drive and then move the files itself?
Thanks in advance

And after you relocated the files, did you trash the 'originals' on your internal drive?
(dumb question, I know, but I gotta ask...)
Clinton

Similar Messages

  • 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.

  • I able to copy and paste files from external hard drive to mac, but not the other way around. Please suggest. Thanks

    I m able to copy and paste selected files from external hard drive to my mac but not the other way around. Im not able to copy files from Mac to external hard drive.
    The same is working fine with USB flash memory.
    Please help.

    Vijay Raymond Daniel wrote:
    The only thing is we need to buy this software. if there is a free solution to inter change files between NTFS and HFS it would be better,
    Don't use NTFS, remove your data off it first and change the format to something the Mac and PC can read, but doens't cost money or require software.
    Drives, partitions, formatting w/Mac's + PC's

  • Moving songs from external hard drive to Itunes library

    I have a bunch of songs on an external hard drive, but my itunes library is on my pc.....I tried to add some of these songs to my library (i played the songs and they were automatically added to the library)....but when i inplugged the external hard drive from my pc and tried to play the songs from the library, it would not let me play them.....an error message came up that stated that the library could not find the device from which the songs came from....why is this?....is there another way to add these songs from the hard drive????

    why is this?
    The Windows version of iTunes doesn't copy content to the iTunes Music folder when importing from another hard disk by default. Connect the drive and choose Consolidate Library from th Library section of the File menu.
    (36713)

  • HELP!!!  Moving files to external hard drive.

    I am in desperate need of help. I bought a new external hard drive to move all of my MP3 files to. I had about 40GB of music on my desktop hard drives and moved them all to the external hard drive. Not realizing that I had to configure iTunes first, when I opened Itunes, I found that there was a duplicate copy of EVERY song in the list (one that would not play b/c it could not be found) and that none of the songs on my many playlists would play (b/c could not be found.)
    I tried doing some research on here and changed the iTunes music folder location to the new hard drive as well as deleted the old folder, chose to 'Organized Library' and 'Consolodate Library'. And now everything is just a complete mess.
    The copies of all MP3 files still remain and the hard drive has organized all of the files in the new locations into multiple folder. I no longer just have a straight alphbetical listning of my music files (which is what I prefer).
    Can someone please help me fix this problem? I'm afraid to plug my iPod into the system b/c it might render all of the files on it unplayabe and will destroy the playlists. How do I get rid of all of the 'cannot be found files' duplicates and get the program to recognize that the songs in all of the playlists needs to be played from the new location on the new hard drive?
    Am I just screwed?
    MUCH thanks and appreciation in advance.
    I'm using iTunes 7 and Windows XP, by the way.

    Hey chuck4pele,
    Unfortunately, at this point, it is difficult, for me, to know what the situation is with out being there.
    What I can do is refer you to these, for possibly more understanding of the way iTunes works.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesWin/7.0/en/567win.html
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesWin/7.0/en/600win.html
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesWin/7.0/en/670win.html
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301509
    Hope this helps,
    Generik

  • Lost iPod in fire and trying to restore files from external hard drive

    I've got a similar issue to folks who are trying to restore their Library from an external source, but with a new twist. We suffered a house fire, and my iPod was destroyed. Amazingly an external hard drive I had done some backups to survived (mostly) and I have several of my iTunes songs, but when I tried to import them into my new computer (and new license of iTunes) I can't get anything to work. I tried manually copying the files over to the iTunes folder and then "importing a file" into my Library but it doesn't do anything. any ideas?

    Thank you for the suggestion.  I was moving them in Finder, (just as the Genius showed me but obviously he wasn't quite a genius after all!)   However, even after moving a file onto the external drive within iMovie like you suggested,  it's still not working.  Trying to open the files from the external drive, they will only open in QuickTime Player, and also only as individual clips.  Any other suggestions would be very much welcomed!
    Thank you.

  • How do you move video files from external hard drive?

    I moved video files that were originally from Flip Video recorder and uploaded to my Macbook to an external hard drive to save space.  However, I can't seem to figure out how to get them back onto my computer, so I can start burning DVDs.  I tried dragging and dropping, but that doesn't seem to work.  Please help!!

    Copy /Home/Pictures/iPhoto Library to your external drive. Delete the one on your internal drive. Now create an alias to the iPhoto Library's new location and put the alias in the original location. Be sure the alias is named "iPhoto Library".

  • Can't delete file from external hard drive

    Hi,
    There is a permition problem with my external hard drive (no time mashine on it!) - can't delete certain files.
    I copied my documents on my external hard drive from previous computer with windows and later with linux system on it and there had been changed icons at certain folders previously. I mention this, becouse what linux did was that it locked the changed icon files and I couldn't delete them until I unlocked them manually. But at least it showed me that i don't have permition and i could change it. Well, now I mounted the disk on my new macbook and wanted to delete some files and it seems that there is the same problem with permition, at least it seems to happen with the same files. When I want to delete them, the system asks me for admin password, I give it allright, it makes the sound as if the folder was moved to trash but that's all. the folder is still there even after dismounting and restarting. I already checked the permitions and it says in the info that i can read and write with the file so it looks as if my rights were ok...
    Please help, I desperatly need more space for new backup and can't get rid of the files I don't need any more...
    Thank you for any sort of simple-ish advice
    Message was edited by: brevon

    Thanx for such qucik reply!!! The pages were great, it had an answer for my problem, but unfortunately it also involved me dealing with it only on the MacIntosh HD itself, not on mounted external drive I suppose... So it didn't work they say that there is an icon in the left corner indicating locked folder - I don't see any icon on it. It says you can untick the box to unlock the folder - there is no tick to be unticked. Finally, they say that if I don't have permition or rights I cannot delete it. But how do i change permittion which already says that i can read and write in it? So everything appears to be normal only I cannot delete it. there is not even any warnig telling me I don't have enough rights, it just requires the password and after me typing it in it makes the sound of scraping paper but does nothing more. I aslo had some problems with emptying Trash after being seemingly succesful with one file and had got so far to have them appear in the Trash (no clue how this one actully got there though..) I followd the advice and emptied the Trash with Terminal. The Folder is still there but it shows 0 Kb... So far so good BUT: It is still on the external drive, so I obviously only managed to copy it into the Trash!!! Phew, innit a bit too tight to poor owners, this macbook?? I want my rights back!

  • ITunes 11 won't import .mov video files from external hard drive but will from internal.

    Hi Everyone
    I'm having a problem with iTunes 11.0.1. I can't import .mov video files stored on an external hard drive. I can however import .m4v files from the same external drive. Using either the add to library option or dragging files from the finder.
    I can add .mov files from the internal though. Strange I know.
    The reason behind this posting is that I'm using iFlicks to convert my TV and movies from my external drive for Apple TV and add all relevent meta data, keeping the files on the external drive and having iTunes link to them.
    I would like to be able to simply create a general iTune compatiable file using iFlicks which only takes a minute or two per file to convert. I'm currently converting them to .m4v just for the sack of being able to import them into iTunes from an external drive takes 45 minutes per file.
    Has anybody else had this problem? Any ideas on a fix to allow me to import .mov files from an external drive into iTunes without copying it to the iTune library file.
    Many Thanks
    Dave

    This might be worth a shot - basically seeing if Vista permissions could be the culprit.
    Give yourself FULL control and ownership of the exHD, let's call it M:
    How to Take Ownership and Grant Permissions in Windows Vista
    Take control of the top level folder and ALL subfolders.
    Try creating a new blank ITL file on M: by pressing *and holding* the shift key while itunes starts. See if you can add everything again.

  • Can't permanently delete song file from external hard drive

    Hi Guys,
    I want to be able to delete actual song files from my external hard drive as well as from my iTunes library in one easy, lazy step, via the iTunes window. I am not interested in finding and manually deleting the files through my external hard drive.
    When I hit delete it only deletes the song from my iTunes library but not the actual destination music file aswell (from my external hard drive). I am aware this is because my external hard drive is not the original "Music\iTunes\iTunes Music" destination that the apple crew have designed and so I am not offered the option of sending the file to the recycle bin or "trashing it" when I hit the delete key (this permanently deletes the file).
    I am also aware that I can find the music file destinations and delete them through the iTunes window by hitting "CTRL & R" or by the "show in windows explorer" command. I am not interested in these options either.
    Basically, I have 20,000 songs to clean up and don't want to have to take my laptop with me to my grave...
    I suspect there is some way of changing things around, possibly via some particular parameters to be set in the "Edit" > "Preferences" > "iTunes Music Folder Desintation" command area but still haven't been able to crack it.
    Any help would be welcomed with open arms.
    Cheers.
    Labia.

    Camoracer,
    You are right. Pardon me. The majority of the music that I was trying to delete off my external hard drive was in a separate folder (on the external hard drive), not in the directory specified in my iTunes preference settings.
    Problem solved!!!
    This should also be a lesson to those who believe a one step delete function (from iTunes library and actual music file) is not possible when the music files are stored on an external hard drive (or other storage medium for that matter). I have read a host of other forums who say a one step delete function is not possible without additional software.. Perhaps these posts were from the authors of the software trying to make a $.
    Cheers.

  • Moved files to external hard drive, can't find my edits in lightroom

    I'm using Lightroom 4 on a Mac.
    I recently moved all my pictures onto an external hard drive, and nothing I've read yet has been able to help relocate my edited pictures in Lightroom.
    In lightroom, beside the Folder heading I have clicked the + and added my external drive - it shows it's green and live.
    All the pictures I originally had saved on my Mac hard drive are now showing on the external drive - good.
    In lightroom, the subfolders in my Mac hard drive are now showing with question marks that the files are missing - which they are, because they're now on my external drive.
    What my problem is, all the editing I had done on these photos in lightroom before is now gone. How do I get the editing work I had done on these pictures to show up on the external drive pictures? If I look at my pictures on the Mac hard drive, they show they're faded and missing, but it shows all my edits still on the pictures. On the external drive, it shows the original version of the pictures with no editing done.
    Note: I backed up my computer before I moved all my pictures, so if I need to put them back on my mac's hard drive I am able to do that.

    Update
    I was able to solve my problem. If anyone comes across the issue I was trying to fix, I suggest trying to move the files from WITHIN lightroom.
    Originally I had used my OS to move my picture folders onto an external hard drive, by just click and drag. Lightroom was not able to keep the editing I had done on those pictures after they were moved. I restored a backup on my Mac and put the folders back to their original location. Then within the lightroom program, I was able to move the picture folders (with their edits) onto my external hard drive.
    Julieanne Kost had a helpful video http://tv.adobe.com/watch/adobe-evangelists-julieanne-kost/questions-about-lightroom-and-p hoto-management/

  • Hard Drive Crash--Restoring music files from External Hard Drive

    My hard disk crashed, but I think (at least I hope) that I'm backed up. I had copied all of my Itunes music onto an external hard disk before the crash, although I'm not sure I copied everything that you are supposed for a full backup (i.e. all files in the Itunes folder). I'm uncertain as to the process to get everything restored.
    Right now, Itunes is not installed on the new hard disk. Obviously I need to download and reinstall Itunes, which I'll do. But from here I'm confused, and I haven't seen a straightforward explanation of the next steps. Is it then as easy as copying all the old music from the external hard drive into the new Itunes music folder once Itunes is reinstalled, then synching? Or, do install itunes, then reopen it while the external hard drive is attached, and "consolidate" the old library into the new? Or do I first have to plug in the Ipod, authorize the new drive, and move the purchased music from the Ipod to the new drive through the manually managing music process that I've read about? Is there a relatively straightforward "step by step" process someone can point me at?
    I'd appreciate any guidance anyone can provide, or any directions to some materials that I can read. Thanks very much.

    If you copied the entire iTunes folder to the external, then all you have to do is install iTunes like normal, then start up with these instructions and point it to your backup on the external...
    How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
    Assuming that works, you can either leave everything as is and continue to use it directly off the external. Or close iTunes, then again copy the entire iTunes folder back to your internal drive, then reopen iTunes with those instructions again and re-point it back to your internal drive's copy.
    Patrick

  • Copying Large Blocks of MP3 files from External Hard Drive to iTunes

    I'm trying to copy large numbers of MP3 files from my external
    hard drive to iTunes. I tried putting them in the iTunes music folder but this did not work. Then I tried selecting blocks of the songs and dragging and dropping them in iTunes. This also did not work because when I select a large block of files and then click on them (holding down the mouse button) to drag them, then they become "unselected." So, I guess my question is 2 fold: Why can I not copy and paste these files to some folder on the Macintosh Hard drive where they will be recognized by iTunes (show up in iTunes) and what is wrong with my clicking and dragging technique? Am I losing it?

    If you are trying to add tunes to your library then do the work from within iTunes not via the Finder. Droping the tunes into the iTunes folder will not create a reference for iTunes to find the tunes. You should be able to drag-drop the tunes/folders into the main iTunes window.
    It is usually easier to use the 'keep' and 'copy' features selected. This way iTunes will keep your tunes organized and all in one place. If you work from in the iTunes interface then you will likely not go wrong.
    From the iTunes File menu select 'add to library' (+O) and navigate to your ext HD and iTunes should bring those tunes into your library.
    MJ

  • Transfer files from External Hard Drive to PC?

    Sadly, my iBook g4 1.2 GHz (2005) is on the fritz (see my other question on Apple Discussions if you're curious as to why) and so I must get a new laptop. Unfortunately, I can't afford any of the Macs available, and so will be purchasing a PC. I have been using a 250GB external hard drive to store my iTunes library (about 25GB, too much for my iBook's 30 GB HD to handle) and as a Time Machine. I need to know how to be able to put all of my music and docs onto the new PC. Would it be best to not use TM and just put everything I want on the external HD and then access it from the PC? Alternatively, I do have a small home wireless network (using an Airport Express)...if that's the better option, how do I use it to transfer files? Any help would be wonderful!

    The easiest solution is to erase the external hard drive and re-partition it to use on the PC:
    Extended Hard Drive Preparation
    1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
    2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
    3. Set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to MS-DOS. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to MBR then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
    Open iTunes and de-authorize your computer.
    Copy your iTunes library in it's entirety (/Home/Music/iTunes/ folder) to the drive along with any other data you wish to transfer.
    See the following about how to convert your iTunes library for the PC:
    Macworld - How to transfer iTunes libraries between PC and Mac;
    Geek to Live- How to move an iTunes library from a PC to Mac (and back).

  • Moved iTunes to external hard drive, now library is empty

    I moved my iTunes ver 7 from my full hard drive to an external hard drive. It worked fine, was able to synch iPod. Then I upgraded to ver 8.0.2 and when I open iTunes the library is empty. I changed the "path" in the Preferences/Advanced window but it didn't help. I know my music is still there- the folder shows 38.0 gb, but how do I get iTunes to find it? Thanks for any help.

    Thanks so much for taking the time to help me. I followed the instructions in the post, and was able to recover a substantial part of my library in iTunes. But now I'm worried that when I synch my iPod to iTunes, it will reduce the content on the iPod to match iTunes. I searched more in the discussions, and see that I might be able to use 3rd party software to copy from iPod to iTunes. any advice if I go that route? Thanks again!

Maybe you are looking for