Moving iTunes files to External Hard Drive

Folks:
I just purchased an external hard drive to store iTunes songs and pictures, etc., and get those files off my laptop hard drive to create some room. Truth is, I really don't need to travel with my iTunes files.
I've copied the files to the new drive already. I've also changed the location pointer for iTunes files to the new drive. Problem is, if I look at the info on a song, iTunes still thinks the song is located in the old location on the laptop, which is true. How do I get it to recognize the new location? Delete all of the files from the laptop (scary)? Is there another way to get iTunes to point to the new location?
Thanks, Henry

If you follow the steps in this article, it should work.
Just delete everything from your exHD and start over.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
Also - naming your exHD a letter far down in the alphabet is a good idea.
E: F: and G: are frequently used by other USB devices, and if your exHD letter changes, you'll get all the ! marks again.
So name it K: or Q: or W:, something another USB is unlikely to use.

Similar Messages

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    I am trying to free up space on my pc and moving itunes files to external hard drive. I have followed instructions and believe I have file copied to new drive, but I am having trouble moving file to recycle bin as the instructions say. I am getting the following error message: cannot delete ituneshelper.dll:access denied, make sure disk is not full or write protected and file not in use. I know the file is not in use when trying to move. Any help would be most appreciated. I am on Windows XP.

    Yes. And you should not have moved that folder. Put it back. To move your iTunes library move the folder from User's Music.
    tt2

  • Moving iTunes files to external hard drive -- error message

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    If you follow the steps in this article, it should work.
    Just delete everything from your exHD and start over.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
    Also - naming your exHD a letter far down in the alphabet is a good idea.
    E: F: and G: are frequently used by other USB devices, and if your exHD letter changes, you'll get all the ! marks again.
    So name it K: or Q: or W:, something another USB is unlikely to use.

  • I have a macbook air.  I was unable to fit all my music onto it so i moved iTunes onto an external hard drive.  How do I transfer my music (80GB) onto my iPod classic?

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    You can only sysc with one iTunes library. The new computer is a new library. You have to restore your iPod on the new conputer and then sync.

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    I moved my library from itunes folder i believe
    What do you mean by "library"?
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    Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
    Select Choose library and select the iTunes folder you copied to the external.
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  • Moving itunes 12 to external hard drive

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    See Make a split library portable. If starting over make a new library at the root of the drive, e.g. as X:\iTunes, then move the media inside X:\iTunes\iTunes Media before adding the folder to the library.
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  • Moving iTunes to an external hard driv

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    Thank You

    That's why you can't write to it (it's probably NTFS format (Windows)).
    You'll need to repartition it (this WILL erase all files on it):
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    1. Back up your important data. Partitioning a hard disk erases all data on the disk.
    2. Open Disk Utility
    3. Select your external Hard Drive (disk name).
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    Tip: In Disk Utility, volume names are indented on the left side of the window. Disk names are not indented.
    5. Choose the desired number of partitions from the Volume Scheme pop-up menu. (Choose "1")
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  • I've moved iTunes to an external hard drive now have massive duplication of albums

    Recently moved my iTunes folder to an external hard drive. Used the Itunes preferences to transfer the itunes folder to a new location. Didn't transfer it manually or by drag and drop! Followed this - I hope correctly - by using the iTunes/File/Library/Organise Library tool. May have got this bit wrong....
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    The folders and files are all normal to a basic iTunes library. They would be there even if you didn't have a single media file.  Until you start up with the option key held down, iTunes will keep on looking for your library on the internal drive and will repopulate that folder with those basics if you delete them.  You should have a similar folder with contents on your external and that is the one you want iTunes to use.  As long as you keep it all intact while copying from one drive to the other, iTunes will be internally consistent and you won't even have to change preferences.
    Preferences window
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    Keep Media Folder Organized - put all your files in folders according to type and name and album etc.
    Copy Files to iTunes Media Folder - put it this way, if you didn't have that checked itunes would leave the files wherever you had them when you added them to the library. this one makes sure there is a copy (though not necessarily the only one, but the only on iTunes uses) in your media folder.
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    Your original images are not showing for me so I can't tell what exactly you are seeing.
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  • Moved my files to external hard drive, now files not found.  Help?

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    I am having the same problem. I moved my itunes library to an external drive to free up the space on my notebook and now I "get files not found do you want to search" If I search I can find the song in Windows but have to find each song individually, I have 2600 songs I burned from my CD collection, it would take way too long. I have tried copying the file to the same drive, I have reintalled itunes multiple times. I have checked Apple and my computer is "authorized". Is there any way out of this? Otherwise I will be limited to just having the music I already have on my ipod and being unable to add any more, and if that ever bocomes compromised I would be unable to restore it. None of my music is purchased from itunes, it is all burned from my CD's.

  • Moved iTunes Library to External Hard Drive - having trouble - HELP!

    I have had quite the ordeal...upgraded my Mac iBook G4 from os 9 to os x 10 Tiger.
    Bought an external hard drive to back up my 30 GB of music
    Now...my computer won't function because it's out of hard disk space.
    I moved my iTunes library to the external hard drive. Everything seems to be jim dandy...except that when I go to play a music file...the computer does not recognize the file.
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    What else should I do to ensure I free up hard drive space, without jeopordizing my precious music files?
    Thank you!!!

    With iTunes 7.x you can transfer iTS purchases from the ipod back into iTunes.
    To prevent your iPod from syncing - hold down the 'option' and  keys at the same time when plugging in your iPod. Keep the keys held down until the iPod show up in iTunes.
    MJ

  • No success moving iTunes library to external hard drive

    I'm trying to move my iTunes library to an external hard drive to free up some space on my laptop.  I'm working on a Macbook running OSX 10.8.2 and trying to transfer the library to a WD My Passport for Mac (which is optimized for Mac OS Extended).  I followed all of the steps in this article from apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449.  When I reopen iTunes, as instructed in step 15, I get the message that "The folder containing "iTunes Library" cannot be found, and is required. Please choose or create a new iTunes library."  In the article, it just says that if you get that message, then take your old library back out of the trash.  It offers no real solution!  I don't want to keep my iTunes library on my Macbook!  I've tried holding down the option key when opening iTunes and choosing the folder on the external drive.  When I do that I get this message: "An iTunes library file could not be found in the folder "iTunes 1" (which is what I called it).  Please choose a different folder."  What am I doing wrong?  This should be a simple process!

    I just want to clarify: Your library had been moved to an external, but your database files are still where they ought to be, right? In the home / music / iTunes folder?
    If not, try putting these files back in the Music / iTunes folder in your user folder.
    /Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl
    /Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.xml
    Keep the media on the external drive. If you get a message about missing content, go to preferences and make sure that the library location points to your external drive's itunes folder.

  • Moving iTunes Music to external hard drive

    I am trying to move my iTunes music library to an external hard drive to free up space on my HD, but I'm having trouble. Tried the following, suggested by MacMuse:
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    * iTunes Preferences -> Advanced tab, set the library location to some folder on the new drive; preferably a new empty folder
    * iTunes Advanced menu -> Consolidate Library... This step copies all the files in iTunes' library to the new location. It also maintains your ratings and playlists.
    * if it finishes properly, manually delete the original files through Windows Explorer. iTunes won't Move the files, only copy them to the new location.
    * If you see a file called iTunes 4 Music Library.itl1 in the old area - leave it alone. It continues to live in that location despite the change to the Library location.
    1 - in version 5, this file is now known as iTunes Music Library.itl
    I am having trouble in that I can't seem to find the "Consolidate library" command under advanced tab. there is a box to check to "copy files to iTunes music folder when downloading music", and I checked that box. I then hit OK, and a window popped up saying "updating iTunes Library" which took about 30-60 sec, and then it closed. When I went to the folder on the external HD where the music was supposed to be, it was empty.
    Do you all have any suggestions? Thanks!
    Russ

    I think you mistakenly looked in the preferences for 'Consolidate Library..'.
    It's in the Advanced menu in the menubar.
    You will find more info in this article:
    iTunes: Moving your iTunes Music folder
    Hope this helps.
    M
    17' iMac fp 800 MHz 768 MB RAM   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   Several ext. HD (backup and data)

  • Moving music files via external hard drive-- Can you keep ratings/playlists

    I keep all my music on an external hard drive in order to prevent it getting lost. Anyways... what I'm wondering is if I go to move my music from one computer (comp. A) to another computer (comp. B), is it possible to keep all the ratings and my playlists? I've seen the stuff for transfering with your ipod, but the problem is my 30Gb doesn't hold all my music, and I would reeeeeaaally hate to go through and redo all the ratings. If anyone knows maybe a file involved with itunes that might contain the ratings or playlists that I could store with the files themselves to transfer that would be excellent. Thanks to anyone who can help out. If you need clarification on any of the details just lemme know.

    It looks like it should, thanks. One other bit that I'm wondering about is how do I load that Library list once I've installed itunes on comp B? Is it just a matter of going file>import or file>add new file to library? Thanks again

  • Saving itunes files to external hard drive

    Ok, hopefully someone can help me with this:
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    What I need to know is how I can move the converted files over to my external harddrive and possibly change the prompt on itunes as to where to save those converted files while still keeping those files playable.
    If what is mentioned above is possible, please let me know how I can do that. If not, do I have to reinstall itunes and what in specific should I do in the install process to get the files saved to where I want them?

    Mark
    I am having difficulties saving my music collection on to an external hard drive or on to ZIP disks. How do you do this? The help section on Itunes only talks about saving to a CD or DVD.
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  • Moved iTunes folder to external hard drive

    I have a 40-gig iBook and wanted to create more space on the hard drive so I pick up a 160 gig external hard drive. I copied the iTunes folded onto the new external hard drive including the iTunes Library, iTunes Music and the iTunes Music Library.xml files. I then went to the iTunes reference folder and changed the location of the folder to the new external hard drive. My music shows up in iTunes but when I select a song I get the “The song “___” could not be found. Would you like to locate it” error message. How do I fix this problem without relocating each song?

    OK try this. Warning, while I am hoping it won't this might lose all your ratings, playcounts, and playlists.
    Exit iTunes. Go into the iTunes folder and make a copy of the two database files onto your desktop. These are the files that contain the ratings, playcounts, playlists, etc. If you don't care about those things, then skip this and go to the next step.
    Now create a NEW iTunes library by following these instructions...
    How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
    Now, grab, drag, and drop the iTunes music folder where your music and other media already is, onto your new library. It should now add all the stuff to the library AND know where it is now. It may create a new copy of everything on your hard drive, so you need to have enough room to do this. When it is done, you can go ahead and delete the old location you just dragged and dropped if it was all copied into the new library's music folder.
    Again, if you don't care about ratings, playlists, etc. you can stop here since you now have everything back in your library and working. If you want to try and save your ratings, etc. we can try this...
    Exit iTunes. Go get those copies of the database files you put on the desk top. Move them and overwrite the ones that were created in your brand new library. Restart iTunes. Did you get them back?
    Patrick

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