Moving itunes from external hd to macbook

I've just bought a MacBook (previously had a Dell Dimension PC), and i want to move my iTunes off my external hard drive and onto my new MacBook but cant figure out how to do it, i tried plugging in the hard drive and then consolidating the library, but nothing happened. Can anyone help me? Im new to macs so not very good with them!

Rickyd, I certainly did not mean to offend. My post was not a comment on yours at all. If you'll look closely, you'll see that it was a reply to the original poster. I think most people asking a question would want to know when there is an official Apple answer available. On the web, brevity does inadvertently come across as curtness sometimes, so I probably should be careful about that.
Now that I read your method, I would comment that it is that simple if one is not concerned about preserving playlists, star ratings and other metadata. If one does want to preserve those things, one cannot just copy the files over in the Finder and then copy the iTunes Library file. The iTunes Library file has to be edited to contain the new location for each of the song files, and that is what the routine contained in the Apple instructions automatically does.
iMac G4 17; iBook G4 1.33 Mhz 14; iPod 3G 20GB Mac OS X (10.3.9)

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Moving iTunes from external hard drive to new iMac

I will be receiving a new iMac soon. Currently my iTunes is on an external hard drive.
What are the steps I take to move the iTunes from my external hard drive to my new iMac's hard drive?

The PC to MAC move complicates a few things, but this article seems to solve them.

Moving Itunes from External HD to new imac HELP!

HELP!! Kept my iTunes on an external Hard Drive as eMac had little space! Need to move all my iTunes from the External drive to iMac - but it ain't working - any suggestions or solutions easy to follow instructions would be great
Any help appreciated!

1 - if you are upgrading form iPhoto 6 then you can not go ofrward until you complete the upgrade - and with all versions of iPhtoo when you upgrade you can not go back - do always upgrade on the new system keeping the original in case of peoblems
2 - I have no idea how you transferred the iPhoto library - but the best way is to drag the iPhoto library from the old system to the pictures folder of the new system, run the iPhoto library upgrader and launch iPhoto
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Moving iTunes from external drive on PC to external drive on Mac

Hi can anyone help getting totally confused with all the different help topics!
My iTunes currently runs of an external hard drive (I://) via Windows 7.
I've changed to an iMac and want to move my iTunes to here using a new PC & Mac compatible external HD (J:// via the PC/Samsung via the Mac).
I've followed the instructions on here but iTunes doesn't seem to be picking up the library or playlists, and not sure where I've gone wrong.
Can anyone help at all please?

Those instructions tell you how to move media (as they say). A library is more than just media. For people using regular iTunes settings it is everything in the iTunes folder which includes the critical iTunes Library.itl file. This file generates the structure you see in the iTunes application. You need - Moving a library: Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive. Hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) and open iTunes. At the prompt to create or choose a library choose the copied iTunes folder.
Note, I am leery about your "PC & Mac" compatible drive, whatever that is. While it is possible to use a FAT formatted drive with a Mac you have to realize that it has file size limitations and cannot be repaired with any Mac based tools.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.

Moving itunes from external hard-drive to another and using another comput

Hi,
This has probably been posted before but i couldn't find it.
My itunes works on another computer, with the library (Edit->Preferences->Itunes location as g:\itunes), this includes the xml files for the library.
I've now got a new laptop and external hard-drive and want to move the library onto the new hard-drive and use it on the new laptop.
I think i can copy the itunes folder from old hard-drive onto new one, then point the itunes install on the new laptop to the new harddrive and it should pick it up?
Any ideas?
Matt

Welcome to AD!
+this includes the xml files for the library.+
Does this also include the important itunes database file, the one with the ITL file extension?
If so, your idea should work. Use Windows Explorer to copy the ITL & music files/folders over to the new exHD.
Connect the new exHD to your laptop and make sure Windows sees it as drive G:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307844
That is a very important step. Otherwise, iTunes will lose all the paths to the music.
Now start itunes on the laptop by pressing *and holding* the shift key. Tell it to use the ITL file on the G: drive. Then set your iTunes preoferences to have any future additions go to the G: drive music folder.

Moving iTunes from external drive to new computer

I have my itunes stored on an external drive lettered "E". How can I move them to my new computer. The external drive letter "E" is not available on the new computer but the hard drive is plenty large enough to hold my whole collection and I would like to install them on it. I have already copied my itunes music folder and libraries to the new computer.
Thanks for any input.

This did not work. I signed into the iTunes store as the same user and I can still not play the music I purchased or the music I am authorized to play that others purchased. Can anyone help out with this question?

HT1660 How do I run itunes from external Hard drive?

How do I run itunes from external hard drive. I only have ssd on PC and media is too large to fit

You do not.
iTunes, like all programs is installed on the C drive.
You can store the media on another drive.
Assuming you are moving an existing library from another computer:
Move or Copy the ENTIRE iTunes folder from the old computer to the new computer and put it where you want it.
Install iTunes using the default options.
Hold <SHIFT> while launching iTunes. It will prompt to create a new library or locate an existing library.
Select the option to locate an existing library.
Point iTunes to the iTunesLibrary.itl file in the iTunes folder that was moved from the old computer.

Restoring itunes from external hard drive

-I used WD backup program to store itunes on external hard drive
-hard drive on mac pro crashed, replaced hard drive
-trying to restore itunes songsa from external drive and when I copied songs from external hard drive to new internal hard drive which has itunes program, only song titles appear and track number for songs I ripped from CDs. All info is present for songs I purchased from itunes (why is there a difference in the way these two are restored???)
-Can I restore itunes from external drive so that artist and album are associated with each song title I ripped from CDs?
Much appreciate all assistance. Thanks.

I know MP3 and AAC save tag data, and I believe AIFF does as well (if you want to keep them in full-quality but space-greedy format). I don't think WAV supports tagging which is why they were lost. Read:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9558241&#9558241
This time make sure you have a complete backup of your itunes folder (which, in fact you may still have). That way you can recover your complete library and everything intact (as long as you keep your backups up to date).
Here is a related topic
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9267109&#9267109

How do I copy iTunes from external hard drive to iMac?

How do I copy iTunes from external
Hard drive to iMac?

if your main library is on your external, then when not connected, you wont have access to it.
so first decide, where do you want to keep the files.
E.g. In my case, I keep my files on "C:\iTunes Music".
I have a backup on external "Z:\iTunes Backup". If I format my laptop, this is how I restore everything.
Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced.
The iTunes music folder in selects as "C:\iTunes Music"
I have checked Keep iTunes Music Folder Organized, and also Copy Files to iTunes Music folder when adding to ibrary". Click OK to save and close preferences.
My iTunes list is now empty. I go to file, and select "Add Folder to Library". From that window, I select "Z:\iTunes Backup". iTunes then copies everything from the backup to "C:\iTunes Music". For me, backup is backup, I dont need it to play music.
Now decide this. If you do not want to keep music on C:, but want to only connect the external to update music on your ipod, do this:
In preferences, set iTunes Music folder as "Z:\iTunes Backup", and uncheck Copy files to iTunes Music folder, since they are already there. Then in files, select Add folder to library again to build and update the list.

Moving Itunes From one computer to another

HI,
Can anyone offer advice for moving Itunes from one laptop to another? The original laptop that has my itunes on it, has broke, it froze and will not operate. Rather that lose all my purchased music and playlists i would like to swap it to another laptop. Can anyone advise if this will be possible and how to do it? Both laptops have windows XP installed
thanks
Arlene

Hi
I am having a similar problem- when I record from Itunes to a cd it only works in "Data cd" format in the advanced tab. That's okay, but when I re-insert the cd and try to import it, it doesn't show anything- it plays in Itunes okay. There aren't any little boxes to check for selecting any songs and if I try to use the import function, it shows as blank.(file type shows as .txt) I am using Itunes 6- would Itunes 7 help this?
thanks- I have a lot of music to transfer and this is a problem.
Max

Moving iTunes library from external HD to MacBook Pro

Ok, so a while ago, my iTunes library had grown so large I was running out of space on my Mac, so I moved all the files to an external HD. Of course, I could only listen to my music (as well as sync my iPhone and iPod) with the external device plugged in.
Fast forward to today, and I've decided that I'd like to reverse this process, as it's far too big a pain in the rear to continue, not to mention the fact that I'm a little sick and tired of entire albums disappearing for no apparent reason.
That said, if I simply go to Files>Add to Library and click on the iTunes Music file on my external HD, will I end up with duplicates of all 2300 of my albums? This is what I'm dreading, as I have nightmarish visions of my sitting here all weekend deleting duplicate files.
Sorry if this is a ridiculous question, but there it is...
Danke schoen!

Did you move the whole library or just media (there is a big difference)?
Whole library:
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 iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168
Just media:
Consolidate is how you move your iTunes media files to a new location. Consolidate simply looks at everything you have in iTunes and copies them to the iTunes media folder location specified in iTunes prefs -> Advanced.
iTunes 11 for Mac: Change where your iTunes files are stored - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12165 - more information at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/22026652

How can I transfer CD albums, on iTunes, from a Mac to Macbook Air?

I have recently purchased a MacBook Air, and I am trying to figure out a way of transferring my iTunes library from my old Mac to the new MacBook Air.
While I have managed to download my purchased music from my iTunes account, I have yet been able to find a way of transferring CD Albums, which I have added to my old Mac, onto the new MacBook Air. This is a problem due to the MacBook Air not having a disk drive.
Is there some kind of process that I can do easily from one to the other, or is it a case of backing up my iTunes library onto an external drive and transferring it over that way? If the latter, how would I go about doing this? If possible, a step-by-step would be appreciated.
Many Thanks,
Walcnevar

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) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder.
If you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)

Restoring Itunes from external HD

I know this question has been answered before but there is a slight difference. I was recently upgraded to Snow Leopard from Leopard. I backed up everything on the Time Machine before the upgrade including my iTunes. When I got my MacBook back, I started putting things back on the computer. iPhoto was moved pretty easily but I guess I didn't do iTunes correctly because now my iPhone 3gs won't sync. I moved the iTunes from the external to the new OSX 10.6.3 but iTunes says my iPhone is with a different library and it can only be synced with one library. I assume this means the iTunes from Leopard on my external hard drive?
Should I delete the iTunes in 10.6.3 completely and then put the old iTunes on from the external hd (and use the proper method which I clearly didn't do before)?
Delete iTunes first and then restore from external hard drive?

Drag and drop onto iTunes.

Moving iTunes From PC to Mac keeping play counts etc.

I am trying to move my iTunes from a PC ( XP ) to a Mac ( OS X ). I have moved the entire iTunes folder which contains the XML file and music folder to the mac using an external hard drive. The PC was consolidated before the copy. On the Mac I found and replaced the PC file location to Mac file location (text editor). I then corrupted the iTunes Library.itl ( I believe that was the file). I Then dragged the edited XML file into iTunes without opening it (dragged it over the icon on the dock). It then started to rebuild the library. I thought i worked great. Which it did.
Problem: I am missing about 400 out of 3000 songs. There is no reference in the Mac iTunes XML. The Library is 32GB. I have all the movies, which is a large chunk of that. It is very very important that i keep the data related to those song ( play counts, ratings... ).
The songs are in the iTunes Music folder
I've looked at guides by Lifehacker, Macrumors,
Please help. Thank you!!

I am trying to move my iTunes from a PC ( XP ) to a Mac ( OS X ). I have moved the entire iTunes folder which contains the XML file and music folder to the mac using an external hard drive. The PC was consolidated before the copy. On the Mac I found and replaced the PC file location to Mac file location (text editor). I then corrupted the iTunes Library.itl ( I believe that was the file). I Then dragged the edited XML file into iTunes without opening it (dragged it over the icon on the dock). It then started to rebuild the library. I thought i worked great. Which it did.
Problem: I am missing about 400 out of 3000 songs. There is no reference in the Mac iTunes XML. The Library is 32GB. I have all the movies, which is a large chunk of that. It is very very important that i keep the data related to those song ( play counts, ratings... ).
The songs are in the iTunes Music folder
I've looked at guides by Lifehacker, Macrumors,
Please help. Thank you!!

Is it really possible to operate iTunes from external hard drive?

The internal hard drive on my Mac Book Pro is full and most of it is music for iTunes. I have been told that it is possible to operate iTunes from a library on an external drive but it hasn't worked for me. I have moved the iTunes folder on to my external hard drive. Then I did two things...First, I opened iTunes while pressing the "alt" key. Then I clicked on "choose library" and directed it to the iTunes folder on the external hard drive. Second, I opened Preferences>Advanced>iTunes Media Folder Location and then clicked on "Change" and directed that to the iTunes folder on my external hard drive. It should work right? Well, it worked the day that I did it but the next day I had "!" beside every song in my library of nearly 10,000 songs. It says that it can't find the location of the song file and asks if I would like to find it. When I show it where the file is it works but it will take me forever to do that with each individual song. Can this really be done successfully?

One question. What is NAS?
Here is a link http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751 . I did it exactly this way the first time I tried, including consolidating and the organize library part but it made a mess of my iTunes folder. Luckily I had it backed up on another partition of my hard drive using Time Machine. So, I deleted the iTunes folder and started over.
I dragged the iTunes folder over last night to the partition on my hard drive that I want to operate iTunes from. It took about an hour or so to copy the files over but the iTunes folder looks organized the way it should be again. Then I Alt>Clicked on iTunes in the dock and picked create library. Then I directed it to the new iTunes folder. Next I chose preferences>Advanced>Change media folder location and directed that to the new Itunes folder. Then it asked me if I would like iTunes to organize the folder(or something to that effect). I can't remember exactly but I chose "No" or "Cancel" this time, I didn't the first time. It has been working ever since but I am waiting for something to go wrong. Because, it worked last time for a day and then stopped.

Moving itunes from external hd to macbook

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