Moving iTunes library from PC to Mac using iPod as external disk drive

O.K. I read the tutorial on this website on this topic and found it helpful though I haven't tried it yet. My question is - the tutorial examples assumed I would be using 2 macs. But, I am moving the iTunes library from a PC to a Mac (using the iPod as an external disk drive). Is that possible?

Thanks Erik. O.K....one more question... My PB obviously came w/ iTunes installed, and I have already added to it's library. So, is it possible to move my old iTunes library (on the PC) onto my new PB and keep the all of the songs from the PC's library and the Mac's (basically consolidate both libraries into one)? Or will it replace the Mac's library with the imported library from my PC? Thanks for your help.

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Moving iTunes library from PC to Mac using external hard drive

Hi there,
I recently bought myself a MacBook Air. This is my first Apple computer as I'd always used Windows before. On my old computer (running Vista), I built up a huge iTunes library. I really want to move this over to my Mac but there are two things which are making this a bit more complicated than it needs to be:
1. I want to keep all of my playlists, play counts, date added etc.
2. I don't want the songs to be stored on the computer, I want them kept on an external hard drive. So the library will show all the songs but I need to actually have the external hard drive plugged in to play them. Also saves me a **** of a lot of precious Mac space.
I have read a few things about how to do this so I'm a little along the way. I consolidated all my music files on my old computer and copied them over to the Hard Drive. But from here I just can't get it right. Assuming I've done nothing from this point, what would be the next steps you would take to make points 1 and 2 happen? I will try again based on your instructions but if it doesn't work then I come back and specify at what points it isn't working.
I would be ever so grateful for some guidance on this.
Cheers

Did you close iTunes on your old computer before you tried to copy it?
If that is not the case right click on the itunes Library.itl in finder.
Usually found in username/Music/iTunes
Select Get info and in the box that appears on the left scroll down to the bottom and check the permissions.
When that is resolved it should just copy over
Here is the Apple Article
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1751

Moving iTunes library from PC to Mac and running through an external HD?

I recently made the switch from a PC to my beautiful Macbook pro and I'm having some issues with my external hard drive. For the past few years I've been running my large iTunes library through an external hard drive, even switching hard drives and everything's worked perfectly. However I can't work out if it's possible or how to load the same library on my mac, I've just tried to open the library file but it says it is locked.
I feel I am missing a vital step... I'm just not sure what it is! Any help would be fantastic, losing my playlists and play counts after so long is just not an option!
I'm not sure if this is relevant, but the external hard drive is also ridiculously slow on the mac.

videoguyonline wrote:
No I am not sure about those two but am sure about Ethernet.
i'm not even certain a direct ethernet connection works - @ least not without some deeper knowledge of networking Macs and PCs.
connected by ethernet cable to the same network, on the other hand, will work.
I have been working with a large library on external drives myself and have run into numerous challenges with file format conversion, album artwork, import & export... etc.
i keep my library on a 2 TB external firewire drive and it works rather well. what kind of challenges do you mean ?
I am wondering if there is a way for him to use his PC library on the Mac and preserve all the information that is so valuable.
the reads i linked above may be helpful.
That is why I suggested the FAT 32 partition as I know it works on both.
true, but FAT32 has a +4 GB-per-file+ limit. a HD movie can easily exceed that limit and thus won't be copied. instead, one could format the drive for Mac and install MacDrive on the PC. or, format the drive NTFS and install the _*NTFS 3G*_ driver on the Mac.
JGG

Moving iTunes library from WIN to MAC os X with Parallels desktop

Hi Everyone,
I just move from PC to MAC ! I would like to synchronize my itunes library (music and appli) with my iPhone / iPad in the new environment. I'm still using Win 7 under Parallels desktop under Mac os.
What is the best solution ?
Best regards and thank you for your attention and answer. Vincent

I don't think you can do this without using the Consolidate function (which requires you to have "Keep iTunes Music folder organised" and "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library" checked).
However, if you were willing to accept a slight modification to your present set-up I think something could still be done. First you need to look at this article :
http://lifehacker.com/software/itunes/geek-to-live--how-to-move-an-itunes-librar y-from-a-pc-to-mac-and-back-242468.php
Assuming you've followed that route, you now have all your WAV files in iTunes. Here you can adapt the Genre tag to sort / create playlists from not only what iTunes puts in there, but your own additional Genre information also (for example I've combined all my Soul R&B and Disco genres by adding the SRBD suffix to each separate genre then using that suffix to pull them all up if I want). I also use the Comment tag to store release date (or in my case, Chart Entry date, but it's the same principle).
Bottom line, I don't think you can exactly replicate your current setup, but I think you can modify it.

Moved iTunes library from PC to Mac but songs missing

Followed the correct procedure for moving from a PC to a Mac and it has worked after several attempts (I used an external drive to move the library which is 125 gigs or there abouts)
Now some of the songs are being found and some are not, they are all there and when clicking on them itunes says media not present, would you like to browse for the correct location? I can do this and it works but it will take me forever to do this for all the missing items.
Any help as to why some songs are working and some not would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks :-)

I dragged the itunes folder over from my old PC to an external HD, then dragged it onto the new Mac over writing the existing folder, it has worked but there are only about 10 % of my items being found, the rest have an exclamation mark next to them and I can browse to them and find them on the MAC but my library is around 8 years old and it would take ages for me to do this for every missing item.
Thanks for the reply :-)
Tim.

Moving Itunes Library from a Mac hard drive to a Windows hard drive.

We would like to move our Itunes library from our G5 that is on a external hard drive to another external hard drive that is Windows based to use on our other computer that runs Windows 7. We will not be moving it back to the G5. The hard drive contains over 700 GB of music on it. Is there any way to do this ? Any software ? I looked for answers but could not find any. Thanks in advance for your help.

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?

HT203167 Moved iTunes library from one computer to another using external hard drive. Cannot play many files. Says they are missing but locates them in an archive file but still won't play them. Are the files themselves part of the .itl files?

Moved iTunes library from old computer (PC Windows 7) to new (PC Window 8) using external hard drive. Library listing shows all music but can only play a fraction of it. On the ones it cannot play it asks to locate, then refers to an archived version (an .itl file), and still cannot play them. Do I just need to copy the archived .itl over, or is that not where the actual media are (do the actual media files even exist on the new computer?)? Any advice or information on this would be helpful.

*Also...is there any way I can filter out all the tracks with the ! so I can delete the unplaying copies as they're taking up room in my iTunes? I know how to find duplicates, but then I have to go and delete each one individually...*
*Thank you!*

I am trying to transfer my itunes library from my old Mac to my new Mac; however, all that transfers is the music I downloaded from itunes. It does not transfer the music I downloaded from my cd's.

How do I transfer my itunes library from my old Mac to my new Mac? When I try all that transfers is what I downloaded from Itunes. It does not transfer the music I downloaded from my cd's/.

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 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
Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18879381
2011 Transferring your iTunes library - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/ - An article with good background information, particularly if you are not sure your media files are all grouped for quick solution above. Unfortunately it uses the single term "transferring library" for two very different moves; relocating just your media (not recommended unless you really need this configuration) and relocating media+database (really your whole "library"). Make sure you understand the difference before electing to move only media.
If you put it 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.)

How can i put my itunes library from an old mac g4 10.4.11 to an ipod2?

How can i put my itunes library from an old mac g4 10.4.11 to an ipod2?

Install iTunes 9.2.1 on your computer. If the device's requirements specify iTunes 10 or newer, you need to purchase Mac OS X 10.5 on DVD.
(63879)

After getting a new dell laptop, I was able to easily move my itunes library from my old mac to my new laptop,however now when I try to sync my music to my iphone,my songs have an exclimation point next to it and cant sync most of my music. HELP!

I recently was given a new dells windows 7 laptop. I then was able to successfully move my itunes library from my old mac to my new dell. Now I am trying to sync my whole library of music back onto my iphone 4, but when I try it says most of my music can not be located. I have exclimation points next to the majority of my music (I have 368 songs in my itunes acount). Please help me be able to sync my songs to my iphone. I am only able to sync about 31 of my songs.

Copy them from your old computer, or your backuo copy of your old computer. to your new one.
The music sync is one way - computer to ipod. the exception is itunes purchases.

HT201269 I have my iTunes library on my Windows 7 machine on an external hard drive. I purchased a new Macbook and would like to point my new machine at my iTunes library without losing anything and then deactivate iTunes on the Windows machine, help ple

I have my iTunes library on my Windows 7 machine on an external hard drive. I purchased a new Macbook and would like to point my new machine at my iTunes library without losing anything and then deactivate iTunes on the Windows machine, help please

Sorry, but this does not seem to be an iPad question. I'd therefore suggest you ask in the iTunes for Mac forum.
Regards.

How can I transfer pictures from my old Mac mini to an external hard drive?

HHow can I transfer pictures from my old Mac mini to an external hard drive? Thanks.

Normally you should be able to drag and drop them onto the drive, provided the drive is Mac formatted. Have you already tried that?
Matt

Downloading album artwork, having moved iTunes library from old Mac to new

Hi, I've just moved my iTunes library to my new Mac. I want to download artwork, as most of this appears to have been lost in the move, I'm logged in to the iTunes store with my Apple ID, but can't see what to do next. Help please?

If you didn't make a back-up of your purchases to restore from then I'm sorry to say that the policy on lost purchases is that you have to pay to download them again:
"Once a Product is purchased and you receive the Product, it is your responsibility not to lose, destroy, or damage the Product, and Apple shall be without liability to you in the event of any loss, destruction, or damage." iTunes Store: Purchased content can be downloaded only once
You could try contacting the iTunes Music Store Customer Service and you might be able to persuade them to sanction a second free download. There have been occasional reports in the iTunes forum of this happening, however just be aware that they are not under any obligation to do so. If you click on any of the links on this page you'll find a space at the bottom to email your query: iTMS Customer Service
You might also want to check out this page for future reference: How to back up your media in iTunes

Moving an iTunes library from PC to Mac

Hi
I'm trying to move an iTunes library from a PC to a Mac and failing miserably. Have tried various methods from the internet, but none seem to work. I've consolidated the PC library, copied the files to an external hard drive, but it's the last part that doesn't seem to work. The Mac has had an iTunes library on it before, and all the files have been transferred to another Mac and deleted, but I can't get the new files from the PC to appear.
Any help would be much appreciated

If your media files on the PC are inside the iTunes Media folder, which, in turn, is inside the iTunes folder that contains your library files then it should be easy.
1. Copy entire iTunes folder (and all subfolders) from PC to Mac, either directly over a network or via an external harddrive.
2. On the Mac rename *...\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl* as *...\iTunes\iTunes Library*
3. On the Mac delete *...\iTunes\iTunes Library Genius.itdb*
4. Launch iTunes and immediately press & hold down the Option key until a dialog opens asking you to *Create or Choose a library*. Navigate to the folder/drive you've copied from the PC and open *...\iTunes\iTunes Library*.
5. Job done.
If your PC has tracks that are outside your iTunes Media folder then you'll need to Consolidate the library before you start the move.
tt2

Moving iTunes library from old computer using iPod gives me error message?

My old computer recently died. I have a new computer-- a Vista-- that also has iTunes. I am trying to move my iTunes library from my old computer to the Vista using my iPod, which I heard you can do. My iPod has all my old computer's songs on it.
I used the 'transfer purchases' command, and all of the songs from the iPod appeared on the Vista's iTunes screen. However, any time I tried to play one of them, an exclamation mark appeared next to it and I got an error message saying "Itunes cannot play this song because it cannot locate it" (or something like that).
Not all of the songs have this problem. Some of the transferred songs can play just fine. But over half of my transferred songs have that damned exclamation mark next to them.
Here's a screenshot of what I mean:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2090uic.jpg

Hi,
Probably the best and easiest way to do this, is the following:
First Enable "Disk Mode". You can read [here|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93446] more info about this. Then make sure that the "Keep iTunes Music folder organized" option is checked in iTunes Preferences:
. Open iTunes.
. From the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
. Click the Advanced tab in the Preferences window and then click the General tab.
. Select the "Keep iTunes Music folder organized" checkbox.
After doing that, move the entire iTunes folder to the iPod Disk.
Once, you'll transfer the library to other computer using the same platform, this will not only copies your audio files over, it also retains your ratings and playlists...
On your new computer:
. Open iTunes.
. From the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
. Click the Advanced tab in the Preferences window and then click the General tab.
. Click the Change button in the iTunes Music folder location pane.
. In the Change Music Folder Location window that appears, navigate to the location where you would like your new Music folder to be created.
. Click the Make New Folder button in the Change Music Folder Location window.
. Enter the name of the new iTunes Music folder.
. Click OK in the Change Music Folder Location window. Click OK in the Advanced window.
. From the Advanced menu, choose Consolidate Library.
Hope this helps!
!http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/122/A57996D55BE7ABB4A67DE686D381A27 4.png!

Moving iTunes library from PC to Mac using iPod as external disk drive

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