Moving iTunes to new computer, using external HD, not seeing library in iTunes

Hi all,
I got a new laptop running Windows 7. I followed Apple's directions for how to move iTunes to a new computer using an external hard drive.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
All looks good until Part 5, Step 6 where it says "Open iTunes. You've now moved all your music, playlists, and other information like play counts and ratings from your old computer to your new one." Now, I can go into my music folder on the new laptop, click on iTunes, then on the music folder and all my music is there. But when I open iTunes, none of the music is evident in the library.
Hoping this is simple user error! Thanks, all.
Lisa

Ideally you should copy the complete iTunes library structure - typically located at C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes - from the old computer to the new one. It should look like this:
Assuming that your music and other media files are all contained within the iTunes Media folder and its subfolders you can move this iTunes folder and all its content from your old system to the corresponding location on the new one (i.e., place it in C:\Users\username\Music). If you've already installed and run iTunes on the new system, overwrite the files and folders already created in that location - this assumes that you've not added any content on the new system, i.e., you are just migrating your library from the old system to the new one, not merging different libraries on the two).
Then, just to be sure you are picking up the right library information, hold down the Shift key while starting iTunes on the new system. You'll get this prompt:
Click Choose Library.. then navigate to and select the iTunes Library.itl file within the folders you just copied across. Click OK - you're complete library - media, artwork, playlists, etc. - should now be available on the new system.
One further benefit of this approach - because you have replicated the library in full any iDevices will see this as "the same" library as you had on the old system, and sync operations will continue to work without getting a message about your iPod / iPhone being erased. You should also make sure that you create and maintain a backup of your library (the full folder structure as illustrated above) as a safeguard against any future cause of data loss.

Similar Messages

All songs imported to iTune on new computer from external are not found. HELP!

I have a new laptop. I installed iTunes on the computer and associated my external drive's fold with all my music as my main source. When I brought them into iTunes, they all have a small "i" in a circle and can't be located. NOW WHAT???
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

You guys are the best - thank you.
Since writing what I did below, Bekha wrote me back from last night (Apple rep I spoke with) and gave me the BEST article to do what I needed to do that I want to share with you:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527?viewlocale=en_US
I did call Apple last night and had a really fun chat with this girl who said she did this three different ways and had trouble remembering how she did it all of them. But one of her suggestions (which I didn't use and am just explaining for anyone else who reads this) was to move all her music to her new computer's My Music folder. Then she opened Windows Media Player as they were associated with WMP. Then she installed her iTunes and when it opened, it asked her if she wanted that to be her default music player and she said yes. Somehow it transferred the ability to play that entire folder of My Music t iTunes. HOWEVER, she said sometimes it didn't work and would have to shut down and start again (too much fuss for me).
I found another way to do it. All my music is in a folder called iTunes Music which I created and have on an external F drive. I opened that drive and highlighted the single music files and dragged them into the iTunes on the new computer. Maybe because I choose to use "Manage music manually," that worked. Now, of course it's time to make all my playlists, drag them onto my iPhone, and back them up -- and I still have a lot more to put in. But that is how you can do it if you don't have a copy of your old iTunes available due to a HD crash. I never lose my music that way, keeping it on an external (actually, two), even if my computer decides to crash.
Thanks again for all your help.
Message was edited by: starmate5

Transfering iTunes files to new computer using external USB hard drive

Thought this could be useful:
If you want to transfer your complete iTunes library to a new computer preserving all your playlists and library information, but without using your iPod as a hard dive, or without burning a CD or DVD, you can do it by using an USB external hard drive following these easy steps:
1) Quit iTunes
2) Connect your USB external hard drive to your computer and acccess it thru My PC or Windows Explorer.
3) Create two new folders in your external hard drive (you can name them LIBRARY Backup and PLAYLISTS Backup).
4) Open the LIBRARY Backup folder.
5) Open another Windows Explorer or My PC window; open the iTunes Music folder (usually located in C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My documents\My music\iTunes).
6) Copy all of its contents (only the contents, not the whole folder) to the LIBRARY Backup folder you created in your external USB Hard Drive.
7) Close both the LIBRARY Backup folder from your USB external hard drive and the iTunes Music folder.
8) Open the PLAYLISTS Backup folder from your USB external hard drive
9) From your iTunes folder, copy the iTunes Music Library.xml to the PLAYLISTS Backup folder.
10) Close all the windows and extract your USB external hard drive from your PC ()
11) Install iTunes in your new computer.
12) Using Windows Explorer open the iTunes Music folder (usually located in C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My documents\My music\iTunes).
13) Connect the USB hard drive to your new computer and open it using another Windows Explorer window.
14) Open the LIBRARY Backup folder and copy all of its contents (only the contents, not the whole folder) to the iTunes Music folder in your new computer. After the copying is complete, close this folder.
15) Copy the PLAYLISTS Backup folder to you new computer’s desktop.
16) Close Windows Explorer and extract USB hard drive.
17) Open iTunes
18) From the File menu, choose Import. Navigate to the iTunes Music Library.xml file on the Desktop and click Choose. The imported playlist will show only songs located on the computer's hard disk or external media.
19) You can now delete the xml. file from your new computer’s desktop if you wish.
PC Windows XP Owner of 5th Generation iPod

Type "move itunes library" into the Google search bar.
Type "ipod touch not recognized by itunes" into the search bar at the top of this page by "Support"

New ipod touch gen. 4 .. need to transfer itune library to new computer using external hard drive. help

New ipod gen.4... itunes on old computer with windows xp... comp. wont recognize ipod touch... when plugged into usb port... put music on external hard drive ..... now must transfer to laptop...with windows vista home premium... help

Type "move itunes library" into the Google search bar.
Type "ipod touch not recognized by itunes" into the search bar at the top of this page by "Support"

ITunes says new computer is Authorized but not

Everytime I Authorize my New computer to play my protected tracks I've purchased from iTunes, it says its Authorized but STILL doesnt play the Tracks and asks to Authorize AGAIN!!!
Its NEVER going to play all the Music I've bought in the Past.
Please Help

Copy the media from the old computer or the backup of the old computer to the new computer.

Downloaded itunes to new computer and sync did not keep purchased songs on ipod

I have a new computer and downloaded itunes and when I tried to sync not all my purchases to my ipod transferred to my computer. How can I get these back into my library?

What you should have done was review something like the user tip Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device before syncing with a new computer. Depending on your region you may well be able to download your past iTunes purchases from the store, however you have lost the chance to recover other content. Links in the tip.
tt2

How do I copy email database from my old computer to my new computer using external hard drive

I have an external hard drive I want to use to copy the mail database from my eMac 10.5.8 and then move it to my MacBook Pro 10.8.2.

That's what happens when you rightclick on a Mailbox, what happens when you do it?
Post a screenshot.

HT4527 I transeferred my itunes to a new computer via external hard drive, however over 4000 plus songs have a ! mark beside it and they cannt be played as itunes states that the location can not be found. how do i fix this so all my music can be played.

Hi
I recently moved my itunes to a new computer by using a external hard drive.
However my itunes music is not all playable. over 4000 songs have a ! mark and when tried to be played or copied to ipod or iphone, it says that this song cannot be found and asks to locate it.
How do i fix this problem so that all my songs are available in itunes

It is probably best to start over. These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
If you have an iOS device that syncs with contact & calendar data on your computer you should migrate this information too. If that isn't possible create a dummy entry of each type in your new profile and iTunes should offer to merge the existing data from the device into the computer, otherwise the danger is that it will wipe the information from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data. If you don't have any Apple devices then see HT2519 - Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store.
tt2

Moving music to new computer via an external hard drive

I need to move my music library to my new laptop. On my old computer, my music was stored on an external hard drive. I want to use that hard drive to copy my music onto the new laptop. I've installed iTunes and used the default library for my music on the laptop. I think I just need to shut down iTunes, plug in the external drive to the laptop and then copy my music to the designated library. Will that work? Also - big question. How do I copy the artwork, playlists etc. from my old computer? Do I copy the xml and itl files from the C drive on the old computer and overlay these files on the laptop? Any help is greatly appreciated.

clemsongal88 wrote:
Alright - bear with me. I'm actually an IT person,
Oh no, your friend is doomed now! "Sure, I can do that for you..." Famous last words.
clemsongal88 wrote:
First of all, he has 30,000 songs, so moving things could be an issue
Ya, it will take a LONGGGG time to transfer that much stuff from the external to the internal, so that is part of the reason I suggest trying to run it off the external first like he does currently with his older computer. The other reason is that he likely has the database files, artwork folder, etc. on the internal and the media files on the external, so everything is not self contained in one place so a little more effort to consolidate, so better to do it one step at a time.
clemsongal88 wrote:
1. Will I be able to use a flash drive or something to copy the itl, xml, etc. from the C drive to the new laptop (this is the iTunes folder you were referring to, right?) If so, I copy the whole iTunes folder from the old computer to a flash drive, go to the laptop, rename the existing iTunes folder on the C Drive and then copy from the flash drive onto the laptop.
Yes, flash drive should work or even the external drive itself can be used. If the new computer has had iTunes already installed and run, then it should already have the same iTunes folder in place. Assuming the library is empty, just go ahead and delete the current version on the new computer and then copy in the iTunes folder off the thumb drive (from the old computer) into the same place as the one you just deleted.
In theory, when you open iTunes, it is going to go to that folder for the .itl database file and it should find the one from the old computer and open it up.
clemsongal88 wrote:
2. Plug external drive into the laptop
3. Start iTunes
4. Hopefully iTunes on the laptop will recognize the database - so at that point will it put it all his music onto the C drive of the laptop?
Correct. Ideally it should open up and his old library will pop up looking like it did on the old computer.
If the library comes up blank, then for some reason is didn't read the .itl file and may be looking somewhere else for it and will have generated a new .itl file where ever that is. If that is the case, you can close iTunes, then reopen it using those instructions (hold down the Shift key while starting iTunes from the Start menu I think it is). It should then ask you if you want to create a new library (no) or open an existing library (Yes!). You want to open existing and then point iTunes to the .itl file from the old computer that you copied into the new computer. It should open the library up correctly.
clemsongal88 wrote:
If not, all I have to do is make sure on the Advanced tab that it is pointed to the C drive and then do 'consolidate'?
No. That part is the next step.
What we did above is we got the new computer to open the old library and able to access it from the external hard drive. So at that point, you are running iTunes like the old computer, where the library is stored on the external and that database files on the internal.
The advanced tab setting and CONSOLIDATE commands were to address your second question about how to get it all back into the internal drive of the new computer so you no longer have to use the external drive. So after we have confirmed the library works, when run off the external, next step is to tell iTunes we want it to use the internal drive for now on and we set that in the preferences to change the location of the "iTunes Music folder" from the external drive back to the internal drive, typically putting it into the iTunes folder.
When you change this location, nothing will happen. All this does it sets up where iTunes will store any NEW/FUTURE additions to the library. So if you wanted you can leave all the stuff on the external, change the location to the internal, and new stuff added would now be put on the internal drive while anything on the external drive will remain where it is and will be accessed from there. So you can have iTunes access media from a number of locations if you want.
But in your case, you want to bring everything back together again. The CONSOLIDATE command does one simply thing. Anything not currently in the "iTunes Music folder" location, as set in the preferences, is copied into that location and the database updated so iTunes uses that copy now. So if you had stuff scattered all over different drives, they will now all be self contained in the single location. In your case, we are taking advantage of the consolidate command to make iTunes move the library from one location (the external) to another (the internal) and update the links.
As noted, Consolidate copies the files, so it is up to the user to remove the old copies if needed. Not a big deal for you since everything is on the external and you are just going to unplug it. But if you had tunes scattered all over your internal drive and then used CONSOLIDATE to bring them all into the single folder location, the original copies will remain scattered all over the internal drive, but now ignored by iTunes.
clemsongal88 wrote:
5. Am I making any sense? : )
Of course!
Cheers,
Patrick

Playlists not showing up after moving itunes to new computer

moved itunes to new computer and used an externa;l harddrive to move "iTunes" folder over. the most recent "setup" of itunes on old computer is not showing on new computer. For example "music" file size on external drive is 133GB - on new computer itunes, only 33GB. and, playlists have disapeared. any ideas?

See Make a split library portable for some background on moving the library successfully. You need the main iTunes library.itl file, its supporting files and the Album Artwork folder as well.
If you can find that data it should be possible to put everything together in the right shape and make it work.
Otherwise I have two scripts called ImportDevicePlaylists and SyncStats which may prove useful.
tt2

Moving iTunes to new computer, whilst maintaining old computer settings

Hi
I am wanting to move iTune to my new computer. I have read various topics on how to move, but the problem is that the old computer belongs to my daughter who like to take it to her new flat. The whole family have iPads and although we would like to have all the playlists and tunes on the new computer, my daughter would like the playlsts and tunes on the old compter for her use, as well.
Is there anyone who can help?
Thanks
Barnboy1952

First make sure your music files are all together in the iTunes Music folder on the old PC.
Consolidate your library if they are not.
Install iTunes on the new computer. Before adding any music, drag the iTunes folder out of Music to the desktop.
COPY the iTunes folder from the old PC into Music on the new PC so it replaces the one you dragged out.
Adjust the permissions on the iTunes folder so your account has full control.
The copy can be done either with a network connection or via an external drive.
If you have libraries on different accounts, you will need to repeat the process for each account assuming each account has a separate iTunes Music folder and has a default configuration.
Also see
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/48
Vista file folder permissions help
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/2464a180-e5dc-45d1-a2b8-3c8a 2b571e9d1033.mspx
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/25/how-to-take-ownership-and-grant-permiss ions-in-windows-vista/

Hello, I'm trying to transfer my old itunes library to a new computer using home sharing. It's switched on in both computers, but I can't see the old library in the new computer. But I can see tracks from the new computer on the old one. Please help.

Apologies for poor syntax, my arm's a little sore. Yes, one computer (old) is vista, new is Windows 8. Shouldn't I be able to import the whole library using home sharing? Am I doing something wrong? Thank you in advance

I am having the same issue. I recently purchased a new laptop and I have spent the last 3 days using the home share to slowly transfer all 22,000 songs. However yesterday morning when I turned on both computers to continue the process I am having the following issue:
both computers are running the same windows OS (8)
both computers are running the same version of itunes
both computers are logged in with the same apple ID
both computers have home sharing turned on
Now however I can see the NEW computers itunes library in the drop down box on the OLD computer, however I can not see the OLD computers itunes library on the NEW computer. I can no longer see "HOME SHARES" on the drop down LIBRARY list on the new computer. I've taken the following steps to correct the error:
reset the router
completely shut down BOTH computers and brought them back up
reopened itunes
re-logged in on both PC's
re-activated both PC's with home share
The articles and help from the apple sites are worthless and it says if you can't see a library just turn home sharing off then back on - I've completed the above steps NUMEROUS times. After spending 4 days on transferring my music I really do not want to have to start over by using an external hard drive and then importing that way. I would like some help on discovering why the new laptop is no longer seeing my old library. (When it has been working up to this point)
Thanks in advance.

Used ipod as a drive to copy songs into new itunes on new computer. Some songs do play in entirety, las minute cuts off with nothing plyaing, or it suddenly starts playing a different song. "TIme" shown is correct in the file.

Used ipod as a drive to copy songs into new itunes on new computer. Some songs do play in entirety, last 30 seconds to minute cuts off with nothing plyaing, or it suddenly starts playing a different song. "TIme" shown is correct in the file. Any way to fix this?

I copied the iTunes file from the external drive and it's in both places. I thought all I would need is the iTunes program (which I downloaded to new computer) and my iTunes library file. There must be something else that's missing. My iTunes library looks the same on the new computer as it does when I open it on the external drive. If I click on an iTunes library song from my new computer, it will only play if I have the external drive plugged in.
My back-up drive is a mess. I have multiple copies of music, video, photo, and document files and I don't know how that happened. ={ Obviously, I don't know how to back up stuff properly and there are back-up files extending over a 6- to 8-year period. I think all I did was just drag and drop the main folders from the back-up drive to the same main folders on the C: drive. Also (and I'm kind of fuzzy on this) Windows used to automatically save music files in a folder within my document files (which makes no sense to me). As my Jewish friends would say, "Oy Vey!"

I got a new computer and haven't used iTunes in years. I have an iPod and want to put my music from it onto iTunes on the new computer. I don't remember my old iTunes account info but i have a new apple ID for my iphone and ipad.

I got a new computer and haven't used iTunes in years. I have an iPod and want to put my music from it onto iTunes on the new computer. I don't remember my old iTunes account info but i have a new apple ID for my iphone and ipad. Is there a way to transfer songs from my iPod (old iPod video) onto the new iTunes on my new computer and use my new apple ID to sign into iTunes?

I got a new computer and haven't used iTunes in years. I have an iPod and want to put my music from it onto iTunes on the new computer. I don't remember my old iTunes account info but i have a new apple ID for my iphone and ipad. Is there a way to transfer songs from my iPod (old iPod video) onto the new iTunes on my new computer and use my new apple ID to sign into iTunes?

If I was to get a new computer and transfer all my music from my itunes on my old computer to hard drive then to my new computer and itunes, could I make a new itunes account on my new computer and still be able to use my old songs?

If I was to get a new computer and transfer all my music from my itunes on my old computer to hard drive then to my new computer and itunes, could I make a new itunes account on my new computer and still be able to use my old songs?
I am getting a new computer and I know I can transfer my music on my old computer to my new one with a hard drive but me and brother currently share an account and I would like my own, once I get a new computer can I make a new account on my new itunes and still be able to keep my old music and be able to sync it and play it etc?? Anyone with information on this would be muchly appreciated!!! Thank you in advance! Oh and I currently have a windows but will be getting a mac book pro most likely

The music sync is one one way - computer to ipod. The exception is itunes purchases. File>Transfer Purchases
Have you failed to maintain a backup copy of your computer?

Moving iTunes to new computer, using external HD, not seeing library in iTunes

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for