Moving library from external HD to new computer

I currently use iPhoto 5.0.4 on my iBook. The entire library has been backed up onto an external hard drive. I intend to get a new computer (probably an iMac) soon, and I will want to move the entire library onto the new computer, either from the external HD or the iBook itself.
Since the new computer's library will be empty, is it possible to just copy the existing "iPhoto Library" folder onto the new computer in the Pictures folder? (I'm assuming there's a Pictures folder.) Will iPhoto '09 handle/convert it as necessary or will there be a follow-up step? Do I also need to copy the com.apple.iphoto.plist file?
If the answer to the first question is no, what do I need to do to maintain the integrity of the library as it's set up? I am aware film rolls will be converted to Events, but don't know if the film rolls will stay in place if I simply use an import command to bring in the entire library.

Since the new computer's library will be empty, is it possible to just copy the existing "iPhoto Library" folder onto the new computer in the Pictures folder?
Yes. That's the recommended method. When iPhoto is launched it will look in the Pictures folder, open and convert the library to the new format. Just be sure to have a backup copy of the older library version just in case.
If you have any film rolls that are identified by Roll #xx they will be converted to an event with the illuminating titled of "untitled event". So if you get the chance, rename those rolls to a description that will describe the contents so the new events will have the same name.

Similar Messages

HT204318 moving library from external drive to new computer

I have an HP laptop, running Windows 8- I have loaded all of my music into the "automatically add to itunes" folder, and by everything I have read, it should evaluate and load automatically, but it isnt doing it. How do I get it to load the music into iTunes?

If everything on the external drive is in WMA format then that method would work, otherwise you are likely to get duplicates, which is why I suggested you work with the Not Added folder.
Different audio formats have different ways of compressing and storing the information from the original source. Most software and hardware will only work with a limited range of formats. iTunes cannot play WMA directly, but can convert it to one of the formats it will play. Given this is a clean install of iTunes that format is likely to be AAC if you haven't changed it. MP3 may be a better choice if you might want to put the media on some non-Apple device in future, otherwise ACC is supposedly slight more efficient, i.e. a smaller file for the same quality.
The main factor affecting file size is bit rate. The more original data that is kept, the larger the file and the more closely the reproduced music will match the original source. WMA is a lossy format typical bit rates are 128kbs and 256kbs. Conveting a 128kbs file to, for example, a 256k AAC file results in a file larger than the original, but no better quality.
If you put Windows Explorer in details view you should be able to enable a bitrate column and scan through to see what the current values are. You can adjust your import settings as given. You may want to import in more than one batch if there is a mix of bitrates.
tt2

Import iTunes Library from External Drive to New Computer with Vista

I can't seem to "import" my entire iTunes library from my external hard drive to my new computer. However, I can import songs one-by-one. There must be a way to transfer the whole file at once but it is beyond me. Anyone have a solution?

Hi I am new and have found a way to import Files & Folders over my home network and or other drives.
Start in File, click "Add File to Library", or "Add Folder to Library". In the “look in” dropdown window, locate the File or folder and double click on it. It should begin to transfer. I have never transferred an enter library though.
On a personal note,
I have come to realize that I can only transfer iTunes music. I can not transfer or even find the music that I have installed from a CD into my iTunes library. iTunes dose recognize even the folder that such music is in. If any of you have an answer to this problem let me know.
Thanks

How to get itunes library from external drive to new computer

i recently purchased a new computer w/the windows vista platform. there were posts regarding how to transfer the library w/playlists on this board, which i followed to the point of hitting shift while opening itunes, and choosing a library. however, when selecting such from my external drive, which has the itl and xml on it as well as the itunes music folder, it gives me an error noting it is locked or that i dont have write permission to use it. my external drive on my old computer was the G drive, now it is the F drive on new one. can anyone please advise what to do other than copy all music over and have to completely recreate all playlists?

polydorus, this was the response/post that i found and it was posted by sweepea on 9/4/2007. and all my music is now from the external drive to the itunes music folder on my laptop and it let me keep all my playlists. thank you again for your help!
I had that problem too. I tried to remove iTunes from my computer and then download it again, but that did not make any difference. Then I tried polydorus' answer ("starting iTunes with the shift key held down, when asked to choose a library, navigate to your iTunes folder and choose iTunes Library.itl"), but that did not work either and that same message about the library being locked appeared again.
Then I had a brainwave. I deleted that iTunes library.itl file. (To find it, go to My documents, then My Music, then iTunes, and there is the itunes library file). I now tried to open iTunes by clicking on the iTunes icon on my desktop, nothing happened, as if I had not clicked on it at all. I restored the file from the recycling bin to where it was before. But that also returned me to where I had been before, i.e. I got that locked-library message again. So I deleted that file again. Then I tried right-clicking on the iTunes icon. On the little menu that appeared, I clicked 'Open' and hey presto, suddenly the iTunes set-up assistant appeared and everything went smooth from then on. When I checked, there was a file called iTunes library.itl again and this one worked OK.
By the way, I did not lose any of my music downloads or podcasts when I deleted that file, so it's definitely worth a try.
custom built Windows 2000

Moving music from external drive to new computer, not showing music

Hello,
I was running iTunes 7 or 8 on Windows XP on a laptop. I ran out of room on the laptop and followed Apple's doc to move library to external drive and point iTunes to the new location. It's been working that way for over a year.
Old laptop crashed and I purchased a new laptop running Windows 7. The external drive is fine, and I was able to restore info and pics backed up to that drive on my new laptop. I installed iTunes 9 on the new laptop and tried several things to get it to see the music folder on the external drive, but it doesn't see the music at all. I even copied everything to the iTunes Media folder on the new laptop, but nothing shows up at all. I assume it has to do with what library files are available and where they're located. There are no library files on external drive, only a My New Music Folder. The old laptop can be on for about 10 minutes before it crashes, so I could try to retrieve the old library files if I knew what I needed and where to find them, but I hope I can do it without having to turn on old laptop. Any help is much appreciated. Are my playlists gone? Help!

If everything on the external drive is in WMA format then that method would work, otherwise you are likely to get duplicates, which is why I suggested you work with the Not Added folder.
Different audio formats have different ways of compressing and storing the information from the original source. Most software and hardware will only work with a limited range of formats. iTunes cannot play WMA directly, but can convert it to one of the formats it will play. Given this is a clean install of iTunes that format is likely to be AAC if you haven't changed it. MP3 may be a better choice if you might want to put the media on some non-Apple device in future, otherwise ACC is supposedly slight more efficient, i.e. a smaller file for the same quality.
The main factor affecting file size is bit rate. The more original data that is kept, the larger the file and the more closely the reproduced music will match the original source. WMA is a lossy format typical bit rates are 128kbs and 256kbs. Conveting a 128kbs file to, for example, a 256k AAC file results in a file larger than the original, but no better quality.
If you put Windows Explorer in details view you should be able to enable a bitrate column and scan through to see what the current values are. You can adjust your import settings as given. You may want to import in more than one batch if there is a mix of bitrates.
tt2

How to Recover Playlists when Transferring iTunes Library from External Drive to New Computer

iTunes library copied to external drive and then loaded to new computer. All songs are there but all of the playlists that I had set up do not appear. I cannot figure out how to retrieve/recover them. The back-up was not done by me so I'm not sure of the steps that were followed. Is there something special that needs to be done when backing up to external drive in terms of saving playlists? Help!

Hello TNCGRCT,
It sounds like the library was successfully transferred to the new computer, but the songs were imported into a new iTunes library. If you still have access to the external drive, or better yet the previous computer, we will want to transfer the iTunesLibrary.itl file and open it with iTunes:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
More helpful information...
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1391
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Thanks,
Matt M.

Moving Photos from External HD to New Computer

My external HD is making the clicking sounds of impending death. What are the steps for me to transfer all 5000+ photos from it to my new Mac Pro?
**I have several images on the Mac PRo's iPhoto now and don't want to lose them in the process.

Obviously you can just use the Finder to copy the external iPhoto Library to your new Mac Pro. You should change the name of it first so you don't get the two mixed up or accidentally replace one with the other.
If you want the old and new photos in a single library you have a couple of choices. The free choice would be to import the "several images" from the MacPro's current library into the external library.
An easy way to merge two libraries is to use iPhoto Library Manager. It's available here: http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/
It has some functions in the free download version but more advanced functions require the US$19.95 shareware fee.

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?

Importing library from external drive on new computer

My hard drive recently crashed, received new one from mfgt. and sent old drive to have data extracted and put onto an external drive. I am trying to get my library onto new drive. Was able to get purchased off of Ipod. I tried going to file, import, clicked on itunes folder on external drive but nothing seems to happen. My itunes currently shows only what I have put on it from disk and what the purchased I was able to transfer from ipod. But in my documents folder it appears that my old library is there but doesn't show up when i open itunes.
what am i doing wrong?

I actually just answered my own question. I had to import the XML file. It took awhile but I have a lot of music. It imported a few automatically generated playlists that I never had before (???) but I just deleted them. Everything is there!

Moving iTunes Library from iPod mini to new computer (old hard drive dead)

Hi all, I own a 2nd gen (I believe) iPod mini with all of my music from my iTunes library on it. Last weekend, my computer began freezing/crashing while loading my desktop, and a diagnostic confirmed that the read/write head on my hard drive was bad. I don't currently have the spare cash to send it away to a recovery lab, so I am starting from scratch with a new computer I will be ordering today.
My question is this--is it going to be possible to transfer the music from my iPod to my new computer? Many of the songs on my iPod are from other sources, during the years that I was not using iTunes, and from what I have read I will only be able to transfer my purchased music. I know there is a way to make my iPod into a hard drive in order to transfer the music to my new computer, but as I said, I cannot even boot up my old machine, and thus cannot access my iTunes library on my HD.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and advice you may have.

I've had to do this in the past (4 years ago). Try this page for a list of programs that can help you:
http://www.metaphoriclabs.com/articles/5-ways-to-copy-music-off-your-ipod-window s-mac-os-x/
Cheers,
Awfers

Moving library from 1 PC to new lap top.

So I followed all the instructions in the itunes manual about moving library to a new computer...and it hasn't worked.
I used my i pod as a drive, copied the library, after consolidating it, from the old computer to my ipod with plenty of space for that. I have been using an external hard disc for the library, labelled Y:\ SO the library on the old computer was at a location Y:\itunes.
Following the instructions on the itunes help moved all the copied library from ipod to new laptop. Default location for this is C:\users\user\music\itunes\itunes media. All the files from the library...all the albums an so on have successfully copied to this location, along with the itunes music library XML document, but when I open itunes on new computer...the latest version of itunes, and go to the library in the bar on the left side, it does not find the library. The playlists have not been copied over. Only the database file that is the library. If I change the settings in the "advanced" tab of Preferences to Y:\itunes and conect the external source, opening itunes on the new computer still does recognise this as the library, I get the same itunes screen that is like I have just downloaded a blank version of ituenes. There is a desk top icon shortcut to itunes, and this just opens the new blank itunes I downloaded to this computer. Seems odd. Library is there...in 2 locations one internal one external. (only one connected at one time obviously) XML doc is there, but itunes not picking it up
Help Please
New OS is Windows Vista, old one Windows XP.

that program is so old i don't think there are any download linkis for the installation file(s). you can try the ftp server (ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/) and the below links,
Downloads available:
Suites and Programs: CC 2014 | CC | CS6 | CS5.5 | CS5 | CS4 | CS3
Acrobat: XI, X | 9,8 | 9 standard
Premiere Elements: 13 | 12 | 11, 10 | 9, 8, 7
Photoshop Elements: 13 |12 | 11, 10 | 9,8,7
Lightroom: 5.7.1| 5 | 4 | 3
Captivate: 8 | 7 | 6 | 5
Contribute: CS5 | CS4, CS3
Download and installation help for Adobe links
Download and installation help for Prodesigntools links are listed on most linked pages. They are critical; especially steps 1, 2 and 3. If you click a link that does not have those steps listed, open a second window using the Lightroom 3 link to see those 'Important Instructions'.

Moving library from external to internal hard disk

When I started working with Lightroom, I put my library on an external 500GB Lacie hard drive to conserve space on my computer's hard disk.
I now have a new system:
Mac Pro
OS X 10.5.3
10GB of RAM
video card: ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT
with a nominal 500GB disk that I have partitioned into 250GB (available space 232.69GB)for my Lightroom library which currently occupies just under 39GB on the external hard drive, and a 250GB Photoshop scratch disk.
How can I move the library from the external hard drive to the new internal drive?
I am working with Lightroom 1.3 and would prefer to move the whole library rather than kludge it by importing catalog by catalog.
Thanks
Helena

What I'd do is make a parent folder on the external for all of your images inside of LR. Then copy all the images, including the parent to the new location. Copy the catalog to its new location too. Then open the copied catalog, at which time all your folders will be red. Then locate just the parent folder within LR and all the rest will be found. Then delete the parent and promote the rest.

How to move iPhoto Library from external drive to new mac?

I have exported a copy of my iPhoto Library from my old mac to an external hard drive. How can I import entire library into iPhoto of new mac? When I click Import to Library, I'm unable to highlight iPhoto Library file listed on my external hard drive in Finder. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Is the iPhoto library on the new computer empty? If it is, quit iPhoto and just drag the iPhoto library on the New Computer to the trash and drag the iPhoto library from the EHD to the pictures folder on the new computer - there is no importing involved - you NEVER want to import an iPhoto library into another iPhoto Library
If you want to run the new computer with the iPhoto library on the external drive simply launch i{Photo while depressing the option (alt) key and use the select library to point to the EHD
LN

Moved Library from external HDD to MyBook NAS...

Hello forum - I am both perplexed and frustrated. I have moved my entire itunes library from one external drive to another network drive. I re-pointed iTunes to it's appropriate library.itl file. All music, movies, audiobook, etc. seem to appear. Two things do not appear:
1. The bulk of my artwork. 99% of my library has artwork which I manually embedded which is what I find strange as it seems that often that is the suggested fix when it is missing. Any thoughts? Is there a way to have itunes re-scan a folder and re-populate?
2. The "Shared Library" icon on the left hand side is also vanished. It does appear that home Sharing is on - but no icon.
I'm using the latest version of itunes, OSX Mountain lion 10.8.2 on 15" MBPr 2.3GHz.
FWIW - originally library was on a WD MyBook external drive. I transferred it to a WD MyBook Live Duo drive which is plugged into my airport extreme (latest model).
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Steve

Ok - I may have resolved this (let you know in about 2 days...). New question;
I did a library re-organization with iTunes. The heirarchy of folders seems weird - is this normal or "ok"?
On external drive:
There is content located in Music, Movies, etc. but there is alos content including Music, Movies, etc in the "iTunes Media Folder" - is that the way it i ssupposed to be? Seems like all music should be in one place - yes/no?
Thanks - Steve

Problems playing iTunes purchases from external drive on new computer.

My computer recently died and I had to get a new one. Luckily I had copied all of my iTunes purchases onto an external drive. However, when I connect the external drive to the new computer I can see the purchases but cannot see them in iTunes-I try adding the files in iTunes, but this doesn't work. I have authorised the computer, so it should be able to play the purchases but I have tried dragging them all into iTunes, copying them to the computer but no joy.
Any help would be appreciated.

In Windows Explorer, right-click on your media folder and click Properties, then go to the Security tab and click Advanced. If necessary grant your account and SYSTEM full control of this folder, subfolders and files, then tick the option to replace permissions on child objects which will repair permissions throughout the library. This is the XP dialog but Windows 7 shouldn't be too different.
If it won't let you change the permissions use the Owner tab to take ownneship from an account with administror privileges.
tt2

Moving library from external HD to new computer

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for