Need Help! I lost entire itunes library after copying "My Music" folder to an external hard drive.

I was recently hire by one of my sisters friends to set up a new computer and to repair wireless router. The client asked me to copy music files from their old computer to an external hard drive so that they could be transfered to the new computer. So I connected the external hard drive to the old computer and copyed the entire "My Music" folder to it. I never deleted files from the old computer. I did however uninstall a few applications at the clients request such as Microsoft Office and Kodak EasyShare which have nothing to do with itunes. I got a call from the client a few hours later stating that their entire itunes music library is no longer there. I do not have much experince with itunes this just doesnt make any sense to me. I am sure the music is there but itunes is not pulling it up. Can someone please tell me how to fix this problem?
Thanks so much

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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.

ITunes Music Folder Missing on external hard drive after changing iTunes Media Folder Location from MacBook Hard Drive. Not deleted...just missing?

I store my iTunes media folder on my external hard drive and can no longer find it there. It seemed to becomd lost after I re-designated the default iTunes media location. I had downloaded some things from iTunes without my external hard drive plugged in and when they downloaded they downloaded to the default location on my Macbook Pro. In recognizing that, I wanted to move those files from the hard drive on my MacBook Pro to the external hard drive. When I re-selected the location as the external hard drive a copy process began. I cancelled the copy process fearing the small number of files from my Macbook Pro would over-write all of the files on my external hard drive so I quit the copy process. Now I do not see my "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I fear that I have somehow lost the path but I believe the content is still on my external hard drive although I no longer see the "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I know I didn't delete it, but it isn't there. Is there a way to make it re-appear? I would really appreciate any guideance anyone has.
Thank you.
Best,
Matt

When you change the location in preferences it tells iTunes to start, from this point on, storing new media files in the new location. It then presents you with the option to move any old files in their current locations to the new location. It doesn't move the library files which are not media files. Read the links below to understand how iTunes works because you are the one with the computer in front of you and are in the better position to understand how it stands as regards to iTunes files.
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
Now, did you keep the whole library on the external drive, or did you keep just media? From your description of the situation it sounds as if you kept the whole library there and when the external was not attached it returned to default location on the internal drive. What you should have done then was plug in the external drive, hold down the option key, and guide iTunes to the library file on the external. At this stage you could have dealt with the mislocated new files on an individual basis.
I guess the key question is, did your trying to move the couple of new media files to the external drive overwrite the iTunes folder there, which because you then canceled may have also just resulted in it being deleted. I am not going to test the theory on my system.
How big was your library on the external? If it was 40GB do you now suddenly have 40 GB free?
Look for any iTunes folders on the external drive. In view options turn on "calculate all folders sizes" and see if there are any big ones.

ITunes Music Folder Missing on external hard drive after changing iTunes Media Folder Location from MacBook Hard Drive

The store my iTunes media folder on my external hard drive and can no longer find it there. It seemed to becomd lost after I re-designated the default iTunes media location. I had downloaded some things from iTunes without my external hard drive plugged in and when they downloaded they downloaded to the default location on my Macbook Pro. In recognizing that, I wanted to move those files from the hard drive on my MacBook Pro to the external hard drive. When I re-selected the location as the external hard drive a copy process began. I cancelled the copy process fearing the small number of files from my Macbook Pro would over-write all of the files on my external hard drive so I quit the copy process. Now I do not see my "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I fear that I have somehow lost the path but I believe the content is still on my external hard drive although I no longer see the "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I know I didn't delete it, but it isn't there. Is there a way to make it re-appear? I would really appreciate any guideance anyone has.
Thank you.
Best,
Matt

Any ideas? Anyone?

Itunes cannot see the itunes music folder on my external hard drive

I recently put all of my music on an external hard drive to free up space on my computer,
However, when I am in itunes and trying to point the library to the music folder, itunes still cannot see it. Instead all it can see is the E drive WD Passport, and folders named autorun, WD Sync Data Wd Windows Tools.
Can anyone tell me how I can see my itunes music folder on my external hard drive while I am in preferences, advanced, library location, change??

I don't know enough about iTunes for Windows to help you with this. But if you post your question in the Using iTunes for Windows forum you will get help from people who know more about this.
(This is the forum for Apple's Mac OS X web browser, Safari.)

Can I copy music iTunes Music Folder from my external Hard drive to new PC?

not sure if this is possible but I copied my folders (documents/music/itunes/itunes music folder) from my local hard drive from laptop to my external (for backing up purposes) and now i have a new computer. can i just simply copy/paste this folder to my new computer and open itunes and it will be there. i know it's probably too easy but was hoping someone could help me out???? thanks.

You can by dragging them from itunes to your external drive this will copy them to it. Then do the opposite for from you drive to the new computer. Just make sure if you don't intend to keep the drive connected to your new computer. That you put copies of the songs in a folder on it before putting them on itunes or you have problems playing your songs.

Running Itunes library on a new computer off of an external hard drive

Hello, I've recently purchased a Macbook and an external hard drive. I transferred all my files from my old Mac onto my external and would like to try to run my itunes library from there through my new laptop as opposed to putting all the files onto the new computer.
Is it possible to have the files exclusively running off the hard drive and never going onto the new macbook? How might I go about doing this?
I've tried following some of the video tutorials but that just seems to route you to do it from your old computer off of a external hard drive, and nothing to do with using it on a new computer.
Basically what I want to do is get everything running off the external (all the old computer's data) and none of it ever to set foot on my new Macbook.
Thank you all in advance for your help!
-Rob

Assuming you use the iTunes default settings where iTunes copied added items to your iTunes folder and organizes your library (meaning - everything is all self contained in the iTunes folder), then all you have to do is drag & drop your iTunes folder (not just the iTunes Music folder you find inside the iTunes folder) to the external drive and copy the entire thing.
If you want to test that it worked or would like to actually start using it from that location instead, use these instructions when you start iTunes to point it to the new location...
How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
If you are just testing to make sure a backup copy works and still want to use the internal location, then close iTunes after you verify it works, and restart iTunes again with the same instructions and point it back to your internal drive (original) location. Otherwise you are all set to use the library from the external location.
When you move the external drive to another computer, use the same start up instructions above to point your iTunes on that computer to the library on the external drive.
Additional info...
Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307074
Cheers,
Patrick

Reconnect music folder/files on external hard drive to iTunes library?

Recently reinstalled iTunes. All music files previously recognized by iTunes on my external hard drive are now unrecognized by iTunes when I try to play a song within iTunes. How do I get iTunes to re-recognize all files without doing search to external hard drive and reconnecting every individual song (thousands of them!)?
An error that comes up when I first open iTunes is:
iTunes cannot locate CD Configeration Folder so you cannot import or burn a CD. This folder must be in same directory as iTunes.

Why not change Compatibility mode back, then?

How to ensure the link between iTunes Library itl file and Music Folder residing on a different drive?

I'm planning to move my Music Library from a PC to Mac. Both running iTunes 10.
On the PC (Win XP) the iTues folder did not move from My Music folder when music (and videos, books, etc) were moved to a different drive on the PC. iTunes runs ok, but the itl, xml and itdb files remain in the My Music Folder.
When I transfer the music (folder and all other contents) to the Mac, and then the itl, xml, itdb files into the new Music>iTunes folder will they still be "linked" or will I need to rebuild the itl from scratch?
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thanks

Making a split library portable
Here are typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
If the iTunes folder contains the iTunes Media folder as above then the iTunes folder can be moved to a new location/drive/computer without breaking the file references. Although it is possible to migrate a split library from one system to another, the media folder must end up at precisely the same drive letter & path on the target system. This is feasible when moving between Windows systems, possibly feasible moving between Macs, but definitely impossible when moving PC to Mac or vice versa.
Assume the media folder on the external drive is called ..\<Parent>\<Media> and the library files are in the usual place of <Profile's Music>\iTunes.
You need to copy the library files and Album Artwork folder into the <Parent> folder, then use the hold-down-shift-when-starting-iTunes method (hold down option for Macs) to open the copy of the database that you've made in the <Parent> folder.
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tt2

I have lost my itunes library after updating it and keep getting a message saying MSVCR80.dll is not installed when I try to uninstall/reinstall it???

I have lost my itunes library after updating it. Have tried uninstalling/reinstalling it and it gets so far then tells me that it cannot be installed because MSVCR80.dll is not installed on my pc. I have no idea what this is and have googled it, followed links to sites that say they can fix it, only for them to scan, tell me I have 3 thousand issues and then want me to pay $30 dollars to fix it for me. This message also appears on firing up my pc too.
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I need to free up space on my macbook pro as hard drive is full!! So with 20 000 photos/video clips and itunes I would like to move this to a external hard drive!
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errrrrrrm!
Yes external drive shows up in finder on desk top and can change to in the media folder location thing!
My external hard drive is a WD Elements. I have no idea about permissions to the external? Do i Have to format external hard drive to a mac?
I am trying to follow the steps on the apple support page to transfer files (consolidate library etc) just cant get further down steps as the new folder option is greyed out!
Thanks for you help

I am a long time iTunes user but a new MacBook owner! :) I keep the majority of my music files on an external hard drive. I'm trying to view all those files on my MacBook through iTunes. With windows you would go to : File/Add To Library, and iTunes w

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Janet.b wrote:
About 3 years old...pretty dated now I guess. Am thinking I may just need to have it upgraded by a Mac tech.
For what the Apple Store's charge you can buy almost buy a new computer.
Just for giggles I brought my old laptop in for a drive upgrade and asked, they wanted $600 for a drive that only cost $120 at the time and it was a slow 5,400 RPM drive. The new Mac's of a similar make were going for $1000.
I did the drive replacement myself, got a faster drive of better quality for $300 instead.
Then another time I asked for a RAM upgrade from 4GB to 8GB, they wanted to charge $400 + $35 for the labor.
The same RAM is on Crucial.com for $90 and all I need is a 00 micro phillips screwdriver.
So you see what's going on here.
I think what you should do, if your out of warranty/AppleCare, is to call up the local PC tech guy who also does Mac's and have them fix you right up.
They can offer more personalized care which you need. Clone your old drive to the new and everything.
With Apple they are overworked at the Genius Bar and just place roadblocks so you buy a new machine instead.
For instance, all new iMac's now have proprietary drive software installed on the hard drives for heat monitoring. So now the only choice a user has is to bring their iMac into a Apple Store for a very expensive drive upgrade, which a person then decides the money is better spent buying a new machine.

Need Help! I lost entire itunes library after copying "My Music" folder to an external hard drive.

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