New Computer, new file storage plan - How do I get iTunes to see files?

Question

I've built a new computer, and decided to store my data files (including "My Music" and "iTunes" folders) to the D:\ drive instead of the C:\ drive as I did previously, reserving the C:\ drive for only operating system and program files. I've copied all my data files from my previous computer to my new D:\ drive; however, iTunes is still looking on the C:\ drive. I've configured Windows XP to put the "My Documents" folder on the D:\ drive rather than the C:\ drive. I have changed the location of my iTunes folder in Preferences to the new location. I also experimented with the iTunes Music Library.xml and iTunes Library.itl files by having WordPad find and replace every instance of "C:\" to "D:\". Didn't work. I have a personal folder/filename system and want to keep it. What's the easiest way to enable iTunes to "see" my music files (still in the same exact structure, only on the D:\ drive rather than the C:\ drive). My workaround was to copy all my files back to my C:\ drive, but that won't work for long since the C:\ drive is small (70 GB) and my digital music library is growing fast. I don't want to have to re-add everything from my D:\ drive to my Library since I have over 4,600 files as well as 41 different playlists, and it took me some time to make it that way. Don't want to have to re-do all that work (not even sure I could replicate it, actually). Thanks for any and all advice!

Answer 1

OK.
As indicated, one (or more) of the music files has too long of a name (or complete path/name combination) and iTunes is choking on it. Could also be an improper character in the name as well. If you can find and correct it (or remove it), you may be able to continue.
You may not be able to proceed with the 'standard' file migration for this reason and your 'custom' file/folder structure.
As you have the Library working on the C: drive, here's a way to save the Ratings, Play Counts and Last Played attribute, then import them back into the Library when you Rebuild it on the D: drive.
You can keep the Ratings, Play Count, and Last Played attributes with Otto42’s SaveRatings tool:
http://ottodestruct.com/iTunes/SaveRatings.zip
See: http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=428299&messageID=1275577 for directions (also below):
“Download this: http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/SaveRatings.zip . It's a program, just run it like any other program. Run it on the machine where you're copying the info from BEFORE you move the files to the new machine. Click the "Save Ratings" button and it'll create a ratings.xml file. Now when you move the files, move the program and this file as well. Then after you make your new iTunes library, run it again and click the "Restore Ratings" button. Voila, all your information is back in the Library. Well, most of it anyway, it's not perfect. It'll tell you what songs it couldn't figure out though, and there's usually not very many.”
- Run the above 'Oto' process on the working C: drive Library
- File=>Export' all your Playlists to an XML file (one for each PL). We'll import them into the Library later to recreate the Playlists you have now.
- Move all the folders/files to the D: drive as you desire them
- Completely erase all the C: drive song References from iTunes
- 'File=>Add Folder' and add the D: drive songs into iTunes as References (make sure that the 'Copy files to Music folder' selection is unchecked
- Run the 'Otto' SaveRatings tool and bring in the ratings, etc. to the new Library
- 'File=>Import' into iTunes all the saved XML Playlist files into the new Library
That's about all you can do given the situation you have. It should recreate the Library fairly closely to what you had before.
Post back with any questions.