New MacBook, library on external hard drive

Hi, I just got my first Mac, and have all of my music files on an external hard drive. I'd like to run my iTunes off of the hard drive, never putting the files onto my new computer. I've read the articles about how to move libraries from one location to another, but that's not what I want to do. I just want to tell iTunes to find my music on the external and keep it there. Any suggestions? My old computer was a PC if that matters.
Thanks bunches,
Carol

Hi Carol,
I'll try to be as clear as possible. When you open up go to open iTunes hold down the "option" key. This will open up a window asking you to either "create library" or "open library." Select the "create library" option. Name your library and save it on your external drive. When iTunes opens, the library should be blank b/c you haven't loaded any songs. Then go to iTunes>preferences>advanced. From here, uncheck the box entitled "Copy files to iTunes Music fodler when adding to library." Next you can just go to File>"add to library" and select all your music on the external without having duplicates made anywhere
Good Luck~Justin~

Similar Messages

  • I tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just del

    i tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just delete all those images so i could try a different approach to transferring, but the new iphoto won't let me do anything and every time i try to delete anything it crashes (since the image amount is so high).  please help!!
    MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), iphoto '11, version 9.4.2

    To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
    Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
    But however you do choose to link the two machines...
    Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
    Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
    This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

  • I'm getting my old Macbook fixed, but it will take a few weeks for it to be replaced. How do I backup my entire Macbook for migration to the new Macbook using an external hard drive?

    Hello!
    I've had my Macbook for about 2 1/2 years now with insurance from PC World here in the UK. I was hesitant at first to hand in my Macbook earlier to be replaced using the insurance as it takes 2 weeks to be fixed (terrible, I know).
    But now that it's the end of the summer holidays and I'll be returning to the university, I think that it's the perfect time to hand it in for repair.
    I have an external hard drive capable of containing everything (apps, files etc.), but what is the best way of backing up the files, and how would I go about uploading the data onto the new Macbook? I remember on startup that there was an option to extract files from an external hard drive?
    Thanks,
    Adam.

    You can use Time Machine to back up your files and then use the Migration assistant to bring back your files from the Time Machine backup. Other applications such as Carbon Copy Cloner may also do the job for you.

  • Setting up a new macbook pro with external hard drive

    I am going to get a new macbook pro with 256GB of storage. I am also going to purchase a 1TB external hard drive. I know my music and video collection is large so i want to put it all on the hard drive. How should i go about setting this up?

    This video should answer your question:
    http://macmost.com/moving-your-itunes-media-to-an-external-drive.html

  • How best to add music to new iTunes library on external hard drive?

    I just created a new iTunes library on my external hard drive and would like to add songs that I already have stored in a folder on the external hard drive. Should I simply select all of the songs and drag them over the iTunes library folder or drag them into a specific part of the library folder? Or, should I open the new iTunes library and use the import function? I do not want to get the two libraries (powerbook and external hard drive) intermingled.
    Also, should I "keep iTunes library organized" turned on?
    Many thanks!
    RB

    You could leave keep library orginised selected - all it does is rename and reorganize files in your music directory to artist-album-track#-songname format.
    Since you want to do this, and still keep your libraries separate, here is one option.
    Change the itunes music library to a directory on your external disk.
    Then anything new you add will go into the library on the external disk.
    When you want to add something to your laptop disk, just change the
    music library location back to where it was.
    iTunes can be a little confusing. There is the itunes "library" file, which is actually more like a catalog file. Then there is the itunes "music library"
    which is where itunes puts music if you have "copy to library" selected.

  • HT1296 How do I load my old macbook data onto my new macbook using an external hard drive backup?

    I have a new macbook pro that I bought and started to use.  I then went back to using my old macbook because I couldn't learn some of the new keystrokes and software and it was slowing my ability to get work done.  i am now ready to use my new computer but want to update my new computer with my external time machine hard drive to have all my current work on one computer.

    See this Excellent Advise from Pondini...
    Setting-up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC
    See the  Second Chance to Use Setup Assistant  here...
    http://Pondini.org/OSX/SetupLion.html

  • Iphoto library on external hard drive now does not show all the photos when i access it from macbook

    i backed up iphoto library to an external hard drive.  Deleted photo library on the macbook.  After transferring some new photos to macbook from a camera, when i access the iphoto library on external hard drive only the new photos show up.  Originals are still in files, but don't appear when opening iphoto library on external hard drive.

    Make a temporary, backup copy of your library if you don't already have one (Control-click on the library and select Duplicate from the contextual menu) and  apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
    Fix #1
    Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
    Select the options identified in the screenshot. 
    Fix #2
    Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
    Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
    In the next  window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
    Click on the Create button.
    Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
    OT

  • ITunes won't show library on external hard drive

    I have just bought a MacBook Pro but I don't know how to get library on external hard drive to show in iTunes...  Any suggestions please?

    This is relevant portion of the support document with a bit of editing for clarity.
    If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
    Using a Mac click the icon to open iTunes and immediately press and continue to hold down the Option key.
    You should see the following screen:
    If iTunes opens normally, close it and try again.
    Once you've got that dialog you have two options. If your previous iTunes library database is stored on the external drive use Choose Library to browse to it and open it. If you only have the media folder on the drive then use the Create Library option to create a new iTunes library at /iTunes on the external, move the media folder to /iTunes/iTunes Media and then add it to your new empty library.
    tt2

  • Need help using music library on external hard drive

    Here is my scenario. I am hoping some one can help me as I have been having a heck of time trying to figure this out. I am what you would call newbie to Mac(I just purchased macBook) so bear with me).
    I have a iTunes library on an external hard drive that was created using Windows PC machine. I now would like to use the same library on my Mac. How can I get the Mac to connect to the iTunes Music on the external hard drive?
    This is what I have done so far. I have been able to network the Mac with my current network so it does see the external hard drive.
    BTW, I would like to achieve this without having iTunes open on Windows machine. I know about the sharing option in iTunes but I have discovered that it only works if I have iTunes open on the Windows machine. This may not always be the case so this is why i am hoping their is an alternative to get the mac to connect to the library on the external hard drive.
    I look forward to help on this one.
    ...Bruce

    Maybe I did not explain myself clearly. All I want to do is be able to listen to the music in my itunes library on external hard drive on my new MacBook. I am thinking all I will have to do is create the itunes database file on my Mac using the music in my library(on external HD).

  • Trying to copy iPhoto Library to external hard drive for backup.  Error message:  The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "iPhoto Library" can't be read or written (Error code -36).

    Trying to copy iPhoto Library to external hard drive for backup.  Error message:  The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "iPhoto Library" can't be read or written (Error code -36).

    That code is
    -36
    ioErr
    I/O error (bummers)
    Make sure the EHD is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) and run Disk Utilty on the EHD and repair the disk.  If that fails to help I'd try the following:
    Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
    Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    Click on the Add Library button,                         
    navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
    In the next  window name the new library and select the external HD as the location of the newly rebild library.
    Click on the Create button.
    Note 1: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost.
    Note 2:  Your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
    OT

  • File transfer from MacBook Pro into external hard drive

    I can't copy files from the MacBook into an external hard drive.
    In the 'Get Info' section, it says read-only. However, the hard drive have just been recently bought.
    I had the same problem with our previous hard drive. Although the previous hard drive was 'read-only' I was able to copy and paste files in our old HP laptop.
    What can I do in order to copy and paste files from the MacBook into the hard drive?
    Hard drive = Toshiba
    Capacity = 1TB

    In my last paragraph, I said
    "Note that Windows PCs cannot write natively to an HFS drive, so if you need to exchange files between Mac and PC, we need to talk about different options."
    Windows cannot read Mac Extended (HFS) formatted drives; the Mac cannot write to Windows (NTFS) formatted drives.
    The only formats fully compatible between Mac and PC are FAT32 (largely deprecated) and exFAT. If you need full read-write compatibility between Windows and Mac, and you can erase the drive (ie, it's a new drive or you have confirmed backups), reformat to exFAT using Disk Utility.
    If you have a drive with files on it and you cannot erase them at the moment:
    - if the drive is formatted for the Mac, you can purchase MacDrive for the PC
    - if the drive is formatted for Windows (NTFS), you can purchase Paragon NTFS for the Mac.
    Matt

  • How to transfer itunes library via external hard drive?

    How do I transfer my entire itunes library to a new pc via an external hard drive? I want to also keep the library on my old pc. Because my library is about 30gb I thought that getting an external hard drive would be the easiest way to do this. Are there any other options?

    Start by consolidating your library. When you consolidate, any songs in the iTunes Library that are not in the iTunes Music Folder are copied to the Music Folder and the Library is updated to point to those new files. Files already in the iTunes Music Folder have no changes made to them: Consolidating your library - Windows
    Then copy the iTunes Folder to your external drive. Copying the whole folder brings with it the iTunes Music folder and also the iTunes Library (iTunes Library.itl in Windows) database file which holds all the information about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). You'll get more information including the Folder/File structure in this article: What are the iTunes library files?
    Disconnect your external drive and connect it to your new computer, copy the iTunes folder to the new pc. When you copy the iTunes folder make sure you put it into the default location on the new computer. On a PC this is \Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\My Music\ (or C:\Username\Music\ in Vista). You should also use the same version of iTunes on both computers.
    Once you have copied everything over hold down the Shift key in Windows when opening iTunes. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to an existing one. Navigate to where you placed the copy of the library file and open it up: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file
    If you have any iTunes purchases in your library don't forget that you'll need to authorise your new computer to play them. Also if you are disposing of the old one remember to deauthorise it so you don't use up one of your allowances: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation

  • I would like to transfer my iTunes and photos etc from my PC to my new iMac via a external hard drive. Would somebody recommend one. I read that the Western Digital Mybook Essential 3.0 is good.

    I would like to transfer my iTunes and photos etc from my PC to my new iMac via a external hard drive. Would somebody recommend one. I read that the Western Digital Mybook Essential 3.0 is good. Though as Mac has 2.0 is this fast enough? I am a basic user, surfing only.

    If you plan on using the WD with the Mac after the iTunes transfer I would strongly recommend against WD. WD external HD's tend to be the most troublesome with Macs. If you intend to use the drive for backup using Time Machine or creating a bootable clone then I'd recommend a higher quality drive than WD. The drives I'd recommend in that case would be:
    OWC Mercury Elite Pro series
    LaCie d2 Quadra series
    G-Tech G-DRIVE series
    These are all high quality drives and enclosures with similar features. Personally I use the LaCie's however I would be happy to have OWC and G-Tech on my desk too. FWIW I've been using the LaCie's for 4 years and have 4 of them, all work perfectly and have never given me any trouble.
    You also my find this article helpful: Move an iTunes library from a PC to Mac (and back)

  • Why won't iTunes let me consolidate my library to external hard drive more than once?

    I am trying to transfer my iTunes library to an external hard drive.  The first time I tried it was successful, but I didn't like how it was setup so I erased it to start over.  Then I established a new folder on the external hard drive labeled iTunes Music.  When I tried to consolidate my library a second time it didn't do anything.  Should I just manually transfer over the audio files?  My long term goal is to get my iTunes library transferred to the hard drive, burn my CD library using XLD to external hard drive, and clear the audio files from my internal iMac hard drive.  I figured I would just use an alias to connect the location of the files. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Derek

    ddcrosier wrote:
    I am trying to transfer my iTunes library to an external hard drive.
    Consolidating is not the same as transferring the iTunes library.
    Do this.
    Quit iTunes.
    Copy the entire /MusiciTunes/ folder to the external.
    Hold Option, launch iTunes.
    Select Choose library...
    Select the iTunes folder on the external.
    This is all you need to do.
    After you verify iTunes works, you can then delete /Music/iTunes folder.

  • How do you transfer movies from macbook to a external hard drive it won't recognise

    how do i transfer movies from macbook to a external hard drive? it just wont recognize

    So your MacBook Pro is a 2012 model (I'm assuming since you only bought it a week ago!)?
    There are some known issues with the USB 3.0 ports on the 2012 models where they do not recognize USB external drives. This tech note may be of some help - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5172#12.
    Some people that are using pre-release versions of Mountain Lion, to be released in the next couple of weeks, have written here that their USB 3.0 port problems are 'fixed' with the new version of OS X 10.8.
    Try the Apple FAQ first and if that doesn't solve your problem, you may have to wait a couple of weeks to see if 10.8 does.
    Sorry,
    Clinton

Maybe you are looking for

  • Best Buy messed up online mac mini order

    I ordred a Apple Mac Mini, an Apple wireless keyboard and an Apple wirless mouse and my order was unavailable for pick up three hours later! I place the order at 5:53 call the store at 6:30 to ask where my order is and they didn't know. after talking

  • My credit card was charged instead of iTunes gift card?

    So I recently just got a $10 iTunes gift card. I redeemed it in the iTunes store, but when I went to buy a book for 8.99, I think it charged my credit card instead of the money on my iTunes card! It still says I have $10.00 left, what do I do?

  • STO Different valuation of the material

    Dear All, In stock transfer procedure i am having the requirement as, Suppose 100 mt of Materia moves for Plant A to Plant B. Valuation of material at Plant A is 100@10 inr= 1000. But i want valuation of material in Plant B = 950 & 50 inr to some dif

  • Regarding CRM extraction.....

    Hi Gurus, I have few questions regarding CRM extraction. Q1: If we enhance a CRM transactional Datasource, do we have to write the ABAP logic in SE19 or CMOD or both? Q2: If we enhance a CRM MasterData Datasource, do we have to write the ABAP logic i

  • Server to Server Justin TV

    I have been battling this for awhile, not getting very far and not much help out there in the forums. I am trying to stream video from Flash Media Live Encoder 3.0 (locally) to Flash Media Development Server (FMDS) 3.5 (locally on same machine) and t