Old computer dying want to use external drive with new laptop ........... HOW ??

need to get laptop to run my iTunes library from old dying comp. Have a 500gb external drive but what do i do ??

okay, i had to collect my thoughts for a moment
... but I don't have an internal library of music on this machine.
is *this machine* the new Mac ?
How do I set up iTunes to play from an external library for the first time?
the files will have to be added to iTunes. however, with the correct settings, they can be put straight on the external.
in order to set up iTunes on the new Mac, you will have to launch it. with the external drive mounted on your new Mac's desktop, go iTunes > preferences > advanced and point +iTunes media folder location+ to the external. this will cause iTunes to put all newly added content in that location.
also on the advanced tab, check +keep iTunes media folder organized+ and +copy files to ... when adding to library+.
And how do I add my backed up music from my previous iTunes to that external drive's new music library?
did you back up the music to disk ? if so, you should probably authorize iTunes with your iTMS account details, then just pop in the disk(s) and add the content to your library.
if you have backed up to an external HD, use the +add to library+ command from the file menu and navigate to the folder containing your media files.
JGG
edited by the Jolly Green Giant (where Green stands for environmentally friendly)

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Want to use external drive for new Mac, fresh iTunes

So I recently got a new Mac and have not transferred any music to it yet. In fact I haven't even launched iTunes. I want to store all of my music and play it from an external drive. I have found articles detailing how to transfer your library from your internal drive to an external one but I don't have an internal library of music on this machine. How do I set up iTunes to play from an external library for the first time? And how do I add my backed up music from my previous iTunes to that external drive's new music library? Do I just drag the files into the folder and hope iTunes will recognize them?
Thanks!

okay, i had to collect my thoughts for a moment
... but I don't have an internal library of music on this machine.
is *this machine* the new Mac ?
How do I set up iTunes to play from an external library for the first time?
the files will have to be added to iTunes. however, with the correct settings, they can be put straight on the external.
in order to set up iTunes on the new Mac, you will have to launch it. with the external drive mounted on your new Mac's desktop, go iTunes > preferences > advanced and point +iTunes media folder location+ to the external. this will cause iTunes to put all newly added content in that location.
also on the advanced tab, check +keep iTunes media folder organized+ and +copy files to ... when adding to library+.
And how do I add my backed up music from my previous iTunes to that external drive's new music library?
did you back up the music to disk ? if so, you should probably authorize iTunes with your iTMS account details, then just pop in the disk(s) and add the content to your library.
if you have backed up to an external HD, use the +add to library+ command from the file menu and navigate to the folder containing your media files.
JGG
edited by the Jolly Green Giant (where Green stands for environmentally friendly)

HT4527 Old computer died. Need to move music to new laptop?

My old computer gave out and a lot of my music library was on it. I used the backup thumbdrive to move the music, but the files are not all coming with it and I can't play the music. It says it can't find the file.

this is an option
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173
or
you can download third party software that will allow you to take the information on your ipod and trasfer it back on to your computer.. you can find these programs at www.versiontracker.com
a few that are free for windows are iPod->Folder 1.2 or YamiPod - 1.0.1
if you use a mac I suggest senuti
all of these can be found on www.versiontracker.com
good luck

My old computer died and I got just got a new one. Is there any way to access the movies, apps, etc. that I bought on i tunes on this new computer?

my old computer died and I got just got a new one. Is there any way to access the movies, apps, etc. that I bought on i tunes from the new computer?

Yes....
On the new computer, launch iTunes. From the menu bar click click Store / Authorize This Computer.
Then re download your iTunes purchases.
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

Can we use external drive with ipad air

can we use external drive with ipad air?

There are some wifi-enabled drives that allow you to stream content (music, films, tv programmes) to an iPad, but you can't directly connect one to an iPad.

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How do I get entire library onto new computer without old ipod (stolen) or old computer (died)? When I plugged in my new ipod 5th gen, it only synced purchases.

How do I get entire library onto new computer without old ipod (stolen) or old computer (died)? I just bought an ipod 5th gen and when I plugged it in, it only synced purchases.

You restore the media to your new computer using the backup you made of your old computer before it died. You did backup your computer, right?

Using External Drive with a Macbook

My iTunes library is on my desktop ( iMac G5 ) but I want to listen to it on my Macbook. So I have copied my complete iTunes folder ( including the iTunes Music Library ) to an external drive and attached it to my Macbook. There is no music on my Macbook iTunes so I thought it would be easy to get the Macbook to 'see' the iTunes library on the external drive. I followed the Apple support article and checked the Keep Folders Organised and Copy Music files boxes in Preferences. Then I changed the location of my iTunes library in Preferences to the location on the external drive. Then I pressed OK, expecting to see my library in iTunes but...nothing.
The actions I HAVEN'T taken referred to in the support article are to create a new folder ( as the folder already exists on my external drive ) or to consolidate my library as I understand this to mean 'copy files to the new location' - a) the files are already in the new location and b) I'm not moving any files FROM the laptop, as there are none to move.
There's obviously some step I haven't taken or something but I can't work out what.
Can someone help? Many thanks in anticipation.

If you moved the whole iTunes folder to the external drive then your library file should be there as well. Hold down the Option key when opening iTunes. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to an existing one. Go to the iTunes folder on your external drive and choose open: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file

Can I use my old mac mini (G4) as an optical drive with new mac mini late 2014?

Can I use my old mac mini (G4 Tiger) as an optical drive with new mac mini, late 2014?

I think so
DVD or CD sharing: Using Remote Disc - Apple Support
You should also be able to connect the two via FireWire using a FW 400 cable plugged into the old Mini, thne a FR 400 femial to FW 880 adopter plugging into a FW to Thunderbolt adopter
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My old computer died, can I transfer iTunes to my new computer without having to buy them again?

My old computer died and I hadn't backed up my iTunes. They are stuck on my old computer. I got a new computer. I've saved the receipts for the tunes I bought...can I reload iTunes program and then retreive my songs? Without buying then again?

First sign-in from iTunes menu STORE > Sign-in
After sgined in, go to same menu STORE > Authorize this computer
Then go to the iTunes Store and select "Purchased" from the Quick Links side bar on the right. Go through all the tabs to download again for free

How do I get playlists that were made and synched to an old computer to download onto my itunes on a new laptop? These are PC's, not Macs.

When I first got my Ipod nano I synched it to a computer in my basement. Now that I have a laptop, I wanted to move all the playlists and songs I had on the old computer to this laptop. I authorized the accounts that my family used and I hit the "transfer purchases" button. The playlists I have on my ipod from the old computer will not download onto the itunes in this laptop, nor will playlists on this new itunes download onto my ipod.
Does anyone know what I am doing wrong? I would really appreciate some help here, It's driving me crazy. Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you want me to be more specific on something let me know.
-Sarah

The transfer purchases option only transfer purchased content from your iPod to your iTunes library and not other items such as playlists and non-iTunes purchased content. You'll probably need third party software such as YamiPod to help you export the playlists from your iPod to your new PC.
Better yet, if the old PC is still working using one of the methods described in this Apple support document to help transfer the library and all of its contents to your new laptop.
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
As for why new content is not syncing to the iPod, it's because the iPod is designed to sync with only one iTunes library at a time. So right now, your iPod is still associated/connected with the old iTunes library. In to link it with a new library, you'll need to restore it via iTunes. Keep in mind that this process wipes all content from the device and resets all settings back to their defaults.
Restoring iPod to factory settings
B-rock

Using iTunes on external drive with new computer

My mac died a few weeks ago but I had my iTunes library on an external drive.
Trying to point my new mac at this same external drive so that I can get iTunes running again but can't seem to make it work.
Is there any way around this without reimporting everything?

ldav wrote:
I had my iTunes library on an external drive.
what exactly do you have on the external ? the entire iTunes folder or just the iTunes music (or media) folder ?
Trying to point my new mac at this same external drive so that I can get iTunes running again but can't seem to make it work.
that tells iTunes where to put newly added content, not where the current content is.
JGG

Using External Drive with Itunes

I have a very large Music and Video collection on a MY BOOK 1TB drive (810GB file size) I want to use it as my primary I tunes Music library. I have followed the instructions on Itunes support and created a new file on the drive and redirected I tunes to that file but the content does not show up in I tunes on my macbook and the only way I seem to be able to get the them to show up is actually open the file and listen to each song the problem is there are 300,000 + songs any ideas???

When you moved your music did you move the whole iTunes folder or just the iTunes Music folder? If you moved the whole folder including the library files hold down the Option key on your keyboard 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 the external drive where you placed the copy of the library file and open it up: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file
You might also find this article useful: iLounge - Managing your iTunes Library on an External Hard Drive

Using external drive with iMac as startup

I have an iMac that the hard drive is failing thus I purchased an external drive to use as a startup up drive connected to the iMac. How reliable is this setup and what are the cons/pros in operating this way?

Assuming you bought a FW800 drive the performance should be OK, not as good as your old internal HD but useable. If you bought a USB drive the performance is going to be very slow. As far as reliability it should be fine assuming you bought a decent quality HD. However why not just get the internal HD replaced? If you decide to move forward with the external HD after you install OS X onto it don't forget to make sure it's set as your Startup drive in System Preferences.

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I keep my music on an external drive and also have a drive hooked up for Time Machine. My macbook pro frequently crashes... especially when I first open the computer. I then have to reboot. In general, what are the best type of drives and best type of connections to use when there will always be two external drives hooked to this machine. Would increasing RAM help? I have 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 2 gigs of RAM.

Old computer dying want to use external drive with new laptop ........... HOW ??

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