Pic on external Drive !

Well my question is that a the Moment i have a Folder Structre with my pics on a external drive and when i import them my harddrive on the macbook is too small.
Is it possible to just import thumnails and the meta data. So that when the drive is not conected to my MacBook that i still can have a look what pics I have?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Yes you can run a Referenced Library - but I don't recommend it at all.
Simply go to iPhoto Menu -> Preferences -> Advanced and uncheck 'Copy Files to the iPhoto Library on Import'.
Now iPhoto will not copy the files, but rather simply reference them on your HD. To do this it will create an alias in the Originals Folder that points to your file. It will still create a thumbnail and, if you modify the pics, a Modified version within the iPhoto Library Folder.
However, you need to be aware of a number of potential pitfalls using this system.
1. Import and deleting pics are more complex procedures
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them on systems prior to 10.5 and iPhoto 08. Even with the later versions issues can still arise if you move the referenced files to new volumes or between volumes.
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.
Always allowing for personal preference, I've yet to see a good reason to run iPhoto in referenced mode unless you're using two photo organisers.
If disk space is an issue, you can run an entire iPhoto Library from an external disk:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library as an entity from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
If you're concerned about accessing the files, there are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
*For Users of 10.5 Only*
You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
*For users of 10.4 and 10.5* ...
Many internet sites such as Flickr and SmugMug have plug-ins for accessing the iPhoto Library. If the site you want to use doesn’t then some, one or any of these will also work:
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. However, if you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
*If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running*:
Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

  • HELP! Import iPhoto 4 pics from external drive into iPhoto 5

    I had computer issues so cleared my hard drive which was with iPhoto 4
    Moved the entire iPhoto Library to my external.
    When they updated my software they used the 5 version.
    Now I am having issues getting iPhoto 5 to recognize my data.
    I have tried various way indicated... but each one presents with a different problem.
    * If I pull them directly from the External drive to the Photo finder window - then when I open iPhoto i get the spinning wheel for HOURS (quit after 12).
    * If I drag them directly to Iphoto (either the entire folder OR year by year)
    They do show up in iPhoto, however, in iPhoto ALL dates are the date I pulled the iPhoto Library onto my External drive. Also, when in iPhoto there are film roles, however, the events are mixed up.
    I have tried this about 10 times, all different ways, my latest is now it imports them in DUPLICATE (and I had deleted teh thumb files prior to import)
    My question:
    How do I pull my iPhoto 4 library into iPhoto 5 and KEEP proper fiilm roles to include 1) Correct pictures in each 2) correct dates and 3) preserve the role titles 4) not duplicated
    HELP!!!
    THANKS!

    Here are some instructions from Apple in iPhoto Help that explain how to switch from your normal iphoto library (on your internal drive) to your older iphoto library (on your external drive:
    "You can switch from the photo library you're currently working on to another one you've already created.
    1.Quit iPhoto.
    2.Rename your current iPhoto Library folder in the Finder or move it to a new location on your hard disk, and then open iPhoto.
    3. Tip: If you don't want to rename or move your current iPhoto Library folder, hold down the Option key while opening iPhoto.
    4. Click Find Library.
    5. Choose the library you want to display.
    6. Click Open.
    The library appears in the iPhoto viewing area."
    If you succeed in doing this, you can thus direct your iphoto 5 program to open the iphoto 4 library on your external. If this succeeds, iphoto 5 will automatically convert that library to iphoto 5. Then you can burn your external drive iphoto 5 library to CD or DVD using the "burn" function from within iphoto. It is best if you can fit everything on one CD or DVD, but if not, you can burn by album, or by roll, or even by date. Make sure you burn this disk (or these disks) from within iphoto 5. Then, following the above instructions again, revert back to your internal drive iphoto 5 library. Then, while iphoto is running, insert those CDs/DVDs you burned from within iphoto earlier and when you do, each will appear inside iphoto along with your other albums. Each CD or DVD, as you insert it, will look like another album. You can then import those into your existing internal drive library. Unless you hhave many thousands of photos, this should not take a long time.
    By the way, if ALL your photos are in that external drive iphoto library, you can first quit iphoto and then you can drag it over and replace your internal drive iPhoto Library with the external drive iPhoto Library. Then iPhoto 5 will convert the older library automatically when it starts up.
    Before doing any of these things, I suggest backing up all your photos to something safe as if there is some corruption in your original library, it could get mangled in a way that makes it unusable and then you'll need that backup.
    I have actually done what I have descriibed above. We have an older iMac G3 with iPhoto 4. We got my daughter a new iMac G5 which came with iPhoto 5. I copied over her iPhoto Library from the iMac G3 which had been running iPhoto 4, and when she started iPhoto 5 for the first time on the new iMac, it converted everything in the old iPhoto Library (created under iPhoto 4) to iPhoto 5.
    You would only need the CDs/DVDs if you have two libraries you want to merge, one being an iPhoto 4 Library, and the other being an iPhoto 5 Library.
    There is a guy named "Old Toad" who sometimes comments in this forum. He probably has a better way of doing this.

  • Can you ... Point iPhoto to store pics to an external drive ?

    Using Aperture I don't have much time for iPhoto but my daughter in law has a mini mac and wants to store her pics to an external drive to save space on the mini mac is this possible.

    Yes, very easy to do. Here are directions from Lori deloretto (thanks, Lori!):
    iPhoto, the application, must stay in your Applications folder.
    The iPhoto Library folder, on the other hand, can be on an external.
    Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library folder (found in ~/Pictures/) to a Mac formatted external drive.
    Launch iPhoto while holding down the Option key.
    At the prompt, choose to open another library.
    Navigate to the library on the external and highlight it.
    Hit the "open" button
    iPhoto will open the library on the external and from now on will use this library to import images too. This will now be your working library. Make sure everything is working correctly and everything is fine in the library.
    You can then delete the library on the internal if you wish.
    Also have a look at Apple's instructions here:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93603
    That should get you what you want.

  • IPhoto 8 to 11 update, no thumbs, no pics, library on external drive.

    Using MacBook 13" mid 2010 2.4Ghz running OS X 10.8.3, upgraded my iPhoto 8 to 11, after upgrade no thumbs, no pics, showing in iPhoto 11, the events, albums, and all correct but no pics, or thumbs just grey boxes.  The library is on external WD My Passport 1.5 TB drive formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
    I have tried the following but to no avail,
    iPhoto Library Upgrader.
    All 4 Photo Library First Aid Options that being, Repair Permisions, Rebuild Thumbnails, Repair Database and Rebuild Database,
    iPhoto Library Manager from Fat Cat.
    iPhoto Library are backed up on Time Capsule as well as another External Drive, would like to get this sorted....Hopefully Terence or the Old Toad can shed some light on this.
    Cheers Aussie.

    Which one worked?
    Try a new library as a test - depress the option key and launch iPhoto and create a new library - import a few photos into it and see how it behaves
    If this fails go to a different user account and do the same in that account
    If 1 did then 2 would have to
    if you have the paid version of IPLM and if 1 worked try using IPLM to merge your existing library into the new test library (delete the test photos first)
    LN

  • Can't import pic's when I save my movie to an external drive

    Hi,
    When my Movie is saved to my Macintosh HD I can import pic's with no problem from iPhoto through the media pane in iMovie. Then when I save the movie file to my external HD (becasue these movie files get so big) I can't import pic's anymore. The import files dialogue box shows up, then the pic flashes in the timeline for a split second and then it disappears, or it will show up in the timeline as an all black image, but no pic. It must be something to do with my external HD, but what? Are movie files in iMovie usually saved to external drives with no problems, or is this a common occurence? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Many thanks,
    Dylan
    PS. I have the latest version of iMovie HD

    Hey Sue,
    Thanks for the reply. The external drive is formatted MS-DOS File System (FAT32). I had to do this because I had problems with it at first when I was using it interchangeably with a Mac and a PC. When it was Mac formatted it wouldn't be compatible with my PC for some reason (or I could read files, but couldn't write - something like that). Any suggestions?
    Thanks again,
    Dylan

  • Hi ya'll! I'm still learning how to navigate my way with Lightroom. (Last time I wrote, I did get some responses that work. Thanks so much!) Now, I have another question. When I try to copy pics from my external drive to a CD/DVD, no matter if do it from

    Hi ya'll! I'm still learning how to navigate my way with Lightroom. (Last time I wrote, I did get some responses that work. Thanks so much!) Now, I have another question. When I try to copy pics from my external drive to a CD/DVD, no matter if do it from LR or my drive, I keep getting the message; "Disk burning is not supported by LR on this computer." I've tried everything I can think of, so, I thought I'd see if anyone may know if there's anything I can do. Or could it be that my computer just can't handle it? Help!!! So frustrating!!  I have a PC Lenovo computer, I don't know if this makes any difference. Any ideas? Thanks so much for your help!!!

    Have you burned Discs with other programs using this computer? Are you certain that you have a drive that will burn discs?

  • Trying to restore photos from external drive and realized TimeMachine had been turned off.  Found in Imac backup folder in iPhoto library a modified folder with many of the missing pics.  Can I restore these?

    I recently had a hard drive crash on my iMac.  After replacing the drive, I discovered that TimeMachine had apparently been turned off for six months, and all my photos from that period were missing after the restore.  In looking on the external drive used by TimeMachine, I discovered a folder called Imac backup, and under iPhoto Library was a folder called Originals and subfolders for each year.  To my surprise, there were photos covering the missing time period!  Somehow I imported the 2011 folder from the external drive into iPhoto, and then I discovered they were small files of less than 100 KB each, not the 1-2 MB original photos.  So now all of 2011 is screwed up, not just from May on.  These photos also include faces pulled from many larger group photos.
    I can get Jan - April restored using TimeMachine.  But in continuing to explore the Imac backup folder, I found a similar folder in iPhoto Library called Modified.  This folder has many of the missing photos in their original MB size in folders indexed by date for the missing period after April.  Is there a way that I can get these modified photos back onto my new hard drive and into the iPhoto library without causing more damage?  If TimeMachine was turned off after April, how did those modified photos and all those small images from the missing period find their way to the external drive?
    Any wisdom greatly appreciated.

    What you want to do is merge the two Libraries? The only way to do this is to use the paid ($20) version of iPhoto Library Manager
    I created a new iPhoto Library on the iMac and dragged the entire iPhoto Library from the MacBook into that new Library. It worked, however it all came over into one big album and my previous album structure was gone
    Never import one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.
    Regards
    TD

  • Move iphoto pics to photo when library on external drive

    Now that iphoto has changed to Photos, Im not sure how to import by library. First of all, I had my iphot library stored on a separate external drive due to size. Apparently leaving the Photos library on an external drive does not allow you to share using icloud. Not sure how this is helpful for people with very large libraries. Anyways, after Photos was installed, I switched it to access my iphoto library on the external drive and it converted it from iphoto to Photos, then dumped all my old events into one album. I then tried to set it back to the system Photos library and then attempted to import the photos from my old iphoto and the newly converted Photos library into the System Photos library but it wont allow me to select it. How do I properly move my old events/photos into the system library for Photos? Should my old events be converted to albums somehow? Will new photos added create a new moment...album or what.

    Old Toad wrote:
    Moments in Photo are the new Events, i.e. groupings of photos sorted by date taken.
    When the iPhoto Library was first migrated to Photos there was a folder created in the sidebar titled iPhoto Events and all migrated iPhoto Events (which are now Moments) are represented by an album in that folder. To open the sidebar if it's not already open use the Option+Command+S key combination.
    There's a way to simulate events in Photos.
    When new photos are imported into the Photos library go to the Last Import smart album, select all the photos and use the File ➙ New Album menu option or use the key combination Command+N.  Name it as desired.  It will appear just above the iPhoto Events folder where you can drag it into the iPhoto Events folder
    When you click on the iPhoto Events folder you'll get a simulated iPhoto Events window.
    The downside to the simulation is that the Album/Events can only be sorted automatically by Title. But they can also be sorted manually, either in the sidebar or in the folder's window at the right.
    Ask Apple for more sorting options in Photos via https://www.apple.com/feedback/photos.html.
    What about the other way? Can you convert the old events to moments so everything is organized together?

  • Use external drive for Time Capsule backups AND file storage?

    I have an external drive formatted by my MBP.  I'm using it to store my iTunes music library and iPhoto pics.  Can I use the drive for Time Capsule backups as well?

    Yes, but that is not recommended. Storage and backup should be kept separate to reduce the chances of a disk failure. This is especially important because you cannot even partition a Time Capsule drive. Go get a separate drive for your storage needs. Get another drive for a second backup and use a different method of backup than Time Machine

  • Easiest Way to Move Media from One External Drive to Another?

    My MacBook Pro only has a 500GB hard drive and I currently have all my movies on a 1TB external hard drive.  Everything works fine through iTunes, but now since the 1TB is maxed out, I'd like to use my new 2TB external hard drive going forward.  I understand that I need to re-route where iTunes finds the movies, but what is the easiest way to make the conversion from the 1TB to the 2TB?
    I have copied all movies from the 1TB to the 2TB.  Is the only thing left to do is re-route the location to the 2TB?  Or do I need to drag and drop all movies into iTunes (they're all already in there)?  Just didn't know if I needed to add them into iTunes again so they know to point to the 2TB drive. (sorry if I didn't explain that good!)
    Thanks in advance for your help!

    Thanks Limnos!  Really appreciate the help!
    To clarify:
    - I currently have only movies on the external 1TB drive (which iTunes points too).  The downside is that I ALWAYS have to have my external drive plugged in, in order to play on Apple TV (or view on MacBook).  I have appx. over 500GBs of movies on my external 1TB.
    - All music (appx. 200GBs) is currently on my internal hard disk, but with a 500GB internal hard drive, that's going to fill up quickly (just so you know - I already have about 125GBs of pics in iPhoto AND work in Photoshop regularly so PSDs lessen my internal 500GB space quickly).
    Eventhough I HATE having to keep an external drive plugged into my MacBook, I'm just going to have to suck it up and get used to it so I will have more space and my MacBook will run faster.
    With that in mind, I was thinking about moving my music (200GBs) onto my 2TB external drive (along with the movies).  So that would leave roughly the photos and Photoshop files (and random other things that are small in size) on my internal drive.
    I could start all over and delete all movies that are in iTunes (the application - not the folders) and then drag and drop them into iTunes from the new 2TB, but I wasn't sure all the metadata (really the cover artwork) would be attached when I did that?  Going that route really doesn't bother me since I've already copied all movies files from my 1TB to my 2TB.  Basically, I would be starting over from scratch as if the old 1TB never existed.
    Trying to run this through my mind and come up with the best/easiest way.  What I don't want to do is try and find cover artwork for the almost 300 movies I have (and all the cover artwork for the CDs I have too if I decide to keep my music on the 2TB external drive).
    Hope that helps and makes sense?  Thanks again!

  • How to share iPhoto library among users on same iMac without using an external drive?

    How can I share my iPhoto library with another user on the same iMac for use with iCloud. I do not want to use an external drive.
    Thanks

    For iPhoto 09 (version 8.0.2) and later:
    What you mean by 'share'.
    If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.
    Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window.
    Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.
    If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc.
    Quit iPhoto in both accounts. Move the Library to the Users / Shared Folder
    (You can also use an external HD set to ignore permissions, a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.)
    In each account in turn: Double click on the Library to open it. (You may be asked to repair the Library Permissions.) From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
    However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.

  • How to store photo's on external drive and still use Time Machine and secondary back up plan

    So, My Macbook Pro is now going on 4 years old and I've accumulated around 15,000 photos in iPhoto now.  I would like to move everything (or at least everything older than 12 months) onto a portable external drive, but i'm not sure the best way to do this and still keep a good back up plan.  My current process is the following -- I have external HD same size as my current internal drive on the MBP, which is formatted that i use Time Machine.  I also have a paid subscription to Crash Plan online cloud back up that is connected to my laptop drive (CrashPlan is constant and easy, so I just USB plug in MBP to EHD a few times a month and that's it).  If I were to move most of my picture/video's/important docs to an external drive, how would I back that up with Time Machine, and if I did, how would I back up my laptop drive with Time Machine also, and what drive would I assign my Crash Plan online account too?  Cant seem to wrap my brain around the easiest and best method.  (In short, I want most pics/video's stored off the laptop so that my HD is not consumed; but still easy to access if needed, and easy to back up)  Also driving this need for a solution is the fact i would like my next lap top to be an Macbook Air, which I know I can't keep my current set up would not work.  Any thoughts are appreciated.

    if your internal drive has 250 GB and the external drive with the iPhoto library as well, your TimeMachine should have at least 1 TB.
    I have read over some of CrashPlans support docs and it sounds like it will be able to back up and restore the iPhoto library, and as long as you restore the entire library and not single photos, it will save and restore all metadata as well.
    I studied their documents to.  They are saying they can backup any filetype. And they are saying the iPhoto libraries or Aperture libraries will be backed up automatically, when they are in in the Pictures folder, because the Home folder will be backed up.
    On their screenshot you can see, that the libraries are backed up as a nested set of folders, and not as a package. That let's me doubt that the dependencies within the package will be treated correctly. To restore from the backup they recommend to restore the set of nested folders.  What I could not find anywhere in the documentation is any information on the filesystem they are storing the backup on. If it is not Apple's MacOS Extended (Journaled, not case sensitive) the restored library may be corrupted, because the internal links in the databases may not work. Try to find out something about the filesystem on the backup servers, before you entrust your iPhoto library to that servers.

  • I have a macbook air late 2010 and keep getting a warning that my hard drive is full and to delete things so I purchased a external hard drive (1TB) but I'm just not sure what the correct way to transfer and store files to the external drive is. First MAC

    I purchased a macbook air about 5 months ago and lately i keep recieving a warning that the hard drive or disk is full and that I will need to move items to trash in order to free up space on it. I purchased a external hard drive 1 TB but I'm very new to mac and ios and unsure as to how I'm suppose to transfer my files (video, pics, music etc.) from my mac over to the external hard drive in the correct way so I won't end up deleting them permenately or screwing anything up with my mac as far as the applications and programs being able to run. Am I supposed to just copy to the external hard drive and then move to and empty the trash? That's pretty much all I could come up with, but then what if i need or want to access that file again at a later time. Also, I have an i Phone and i pad so with i cloud it automatically syncs all my purcheses and if i delete something from itunes on my mac it deletes from my ipad.
    I'd appreciate any kind of input i think im just a little lost here. I have to say i love my Mac and wouldn't trade it for anything (except maybe a macbook pro w/more memory)... Is there something I'm missing???

    To free up hard drive space the best bet is to move data files that you don't need access to all the time. Likely candidates are music, video, and photos. Things like word processing and spreadsheet files can also be moved but they tend not to be very large and so don't free up much space. The problem with moving the above mentioned files is that iTunes and iPhoto need to know where the files are stored.
    Here's an article explaining how to move the iTunes folder. You can move the iPhoto library using the Finder but there is a slight complication. Start iPhoto, open the Preferences and click on the Advanced tab. The first option is "Copy items to the iPhoto Library". If this option is checked, copy the iPhoto library to your external folder (drag it from the Pictures folder to your external drive) and then delete it from your Picture folder. If this option is not checked, it is a bit more complicated and we'll need to talk a bit.

  • Recover an iMovie from a failed external drive?

    Has anyone been able to get an entire iMovie recovered from a failed external Firewire drive? My LaCie just won't power up despite having its light come on, and having other external drives connected through it to my iMac and working fine.
    I was about to do some backing up after finishing some edits on my latest iMovie, located on that drive. The edits were taking a longer time than usual, with spinning beach ball going on and on, so I decided to restart the Mac and see if that would speed things up. A restart resulted in a totally white screen for over 20 minutes, so I powered off with the switch, and powered on again with it a few minutes later. After three tries, including trying to boot from the installation disk, the iMac sprang to life again, and three of my external drives came on as usual, but not the La Cie that has my iPhotoLibraries and the iMovies I am working on. It is not a problem with power cords or the Firewire cables, as I swapped them out with the other drives, and everything works except this drive will not power up. Its light comes on, and the Firewire ports allow the other drive to come on, as this one is the one connected to the iMac, but the drive remains cold and quiet, just sits there with its blue light blinking.
    I just need it to power on long enough to transfer my data to another drive.
    I will settle for drive-recovery if that means I will get all my movies and photos back......anyone ever had to use a drive recovery service for this? If so, how did it work?
    I do have backups for the photos, but not all of them as I don't usually backup every day. The movies will have to be recreated I can do this, it will just take lots of time......
    not happy with this situation....any support/sympathy greatly appreciated!

    Beverly Maneatis wrote:
    .. The drive comes on and its light blinks, but does not progress to the drive powering up and the light becoming a solid nonblinking. ..
    sorry to contradict you, Bev, but the drive itself has no lights.. :
    (pic by wikipedia)
    THIS is your drive with your precious data .. no blinks ...
    ok, I'm a typically 'Tim Taylor/Home Improvement'-guy (incl. friends in hospital...), so maybe a daredevil about screwing things up/open (pun-taaaa). if you open the housing (usually 4 screws on bottom), you would see a power-supply, some small board for the interface electronics, a fan, some small board for some other electronics. and two cables: one with 4 cables (=power), one flat cable with ~20something wires (=data).. the drive is fixed with another four screws.. it is really dead easy, and you can not damage the drive itself, except you wear some angora and plastic sandals, to get some zillion of volts of static electricity into your fingertips ...
    so, if you find a nice PC-guy, ask him to place the drive into another housing (usb or fw.. doesn't matter...).. for a pro, that is a 5min procedure.. I'm pretty sure, it will work! < fingers crossed > < throwing ash over shoulder > < murmering some Hun's incantaion >

  • 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

Maybe you are looking for