Problems Moving iTunes Library To Another PC

Question

Hi All -
I'm having problems moving my iTunes Library to another PC.
OBJECTIVE
I have a new PC, and I want to move my iTunes library off my old and onto the new.  I want to be sure that I get all of the music and videos that I have both purchased and loaded.  Total library size 132 GB.
MY CURRENT SETUP
o  Old PC - Windows XP
o  My current iTunes Library is not in the default location; my C: drive was too small, and I installed a separate data disk quite some time ago
o  All of my files (music, videos, apps, etc.) are consolidated in the new library location.
WHAT I'VE DONE SO FAR
o Researched to find out how to copy my library to a new PC - from Apple's site
o Copied my iTunes library directory to an external disk.
o  Installed iTunes on the new PC
o  Opened iTunes on the new PC and changed the location of the library to a secondary data disk.
o  Closed iTunes
o  Copied my iTunes libaray from the external disk to the new PC library.
o  Opened iTunes - where the heck is my stuff?!?
o  Research ... i need the .itl file
o  Apparently the itl file was not in the directory structure when I copied my library onto the external disk.
o  Find the itl file ... copy the itl file ... open iTunes while holding down the <SHIFT> key
o Point to the new itl file which is now co-located w/ all of my content.
o  iTunes shows my stuff, but when I click on one of the items, it tells me the file it not found.
Clearly I'm missing a step somewhere.  I just want to move all my stuff, lock-stock-and-barrel, to a new installation of iTunes, on a new PC, into a library location other than the default.
Help!
Thanks.

Answer 1

With iTunes closed, copy the files iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel and the folder Album Artwork from C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes into G:\ - Note that sentinel is a hidden file so use Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer to reveal it. The iTunes Music Library.xml file and Previous iTunes Libraries folder won't be needed.
Press & hold down shift as you click the icon to launch iTunes. Keep holding until prompted to choose or create a library, click choose and browse to G:\iTunes Library.itl
Check that you can play a file or two. Close iTunes
Rename G:\iTunesLibrary as G:\iTunes Media
Launch iTunes. Check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder has been automatically updated to G:\iTunes Media. If not, use the Change... button to correct it. Don't consolidate files if prompted. Close iTunes, then reopen. Check that you can play media.
Close iTunes. Create a folder called G:\iTunes. Move the files iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library.xml, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel and the folders Album Artwork & iTunes Media inside G:\iTunes.
Press & hold down shift as you click the icon to launch iTunes. Keep holding until prompted to choose or create a library, click choose and browse to G:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
Check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder has been automatically updated to G:\iTunes\iTunes Media. If not, use the Change... button to correct it. Don't consolidate files if prompted. Close iTunes, then reopen.
Check that you can play media. You're done....This library can now be connected to any computer and you can use the shift-start-iTunes method to connect to it. whatever drive letter is provided.
If the media won't play at any stage stop, check that you've followed the steps properly or ask for help.
tt2