Restoring itunes from all hard drive

I apologise if this has been asked before of is somewere else, but i couldnt find it.
I basicaly got a new computer and have my old hard drive now plugged into the new one so cant run the old itunes (so i cant consolodate or backup or anything like that)
But i want to restore itunes onto my new computer so that i have all my playlists and song names. This is mainly because i have about 30+ playlists, and a lot of the things i had to rename because they wernt named properly (didnt have artists or standard names)
I have access to the old itunes folder, so can copy or import settings and music.
I have looked for hours to try and find out how to do this, but cnt seem to find anything. I am just copying the 'My Music folder' but it obviously says 'this file cannot be found' wen i try yo play it.
Help pls!
thanx, Ghost

that doesnt work, cause the old one was on XP, and this is on windows 7
Doesn't matter.
If you copy the entire iTunes folder, it should work fine. You won't need to change any settings.
Try this.
1- Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
2- Select *Choose library* and select the /iTunes/ folder on the XP drive (/username/My Documents/My Music/iTunes/).
3- Go to iTunes prefs > Advanced.
4 - Make sure the iTunes media folder location is set to /username/My Documents/My Music/iTunes/iTunes Music (or iTunes Media).
5- Go to iTunes menu File > Library > Organize library and tick Consolidate.
This will ensure everything in iTunes is in /username/My Documents/My Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/ folder.
At this point, you can leave it like this and use it as is. iTunes will use this location for everything from now on.
If you wish to move iTunes to the new drive, quit iTunes and copy /username/My Documents/My Music/iTunes/ folder on the XP drive to /username/My Music/ on the C: drive.
Now hold Shift and launch iTunes.
Select *Choose library* and select /username/My Music/iTunes folder on the C: drive.
That is all you need to do.

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I know MP3 and AAC save tag data, and I believe AIFF does as well (if you want to keep them in full-quality but space-greedy format). I don't think WAV supports tagging which is why they were lost. Read:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9558241&#9558241
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Drag all of the content into the open iTunes window and then choose Consolidate Library from the Library section of the File menu. If the backup is a complete iTunes library(not just the music files), you can also open iTunes with the Shift key held down and point it to that folder or a copy of that folder on the hard disk.
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How do I copy iTunes from external
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if your main library is on your external, then when not connected, you wont have access to it.
so first decide, where do you want to keep the files.
E.g. In my case, I keep my files on "C:\iTunes Music".
I have a backup on external "Z:\iTunes Backup". If I format my laptop, this is how I restore everything.
Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced.
The iTunes music folder in selects as "C:\iTunes Music"
I have checked Keep iTunes Music Folder Organized, and also Copy Files to iTunes Music folder when adding to ibrary". Click OK to save and close preferences.
My iTunes list is now empty. I go to file, and select "Add Folder to Library". From that window, I select "Z:\iTunes Backup". iTunes then copies everything from the backup to "C:\iTunes Music". For me, backup is backup, I dont need it to play music.
Now decide this. If you do not want to keep music on C:, but want to only connect the external to update music on your ipod, do this:
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How do I run itunes from external hard drive. I only have ssd on PC and media is too large to fit

You do not.
iTunes, like all programs is installed on the C drive.
You can store the media on another drive.
Assuming you are moving an existing library from another computer:
Move or Copy the ENTIRE iTunes folder from the old computer to the new computer and put it where you want it.
Install iTunes using the default options.
Hold <SHIFT> while launching iTunes. It will prompt to create a new library or locate an existing library.
Select the option to locate an existing library.
Point iTunes to the iTunesLibrary.itl file in the iTunes folder that was moved from the old computer.

HT201250 I don't store any files on my computer, I store them on a hd. Can I restore docs from my hard drive if they were backed up using time machine? And will it restore if the hd isn't even there? Like what if it got stolen or destroyed.

I don't store any files on my computer, I store them on a hd. Can I restore docs from my hard drive if they were backed up using time machine? And will it restore if the hd isn't even there? Like what if it got stolen or destroyed.

ehphotograph wrote:
Can I restore docs from my hard drive if they were backed up using time machine?
Yes.
And will it restore if the hd isn't even there? Like what if it got stolen or destroyed.
Also yes.
Directly-connected external drives (ie, USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt) are not backed-up by default. You must remove them from the exclusion list in Time Machine Preferences > Options to get them backed-up. (Network drives cannot be backed-up.)
And they must be formatted for a Mac -- any variation of Mac OS Extended.
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Message was edited by: Pondini

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I've seen several threads relating to this, but I'm a bit confused. For some time we have been running iTunes from an external hard drive with no issues. We now have a new laptop with windows 8, and I'm not sure where to start to set up iTunes (we replaced the computer with a laptop). Do I need to do a new install of iTunes on the laptop? Do I install it to the hard drive (C) or to the external drive (G)? My biggest source of concern is losing the library. I also want to be sure that we can continue to run iTunes from the external drive, I don't want it taking up space on the laptop hard drive.

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Hi,
This has probably been posted before but i couldn't find it.
My itunes works on another computer, with the library (Edit->Preferences->Itunes location as g:\itunes), this includes the xml files for the library.
I've now got a new laptop and external hard-drive and want to move the library onto the new hard-drive and use it on the new laptop.
I think i can copy the itunes folder from old hard-drive onto new one, then point the itunes install on the new laptop to the new harddrive and it should pick it up?
Any ideas?
Matt

Welcome to AD!
+this includes the xml files for the library.+
Does this also include the important itunes database file, the one with the ITL file extension?
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http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307844
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Now start itunes on the laptop by pressing *and holding* the shift key. Tell it to use the ITL file on the G: drive. Then set your iTunes preoferences to have any future additions go to the G: drive music folder.

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http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/14.html
See especially C.

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We're missing most of the software that came with our computer when we first bought it. We can't find the software installation disk, but we do see application icons from the recovered data. We do have the Software disk from a Mac mini. Can we use this disk? It seems like there has to be a way to get the software we had before the crash without paying to have it done.
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See Here > Restoring your iTunes Library backup
From here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

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Restoring itunes from all hard drive

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