Transfer iTunes on External Hard Drive to new computer?

To save hard drive space on my laptop I have my iTunes collection (about 50 gig) on an external hard drive. When I try to move it to another laptop, the new laptop does not "see" the collection on the hard drive, even though I have pointed it to the hard drive through Preferences/Advanced/etc. Any ideas?

How do you have iTunes set up on the external drive?
If you have your iTunes folder containing your library files on the external drive and the iTunes Music folder in the iTunes folder, then start iTunes with the shift key held down, when asked to choose a library, navigate to the iTunes folder on the external drive and choose iTunes Library.itl.
If you had your iTunes folder and library files on the internal drive of the old PC, then that needs to be moved across to the new PC. If you haven't put any music on to the internal drive of the new PC yet, with iTunes closed, drag the iTunes folder to the desktop on the new PC and replace it with the iTunes folder from the old PC. When you start iTunes you will need to set the location of the iTunes Music folder in Edit>>Prefercecs>>Advanced.

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How do I transfer data from external hard drive to new computer

We had been using a PC with XP that had four different users and ITune libraries. It was attacked by viruses that got deep in op system and could not be fixed. We purchased a new PC with Windows 8. I had transfered the itune files by copying them from the hard drive to a external hard drive. Is there a way to transfer the files from the external hard drive to the iTunes that I just downloaded onto the new computer. I thought that it would be as easy as copying the files from the external hard drive to the iTunes file on the new computer but this did not work. If I go into iTunes and select copy file from library it will import the file just file but I really don't want to copy thousands of files one by one. However, when I try to open those files I get an error message. We have two iPads and four iPod Touches. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I found a posted answer from someone else who asked the same question and it worked. It said to copy the entire file that was saved on the external hard drive to the my music folder before ever opening ITunes that was newly installed and it worked.

How can I transfer Itunes from external hard drive to a new computer?

Hello,
I had a Dell laptop with Windows XP on it recently crash, but I have everything saved to a Seamagine external 1 terabyte hard drive. I have about 250 gigabytes of media on it, mostly CD's and audiobooks. The setup I had on the XP computer was my Itunes folder saved on the C drive, but I kept all the actual music and audiobooks on the external hard drive, which was labeled the F drive.
After the crash, a relative sold me their three year old Compaq laptop, with Windows 7 instead of XP as the OS. My relative already had Itunes downloaded on it, but when I opened the Itunes on the new (new to me) laptop, Itunes only recognized their (my relative's) account. So, I uninstalled their Itunes and then I re-downloaded Itunes for 64-bit Windows 7. I then opened the Windows Explorer folder so to drag and drop my backed up Itunes folder and library information from the old C drive to the new Itunes folder in the new C drive. But, it wouldn't do anything. It still wanted the password info from my relative's account. It wouldn't recognize my account, even though I had uninstalled and then reinstalled a newer version of Itunes. Dragging and dropping my backed-up Itunes folder from my external hard drive to the new C drive didn't work because it said it didn't have certain permissions or something like that. I think I might have downloaded a newer version of Itunes, different from what I had saved a couple of days ago, which might be one of the problems here, not to mention that I switched OS's from XP to Windows 7.
When I plugged the external hard drive USB into the new laptop no Seamagine manager came up for user-friendly accessibility. I didn't know what to do, so I installed Seagate Dashboard onto the new computer. It didn't do anything for me either. No problem, I thought, I'll just use Windows Explorer to move the Itunes library, and then once I transfer (i.e., drag and drop) the old Itunes folder to the one, all will be as it was. I could then direct my Itunes account to use my external hard drive as the media source folder. I was wrong. It won't let me do that either. It says I don't have permission to do it.
How c an I get my old Itunes library info onto the C drive of this new computer, but keep the 250GB of media files on the external hard drive, just like the setup I had on the old laptop before it crashed? If you can help me, then you will be my hero. I'm scared to death that I've lost my library info and afraid to mess with it too much more for fear of erasing it or, worse, losing the 250 GB of media that is on the external hard drive, which has taken me a tremendous amount of time and money to compile. It is, in effect, irreplaceable. I'm very worried and frustrated. I've been working on this for days, to no avail. You're my last hope. Thank you.

Hmm, I think we should start over...
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
In the image above the red outline denotes the "media folder", that is the folder listed under Edit > Preferences > Advanced. In the standard layout where the "media folder" is inside the "library folder" the iTunes library has the advantage of being self-contained and portable. Since you've lost the "library folder" from your old computer you're going to have to start over so you might as well get organized properly.
If the folder curently holding your media files is called G:\iTunes then rename it as G:\Media.
The support doc How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one explains how to create a new iTunes library where you want it. In short click the icon to start iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library, click Create and browse to G:\, make sure the folder is going to be called iTunes and click save.
Move the folder that actually holds the media inside the folder G:\iTunes\iTunes Media. We're going to let iTunes reorganize everything (unless you have a collection of .wav files in which case stop and tell me because they require a different approach).
Use File > Add folder to library and select the folder G:\iTunes\iTunes Media. iTunes will search through the whole series of subfolders adding all media files into the library and reorganizing them into the correct artist & album folders.
Again, for data security, you really ought to obtain a second external drive at some point and backup your library to it. Only having one copy, as you have found, leaves you vulnerable to failure. External drives are no less prone to it.
A) Windows uses \ as a folder separator in path descriptions, Mac uses /.
B) Do you have a backup of the iTunes folder that was on drive C:\ or are you simply referring to the location of your media as a "backup" when it really the only copy? If you have a backup copy of your "original" iTunes library you could move/copy that to G:\iTunes shift-start-iTunes to open it, and then I can offer tools or techniques for fixing the links that will be broken becuase the drive letter has changed.
C) Use Store > Sign out and then Store > Sign in to sign into your iTunes account. You will also need to use Store > Authorize the computer to allow playback and transfer of any protected content. If your new library contains protected content from any other accounts then you will have to authorize the computer for those too.
tt2

How to initialize older external hard drive to new computer and transfer itunes library

How can i initialize an older external hard drive (maxtor one touch ii, without the original operating disc) into my new computer operating mac osx 10.6.8 to transfer an itunes library?

Just connect the drive, run Disk Utility, select the drive, and partition/erase it as required.
By the way, this forum is intended for questions about old, pre-G3 hardware, and doesn't get much traffic. Hence it's not the forum where you'll be most likely to get help with problems involving more recent systems. There are specific forums for all PowerPC and Intel-based Macs as well as forums for each version of Mac OS X.
Regards.

Hard drive failed on windows computer. all data lost. backed up most itunes on an older model my passport ultra external hard drive. How do I transfer from external hard drive to new computer hard drive?

The hard drive on my windows computer failed and the data is not retrievalbe.
I had a new hard drive installed.
I had backed up on a older model my passport ultra external hard drive my itunes up to about a year ago.
How can I move the back up extenal drive Itunes data onto my new hard drive- will it work on itunes?
===========
Meanwhile my ipod has all my music and podcasts up till a month ago. What will I lose if I put my external drive music back on?

Hi Perilman,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities! I understand that all of your iTunes media is on an external hard drive and you would like to move that media onto your new Windows computer hard drive. The following article has step by step instructions for this specifically. Part 5 in the External drive section is probably what is going to be most relevant to you.
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527
Part 5: Copy music to your new computer
To copy all your music files (including the library file that holds all your playlists and other settings) to your new computer:
I hope this helps,
-Joe

How do I get my itunes from external hard drive onto new laptop?, how do I get my itunes from external hard drive onto new laptop?

A few years ago I was running out of room on my Windows laptop so I followed instructions on how to move all of the music to an external hard drive and then had all music added to the always connected external hard drive instead of the laptop. That old laptop has now died and I have a new one and need to get the music added to the new one. Is it as simple as just plugging the external hard drive into the new computer and importing or is there more I need to do? I'm just really not sure what to do and nervous about doing the wrong thing. The old computer was running Windows XP and the new one has Windows 8. I have downloaded iTunes to the new laptop. Please note that I am not super savvy so if anyone could provide easy to follow steps that would be great. Thank you!! Please let me know if you need more information. Thanks again!

See Here > Restoring your iTunes Library backup
From here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

HT1751 Can I consolidate my iTunes library and transfer to an external hard drive while my computer is in safe mode?

Laptop died, only works in safe mode. Am wanting to transfer everythign to an external hard drive and do a reset to if I can save it.

See this migrate iTunes library post. Depending on the layout of the library you may simply need to copy the entire iTunes folder using Windows Explorer without ever firing up iTunes.
tt2

Tried to link iTunes on external hard drive to new Windows 7 PC

I tried to follow the steps on another discussion to link my new PC to my iTunes library on external hard drive, but I've completely messed it up and now my old computer nor my new computer can find the files! Help?!

See make a split library portable.
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Moving iTunes from external hard drive to new iMac

I will be receiving a new iMac soon. Currently my iTunes is on an external hard drive.
What are the steps I take to move the iTunes from my external hard drive to my new iMac's hard drive?

The PC to MAC move complicates a few things, but this article seems to solve them.

Macbook screen cracked. How to transfer files from old hard drive to new computer?

I had a 13" white macbook, but the screen cracked, and the computer wouldn't work anymore. I took it to be fixed, but they weren't able to fix it, so they gave me a macbook pro. I asked them to try and transfer the files from my old macbook to the old one, but they said that they couldn't, and gave my the hard drive and said I could have someone else try to fix it for me. How do I connect the old hard drive to my new macbook to see if I can get the files off of it? I don't have the old computer anymore, just the hard drive itself. Thanks!

Sorry, I don't understand all of this stuff. Do I have to buy a certain one for Mac? Or will any enclosure work? Would this one do what I need? http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/startech-startech-external-hard-drive-enclos ure-with-integrated-usb-cable-sat2510scb-sat2510scb/10192449.aspx?path=9e9804b6f 287edbfe4f83d36c2a6aa71en02

Moving music from external hard drive to new computer

I lost my iTunes library, but still has my music file on an external hard drive.How do I get my music onto the new computer + Itunes from the external hard drive?

On new year's eve some POS shot a .40 cal bullet through my living room window and hit my 20" 2.4 GHz iMac on the edge of the screen. -- Let me just pause to say that we're lucky we were out at a party. -- Anyway, this iMac was the hub for our media. We used it to sync/control content on our ATV, of which we had about 200 GB of music, TV, & movies (mostly purchased via iTunes). I had a Lacie hard drive connected to the iMac for storage of the iTunes Music folder (I was running 10.5...it wasn't upgraded to OS 10.6). Anyway, I didn't have the media backed-up (not using time machine), but the external hard drive wasn't damaged by the bullet. I now have the 21.5" 3.06 Ghz iMac with OS 10.6. Is there a way to get the new computer to use the content on the Lacie hard drive?

HELP: Trying to get my music from external hard drive onto *new* computer

HELP US! Our motherboard died last month, BUT we had everything on an external hard drive (YEAH!) so we've been able to download iTunes on our new laptop, but now are having trouble getting all of my music from my iTunes library into my iPod Nano. Specifically, it will not let me put any of the music I previously purchased--other songs I got from CD's came over find. I can see ALL of my music in my iTunes account, but it won't let me sync them onto my device.
Any suggestions?

Choose Authorize Computer from the Store menu in iTunes, or play a purchased song on your computer.
(32358)

How to transfer history from old hard drive to new computer

So my motherboard on my old PC died. I therefore pulled the hard-drive from my old computer and patiently waited on my new toy to come in. Problem is, I didn't have a chance to do my weekly synch before my old system crashed. I'd like to get the history/favorites off of my old hard-drive, but I'm not sure how to go about it. The OS are also different - old PC was Windows 7, new is 8.1.
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You need the places.sqlite file to restore history.
Note that this file stores the bookmarks as well, so you will lose bookmarks that you already have created.
The file structure in Windows 8 is the same as in Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
*C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profile>\
The "AppData" folder in Windows Vista and later Window 7+ versions and the "Application Data" folder in XP/Win2K are hidden folders.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders
See also:
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

Moving iTunes from bad hard drive to new computer

I messed up my XP computer so it won't boot. I have the HD data though, therefore my iTunes library (somewhere, right) and my songs.
I have a new Windows 7 computer and just synced my iPod touch hoping that everything moved right to iTunes like it did before. Not so.
I'd like to do 2 things.
1) Get my apps (a bunch) and songs (only 35) on the iPod to sync to iTunes.
2) Get my library info from my old computer over to the new one.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Scot

This got my apps and purchased songs onto the computer.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2200462
I don't really need the libarary as much, but if someone knows how to move it from an external HD, that would be great.

Transfer external hard drive from old computer to new iMac

Hi, just got my first imac(woo hoo) and am trying to transfer files from my old Maxtor external hard drive over to the imac. I also purchased a mac time capsule. Most of the files I am trying to transfer from the external hard drive are pics, videos and iTunes music that just wouldnt fit on my pc. Is there an efficient way to do this? Should this be transfered directly over to the time capsule or to the imac itself? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Put the hard drive into an external enclosure so you can connect it to the Mac.
Enclosures for FireWire and USB are readily available. You can find only FireWire enclosures, only USB enclosures, and enclosures that feature multiple ports. I would stress getting enclosures that use the Oxford chipsets especially for Firewire drives (911, 921, 922, for example.) You can find enclosures at places such as;
Cool Drives
OWC
NewEgg
All you need do is remove a case cover, mount the hard drive in the enclosure and connect the cables, then re-attach the case cover. Usually the only tool required is a small or medium Phillips screwdriver.

Transfer iTunes on External Hard Drive to new computer?

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