Transfering music from old computer to a new one

Hi, I was wondering if someone can help me, i recently bought a new laptop, but my old one has my itunes on it. i have tried a few times to add it to my new itunes, but everytime i do, the music is in, but then if i switch my comp off and then go to turn it on again later on the music cannot "be located" but i dont know how to stop this happening. someone please help me as now im getting very stressed with it!!
Cheers!!

thanks very much, just tried to get into my old laptop to find that my parents have deleted all my music and my old itunes...great! so i dont even have music to retrieve from my old one now!! thanks anyway!!!!

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Just bought a new computer How do I get all my music from old computer to the new one?

Bought a new computer with Windows 8. How do I get all the music off my old computer transferred to the new one. All the music on the old computer is in the cloud.

Copy the entire iTunes folder from your old computer to your new one using one of the methods discussed here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527.

Why can't I transfer my itunes kibrary from old computer to my new one?

I am trying to get my old library onto my new computer and the best way for me to do that is take them off of my I Phone 3gs and "transfer purchases" but when I try it the "authorize this computer " shows up and it is already authorized! So I still give my info, and it tells me this computer is already authorized and then does nothing. It keeps going on like that, it's a frustrating circle!

Why can't I transfer my itunes kibrary from old computer to my new one?
You can very easily.
Simply copy the entire /Music/iTUnes folder from old computer to new computer.

Songs from Old Computer to the New One

Ive just bought a new computer and want to know if theres a way i can transfer all the songs from the library on my old computer to the new one? Without having to import them all over again from cd's (etc). Thanks for ur help.

How to Copy and Move (Clone) your Music Files from One Computer to Another – or Archive Prior to a PC Re-Image or Reformat
This is the conceptual framework with related and important links. Apply and adapt it to your specific situation and equipment resources.
The safest, quickest, and most optimal method to move your Library to a new computer is to actually clone the entire ‘iTunes’ folder (directory) structure, rather than just copying just the song files. By copying the entire ‘iTunes’ folder and all sub-folders, you capture not only the music files, but the all-important ‘iTunes Library.itl’ database file (usually located in the ‘iTunes’ folder), which contains all the data about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). See: What are the iTunes Library files?
Install iTunes on the new computer. Then go back to your old computer and move (copy) the "iTunes" folder which usually resides inside your "…\My Documents\My Music" folder from the old computer to the exact same place (both Drive Letter and complete Path) on the new computer. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will look and behave exactly the same way it did on the old, Play Counts, Ratings, Comments and all!
NOTE: It is usually safer moving files between computers with the same version of iTunes!!
iTunes Files to Copy and Move to your New PC
1) All music files in their current folder structure (usually located in and under the ‘iTunes Music’ folder)
2) The Library database file: ‘iTunes Library.itl’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
3) The Library XML file: ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
4) Any XML playlist files you created for Playlist retention
5) The two iTunes.pref files (optional)
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer Inc\iTunes.pref
6) The XML file of Ratings, Play Counts and Last Played attributes saved from the main Library and created by Otto’s SaveRatings script (also optional, but recommended):
“Download this: http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/SaveRatings.zip . It's a program, just run it like any other program. Run it on the machine where you're copying the info from BEFORE you move the files to the new machine. Click the "Save Ratings" button and it'll create a ratings.xml file. Now when you move the files, move the program and this file as well. Then after you make your new iTunes library, run it again and click the "Restore Ratings" button. Voila, all your information is back in the Library. Well, most of it anyway, it's not perfect. It'll tell you what songs it couldn't figure out though, and there's usually not very many.”
Here's a list of methods to copy and move your music files from one computer to another:
1) Use an External Hard Drive (ExHD) to move the complete files and Folder structures from one computer to another (my preferred option). You can clone’ the entire ‘iTunes’ folder structure in one very easy step. Also great to have available for complete backups of your Library. External hard drives now run less than $100 for 200-250GBs of storage. See This Link
2) Directly connect the two computers....
- 2a) Connect them through a Router &/or Network
- 2b) Directly connect using an Ethernet cable: Straight for using at least one Mac; or Crossover for PC/PC Instructions here.
- 2c) Connect them via a USB-to-USB Network Bridge. Example here. There are various types out there (use Google).
....Then copy the files from one computer to the other.
3) Use the iPod as a transfer device, as this extensive Apple link explains. It will be a bit easier if your iPod has a larger capacity than your music collection, otherwise you will need to perform multiple copy/move transfers. This well written process also works fine while using any other data transfer medium (ExHD, Flash Drive, DVD, CD, Zipp, Jazz, etc.).
4) Burn several DVDs (at 4.7GBs each) with your music data files and folder structure, and load them onto the new computer. Re-writable DVDs are more cost effective (if your DVD drive can manage these types).
5) Burn 6x more on CDs (at 700MB each) than in #4 above and load the files and folders on the new computer. Re-writable CDs are more cost effective (if your CD drive can manage these types).
6) Use a larger USB Flash drive (1GB - 4GB) to move the files and folders. Best if the flash drive is larger than your Library, otherwise you will need multiple copy/move transfers.
These are links to various additional instructions on performing the transfer (read them all, but some listed steps may not be required depending on your specific situation):
Switch from PC to Mac Using the iPod
hudgie: Migrating iTunes for Windows to a new PC
How to copy music between authorized computers
Also, remember to Deauthorize your PC before you reformat it, dispose of it, or retire it from iTMS use.

Transferring music from old computer using ipod

I recently transferred music from my old computer to my new computer using my ipod by following the directions in apple support (article 300173.) I already had music in itunes on my new computer when I added the music from my old computer. Now all the music that I had loaded prior to the transfer comes up with a message "original file could not be found." Have I lost this music for good?
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.9)
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.9)

If you dragged the file called 'iTunes' in to the music folder in the finder and it asked 'do you wish to overite' then it has probably overwritten the folder tha t already existed
(with the new music in).
If you haven't emptied you trash it might be in there, but don't click retore the trash just drag the folder onto the desktop.
Hope this helps.

Moving a catalog from old computer to the new one.

The old computer (32 bit) has PSE 9 and the new one (64 bit) PSE 11. The Folders holding the photos will be on a data drive having the same letter as the old computer (both have separate dirves for data). So the adresses of the phots will be the same.
How do I move the catalog, which I think is on the "C" drive in the old computer, to the new computer and convert it to PSE format. Could I move a backup of the catalog to the new computer and then restore it to PSE 11? One problem is that I am not sure which one of the several "catalogs" on the old "C" drive is the right one. [None of those are backups since I always stored the backups on another drive]. How do I tell?
Any help will be appreciated.

mgraleigh wrote:
The old computer (32 bit) has PSE 9 and the new one (64 bit) PSE 11.
Good. PSE11 is a 32 bits application and will be installed as such in the new computer.
The Folders holding the photos will be on a data drive having the same letter as the old computer (both have separate dirves for data). So the adresses of the phots will be the same.
If the data drives on both computers are internal (not a unique external drive alternatively plugged in) you are wrong. The drives are recognized not only by letter drive but also by serial number.
How do I move the catalog, which I think is on the "C" drive in the old computer, to the new computer and convert it to PSE format. Could I move a backup of the catalog to the new computer and then restore it to PSE 11? One problem is that I am not sure which one of the several "catalogs" on the old "C" drive is the right one. [None of those are backups since I always stored the backups on another drive]. How do I tell?
Since you have the backups on another drive (I suppose they were made from the Organizer, not from another external software), you should simply do a restore to 'custom location' in the new computer. In a first step, that will restore the pictures folder tree, in a second one it will convert the catalog.
If you want to move the catalog, it will be harder:
- locate the folder with your catalog. Each catalog is in its own folder named from the catalog title. You should copy the whole folder with its files and subfolders to the new catalog, preferably in a different folder tree than your pictures folder tree.
- In the Organizer, you should convert it from the catalog manager
Now, how to resolve the problem of the data drive different serial numbers ? Three different ways :
1 - Use the 'reconnect missing files' feature. Its now easier with PSE11
2 - In Windows, reassign the same serial number to the drive. Some reading from John R Ellis :
( http://www.johnrellis.com/psedbtool/#_Detecting_Problems_with )
3 - use a sqlite database tool to manually change the serial number in the media_table of the new catalog.
You can see why using the backup / restore process is much simpler and safer.

New used computer doesn't have iPhoto so can't transfer pictures from old computer without upgrading new one. Is there a way to download an older version of iPhoto?

I can't access any of my iPhoto pictures from my old computer since the new (used) computer I got doesn't have it. The new one is a newer version but the applestore only has the iLife 11 which would need me to upgrade. I'm not against upgrading I really just want to access these photos. I used an external harddrive to store the pictures from my old computer and am assuming that the only reason they're not showing up on the new one is because it doesn't have the applicatin (makes sense).
Is there a way to get an older version of iPhoto?
The pictures from iPhoto that are on the external harddrive will show up if i had to the application right? Will they show up on a newer version of iphoto even though they're originally from an older version?
Ahh sorry if this is confusing I'm just really frustrated at technology right now..../////

Is there a way to get an older version of iPhoto?
I suggest you don't do that. There is no guarantee it will work right with a more recent OS.
Install the correct version of iPhoto for the version of Mac OS X you are running. (Which is what?) The folks here will tell you how to get to the Library on the external drive when you provide more info about your computer.

HT4527 Transfering music from old computer to new computer

I followed the directions using my ipod as a hard drive to copy the itunes folder from my old computer and transfered it to My Music on the new computer. The folder is there with all the songs but when I open itunes, the music isn't there. What am I doing wrong.

Have you told your computer's iTunes via File > Add To Library that they are there ?

Transferring music from old computer to new

I lost all of my music while trying to sync my Ipod touch to my new computer. However, I still have my Itunes library on my old computer, which is on its last leg. This includes many songs copied from CD's, which would take hours to duplicate. Is there any way of copying the Itunes library other than with a USB device as the USB ports don't seem to be working? It doesn't seem to be recognizing the ethernet cable either, so CD?

- You can burn to CD and then import from that CD on the new computer.
- You could also take the HD out of the computer and place it in an external enclosure that has a USB connection and then connect to the your computer and import.

Transfering Music from old computer to new MBP laptop HELP!

I nees to transfer ALL of my iTunes music to my new MBP, can I just put all of my music onto a flash drive and then deauthorize that computer, then put songs from flashdrive on the MBP and authorize that computer? If I do this will my music still be organized like it was on my ild PC? Like album name, artist, title, etc? Answer ASAP please and thanks in advance!

Okay. What do you want from this process? Do you want iTunes to appear exactly as it did on your old computer? The way I have described several times before tells you how to do this. Copy the WHOLE ITUNES FOLDER from your Finder (you do not say what source computer) or Windows browser or whatever, to the flash drive. Drag it from the flash drive to your new computer and replace the iTunes folder on the new computer (I presume you have nothing in it now). Start iTunes and everything will appear identical to your old computer. Playlists, artwork, everything. Three major steps. Drag, (move flash drive to other computer), drag, open iTunes.
The video tells you in a somewhat long-winded (and in my opinion not necessarily best) way to end up copying just your media files to a flash drive. It then adds them all back into iTunes where if all works well iTunes will end up processing them as though it has never seen them before. If that's what you want, fine, because that's what it does. If the tags are correct on the files you will see the names, etc., but with the qualifiers I mentioned before. You say you want them organized like they were on the old computer. For most people this means ratings and playcounts and playlists. That is not what you will get if you drag just media from drive to drive via the flash drive. You will only accomplish that using the whole folder method I have described. If you do not want your old playlists well, I guess you can do the video method, but even then my method is easier and you can always delete unwanted playlists.
The video method is essentially the same process if the source computer is a Mac, again if your goals is to start over with a fresh library but your old media files.

Transfering Music from old computer to new computer.

How can I export my entire itunes form my iMac to my PowerBook i recently got. With out import each song individualy

I knew how to do that and after thinking I figured out that all you have to do is drop all the music from your iTunes folder in to the iTunes folder on my PowerBook. Then go and delete the itunes prefernces and relaunch iTunes and have itunes find the music. That is now located in the iTunes music folder.

Transferring music from old iPod Touch to new iPod Touch.

I had a iPod touch but while I was on vacation I either lost it or it got stolen. So right now I have iTunes and my whole library that is registered with my lost iPod. I just got a new iPod yesterday. How do I transfer all these songs to my new one?

Easy. Just restore the new iPod from the backup of the old one. When you first connect the iPod to your computer to activate the iPod, iTunes should give you message that says it found a backup and would you like to restore the iPod from that backup or set up the iPod as a new iPod, Say restore from backup. Then sync the music you want to the iPod. Restoring from backup will keep all your all settings and app data but you will have to reenter keychain items like passwords.

Trouble transfering music from old computer to Mac

I just tried to transfer all of my music from my old PC to my new Macbook using my iPod. I followed all of the directions the tutorial had and it didn't work. Help anyone please??

There is a good general guide to switching from Windows to Mac at the following link that touches on moving music as well: How to Move to a Mac - Get your stuff from your PC to your new Mac
There are also these guides:
iTunes for Mac: How to copy purchases between authorized computers
iTunes for Windows: How to copy purchases between authorized computers
Networking with a Windows PC
Don't forget by the way if you have purchased any tracks from the iTunes Music Store to deauthorise your old PC if you are disposing of it so you don't use up your 5 allowances: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation

Importing iTunes from Old Computer to a New One

I want to import my old iTunes (files, name changes, data etc) to a new computer. However, iTunes is having toruble locating the files (obviously, since now the music files are in a different folder in the new computer...there was no way for me to replicate the old computer's file configuration for the music since it was scattered. I consolidated all the music files into one folder, thereby changing the original file location). I tried adding all the files first, from the new file location. Then I chose to import the old iTunes library data file. It successfully updated all the file names and date added entries, etc. However, when I went to play a song, it said it cannot find the file location and I was given an option to browse and locate it. I was hoping if I do one or two, it would so an auto find and locate all of them since they are in one folder. But it never did it, I manually did a bunch of files and no luck.
Is there any formulated way to make an auto find happen?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Go to the top of this page, click "support", type "move itunes library windows" or something similar into the support search bar, and read the articles that result from that search.

How to register iPhone from old computer to my new one.

I have sold my old computer and bought a new one now I need to transfer my iPhone info to my new computer. How can I do this? If I try to sync to my new computer it wants to erase all info on phone.

If you transferred your iTunes library from your old computer to your computer's backup per the instructions included with this link, transfer your iTunes library from your computer's backup to your new computer. This will prevent any iTunes content on your iPhone from being erased with the first sync with iTunes on your new computer.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

Transfering music from old computer to a new one

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