Transferring itunes library to external hd when music library is two places

first off i have read
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748
so no one needs to post that. ok heres my issue. i have a folder on my computer that has all my music. i added that onto itunes and now its all on itunes. someof my files were .wmv so itunes converted those and put them in the itunes music folder(this meens i now have to copies of that song. one .wmv in my desktop folder and the other in the itunes music folder). so once again my itunes folder only has the songs that were in .wmv and then made to itunes format. so my question is i want to transfer all my music to an external hard drive. i cant copy all my music to the itunes folder because i dont have that much space on my computer. is there a way to do this without loosing all my tags and rateings and such? i thought of perhaps switching the itunes folder to the external and then copying all the songs to the itunes folder. would that work? would it just copy them all to the external? please help. sorry if this is a bit confusing.

I'm not sure what you mean.
Moving your music to another location should not alter the view.
You can add more colums by ticking checkboxes in 'View options' (command-J) and sort on any column you like.
Or did you activate the Browser (toggle it with command-B)?
Can you upload a screenshot somewhere to take a look?
M

Similar Messages

  • Transferred itunes library from Windows XP PC to new Windows 7 PC. plugged in 3rd gen Ipod. Ipod icon appears along with playlists, music etc. Songs are grayed out and won't play. Please help!

    I recently transferred itunes library from windows XP PC to new Windows 7 PC. The transfer was successful, however when I plug my 3rd gen Ipod Nano into the new PC, the Ipod icon appears along with the music, playlists, etc. The songs are shown but are 'grayed out' and wont play or sync.The 'Devices & Printers' window in new PC shows icon for Ipod driver & is OK. The icon for the Ipod appears but depicts a delta shaped warning icon that states that the Ipod is'not operating properly'. Tried troubleshooting. The troubleshooting message states the the Ipod is 'disconnecting'. Can you help me with this problem?        

    Then, I dropped the entire itunes file from the old PC (XP) into an empty external drive.
    That "itunes file from the old PC"?  Is that the iTunes folder, from the old PC, that was in the user home folder's Music folder?
    All of the library, playlists, etc. from the ipod as they always have been are shown, by they are 'grayed out' and will not open or play.
    That's on the iPod, correct?  Are all of your old playlists in iTunes, from the old PC, still there in iTunes on the new PC?  Are the songs in iTunes still playable?
    This document provides the steps to transfer a complete iTunes library between two computers.  See the section called External drive.
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer - Apple Support
    There are many steps, but this is a summary.  (1) On the old PC, consolidate all of your iTunes data into the iTunes folder.  (2) Copy this iTunes folder to the external drive.  (3) On the new PC (that has iTunes installed but NOT running), replace its existing iTunes folder with the one from the old PC (on the external drive).  When you run iTunes, it uses the iTunes folder from the old PC, and it should look like iTunes on the old PC (with all the playlists, ratings, play count, etc.), and your iPod will see the iTunes library as the same iTunes library (because it is the same library).
    If you did something different, and the old PC is still accessible, you may want to try it using the method from the linked document.

  • I transferred itunes library from old PC to new PC. The content all shows when I launch iTunes on the new PC now. The previous content does not show in iTunes but folder still looks like it is on hard drive on new PC. Suggestions on how to properly merge?

    I transferred itunes library from old PC to new PC. The content all shows when I launch iTunes on the new PC now. The previous content does not show in iTunes but folder still looks like it is on hard drive on new PC. Suggestions on how to properly merge?

    Before you connect any device to a new library go to the Devices tab of the the preferences panel via Edit > Preferences (Windows) or iTunes > Preferences (Mac) and ensure the box next to Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically is ticked. You can now safely connect the device to your computer without the danger of media being automatically deleted or overwritten.
    To get all your content off your connect your iPad to your new computer.
    Then use a 3rd party piece of software to transfer your content
    I have found Senuti useful but there are others listed in the article I linked to in a previous post.
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
    That will let you transfer your non purchased content
    For Purchased content log in to iTunes on the new computer
    In Itunes Store click on Purchased under the Quick Links section on the right.
    Download any music by clicking on the cloud button

  • Hello there - how can I share my iTunes library between two users on the same computer? I put the library in a shared folder between both and have selected this library on both as well, but when I update iTunes with music etc it only appears on one?

    Hello there - how can I share my iTunes library between two users on the same computer? I put the library in a shared folder between both and have selected this library on both as well, but when I update iTunes with music etc it only appears on one?

    Thank you Joe - I tried this but it's only showing a teensy amount of music - the stuff on the second users account as opposed to the giagntic library on the 'main' account. I actually went to a Genius Bar and they said that apple doesn't really want you to share music between accounts - parents don't want to hear their kids music etc. Which seemed strange, but it might be the case sadly   Thanks anyway!

  • Transferred iTunes library from pc to new mac, iTunes ; however, when opening iTunes on mac it reports the library was created with a newer version of iTunes and won't open.

    Transferred Itunes library from pc to new mac; however, when opening itunes on the new mac it reported that the library was created with a newer version of itunes and could not be opened. It asked if I wanted to download updates and I did. However, the new mac is up to date. Itunes won't open. What to do now? Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks
    Jim

    Hello, Stephen.
    Thank you for the question.  You will need to rebuild your iTunes library file in order to open an older version of iTunes.  Below, I have included the article that walks you through this process.  Start with the section labeled Re-creating the iTunes Library file.
    iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
    Cheers,
    Jason H. 

  • Transferring Itunes Library from WD Passport to Windows XP

    I have a 250 G WD passport that I used to back up my itunes Music. Transferring itunes library to the WD was successful. I then formatted my C Drive. Once my computer was back up and running I plugged in my WD Passport and then downloaded itunes from your website. Once loaded, itunes immediately started to upload the music from the external drive. Very cool, until I realized that it just copied the names of the songs not the actual files. I thought it was creating a library on the C drive too, but it wasn't. Okay, so I went back to my itunes music file and made sure all of my songs were following the same path as the path within itunes. Everything is there - the paths are the same, or at least they appear to be. I still cannot get itunes to recognize the songs. It says it cannot find the path would I like to find it. I can find the song that way, but I have thousands and thousands of songs. The thought of having to find each and every one seems tasking. Bottom line, itunes is trying to read off of the external drive not my c drive. How do I get itunes to see my itunes library on my c drive? Thank You!!

    Just solved the problem. Needed to launch iTunes on the MBA, then went to File, Add to Library, then marked entire list of songs and clicked "Open."

  • Transferring iTunes Library to another system, from a Time Machine backup

    Transferring iTunes Library to another system, from a Time Machine backup
    I have a large iTunes library that is backed up via Time Machine on an external drive.  I would like to hook up that drive to another mac and just transfer the music that is saved in the backup.  I don't want to restore anything else, simply transfer the whole iTunes library.  Is this possible?  If not, what is the best way to do something like this?
    Thanks!

    You should be able to restore iTunes and iPhoto files if the Lion system was running the same version of those applications that you'll have on the Snow Leopard system.  However, you won't be able to restore files for applications like Mail, Address Book, or Safari, as the versions of those won't match.

  • I would like the share an iTunes library between two different accounts on one Mac. How do I do this?

    iTunes no longer works properly (aka at all) while using one of the user accounts set up on my iMac. It does, however, work when logging in under another user account on the same iMac. (if any of you can help me solve this issue that would be perfect). If there is no solution can anyone help with my request to share an iTunes library between two different accounts on one Mac. How do I do this?

    jc_hering wrote:
    that works for anything he purchases after he creates the new account.  What about his current music that currently resides in my itunes library?  How can I get his current music out of my library into his new account/library??  Thanks..
    Copy it to his computer into his iTunes library and authorize his computer with the iTunes account used to purchase them..
    You cannot tranfser items from one iTunes account to another. Purchased items remain part of the iTunes account is was purchased with.
    iTunes account - used to purchase items
    iTunes library - where purchases (and CD RIPs) go on the computer

  • How do I maintain a single iTunes library for two separate iMac user accounts?

    How do I maintain a single iTunes library for two separate iMac user accounts?...without having to manually do something every download?

    Pardon me, I am brand new at using an iMac.  I understand the concept but I don't know exactly how to "move" the library.  I found a shared folder under users on the hard drive.  If I move it, won't I have to redirect each iTunes user to the new shared location?
    If I point iTunes to anything other than the music folder under that user name, it shows as a "shared library".  Preferences still shows it as that users library, regardless of where the advanced gear button says it is pointing to.
    Am I asking for too much to have each user control the exact same music files, apps and playlists?  I just want the two different itunes sessions to mirror each other without any frequent updating or copying.
    We use the same id for itunes music and apps so we could just sync all devices under one iMac user id and not use it under hers.

  • Some of my downloaded albums tracks have been stored in my iTunes library in separate places, how do I complie them into a complete album?

    Some of my downloaded album tracks have been stored in my iTunes library in separate places, how do I compile them together to form a complete album?

    Generally all you need to do is fill in an appropriate Album Artist. For more details see my article on Grouping Tracks Into Albums, in particular the topic One album, too many covers.
    tt2

  • My itunes library contains two of end title. How can I edit this??

    My itunes library contains two of each title. How can I easily edit this????

    I've written a script called DeDuper which can help remove unwanted duplicates. See this  thread for background.
    tt2

  • How to Recover Playlists when Transferring iTunes Library from External Drive to New Computer

    iTunes library copied to external drive and then loaded to new computer. All songs are there but all of the playlists that I had set up do not appear. I cannot figure out how to retrieve/recover them. The back-up was not done by me so I'm not sure of the steps that were followed. Is there something special that needs to be done when backing up to external drive in terms of saving playlists? Help!

    Hello TNCGRCT,
    It sounds like the library was successfully transferred to the new computer, but the songs were imported into a new iTunes library. If you still have access to the external drive, or better yet the previous computer, we will want to transfer the iTunesLibrary.itl file and open it with iTunes:
    iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
    More helpful information...
    Where are my iTunes files located?
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1391
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    Thanks,
    Matt M.

  • Transferring iTunes Library via External HD?

    I currently have a Windows XP computer, and will be buying a new Vista PC. I backup my music to an external HD, and I was wondering if I could transfer my music (both purchased from iTunes and ripped from my CDs) to the new computer via the HD. I only own a 4 GB Nano, which is not big enough to hold the entire Music library. My old computer has a CD burner, but not a DVD burner, so using CDs for transferring would be very tedious. Any comments, suggestions, advice? Thanks.

    Thanks for the reply!!!
    The instructions I used were off this Apple Support site...
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
    I get both options to choose as well as create. I used choose when I did mine and it worked.
    I did copy her entire itunes library.
    This is exactly what is in the folder that I copied...
    (folders)
    Automatically add to itunes
    Downloads
    Mobile Applications
    Movies
    Music
    Ringtones
    Voice Memos
    (XML Document)
    Library
    I do not see a .itl file anywhere.
    I just looked on my file I copied that worked on my user name and I have (3) Itunes Database Files on it.
    Thanks so much for the help!!!

  • Transferring iTunes Library from PC to Mac (while keeping files on External Hard Drive)

    Hi,
    I've been using iTunes on my old PC (HP 2000 Notebook) and accessing all of my music from a 1 TB Toshiba external hard drive. I recently switched to a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to get my iTunes Library (145 GB worth of stuff) on to the Mac while 1) retaining my playlists, checked songs, etc. from the old computer and 2) without having to transfer the files from the external hard drive on to the Mac in order to save space.
    I've tried the Hold Options + clicking iTunes and choosing the folder (my iTunes media folder on the old computer is saved to I:\1 NTFS\Music), and when I choose that folder on the Mac, it instead brings up a really out-of-date iTunes library instead of my current one.
    Does anyone have a solution that might help me get my current library on to the Mac?
    Thanks in advance!
    Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5
    Memory: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
    Capacity: 251 GB Flash Storage

    Hi,
    I've been using iTunes on my old PC (HP 2000 Notebook) and accessing all of my music from a 1 TB Toshiba external hard drive. I recently switched to a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to get my iTunes Library (145 GB worth of stuff) on to the Mac while 1) retaining my playlists, checked songs, etc. from the old computer and 2) without having to transfer the files from the external hard drive on to the Mac in order to save space.
    I've tried the Hold Options + clicking iTunes and choosing the folder (my iTunes media folder on the old computer is saved to I:\1 NTFS\Music), and when I choose that folder on the Mac, it instead brings up a really out-of-date iTunes library instead of my current one.
    Does anyone have a solution that might help me get my current library on to the Mac?
    Thanks in advance!
    Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5
    Memory: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
    Capacity: 251 GB Flash Storage

  • Transfered iTunes Library to external HD - iTunes doesn't recognise it.

    I'm not very Mac-literate so apologies in advance.
    I followed the instructions to transfer my iTunes library to my Lacie HD. I changed the path in iTunes>Preferences>Advanced to a new folder snappily called "iTunes Library" on the Lacie. I then consolidated the library and after checking the path of some of the songs on iTunes I deleted the original off my internal drive.
    After restarting iTunes I got the option to "Choose library" which I did but then a message box appeared saying "An iTunes library file cannot be found in the folder "iTunes Library". Please choose a different folder."
    The library folder and files is on the Lacie so I don't understand why it doesn't recognize it. Does anybody have any ideas for me? I'd be happy to put it all back on my internal drive it saves me from losing stuff.

    ok when i go to prefs----Advanced--General-- it states the location for import is F:/Backed up Music [which is a folder on the external HD that has the rest of my music on it]
    For some reason the folder[or itunes] on the HD is not creating new folders for artists and albums imported.
    does this help anyone troubleshoot the issue?

  • Transferring Itunes Library to a new computer with songs on External HD?

    I have a similar problem
    I need to transfer my itunes library to my new laptop
    I believe i have to install a new version of itunes on the new laptop
    My mp3's and videos are all manually arranged on an external harddrive. Only the itunes program is on the internal harddrive of my computer
    Is it possible to transfer my itunes library to the new laptop? I want to preserve my playlist.
    A mistake i did....
    Few months ago, i reformatted our old computer. Installed the new version of itunes. I also copied the .itl, xml music file from old itunes folder to the new itunes folder (re-installed itunes). When i opened the new itunes, my library was blank. What mistake did i make? Should i have hold the SHIFT key (i use windows) while i open the itunes so that it'll ask me to look for an old library?

    There is a simpler way.
    Copy the iTunes folder containing your library files from My Music onto the external drive, but not into the music folder. It is best to avoid confusion by keeping them separate.
    Install iTunes on the new PC. Don't add any music yet.
    With iTunes closed, drag the iTunes folder out of the Music folder to the desktop.
    Plug in the external drive and copy the iTunes folder from the old PC into the Music folder.
    Adjust the permissions on this folder so the account you are using has full control. Here is help if you don't know how:
    http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/2464a180-e5dc-45d1-a2b8-3c8a 2b571e9d1033.mspx
    http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/25/how-to-take-ownership-and-grant-permiss ions-in-windows-vista/
    Before attempting to open iTunes make sure your external drive has the same letter as it had before - I think you already know how to do this.
    You should also check the permissions on your music folder as above.
    Fingers crossed, when you start iTunes things should be as they were on the old PC.
    The crucial thing is that the path to the music files has not changed.

Maybe you are looking for