Trying to back up iPad to external hard drive, "iTunes library file cannot be saved. The disk you are attempting to use is full."
This issue is somewhat complex so I will try to explain it as clearly as I can. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
It all began when I kept getting popups from my iPad saying that I had not backed up since May. I realized that was pretty dangerous so I decided to finally try syncing it to iTunes, though I had avoided doing so for so long because I knew that when I tried there was no room on the computer. I then remembered that I have an external hard drive with plenty of storage space, so I got that out and set it up with a folder to move iTunes and the backup into.
On iTunes I went to the Advanced Preferences and changed iTunes Media Folder Location to the G: folder, with the keep organized box checked. I also copied the previous backups from the original C: drive to G: so that I could delete the ones on C:.
I used Junction Link Magic to link my now empty MobileSync backup on C: to a new (JLM would not work unless it was empty) backup folder on external hard drive G:.
I plugged in my iPad to iTunes to sync it, and while it was backing up I checked the new folder on G: to make sure that the backup was being put there. It was.
However, about halfway through I got the message "iTunes library file cannot be saved. The disk you are attempting to use is full."
My question is Why? If it is being made in a 1.5 terabyte hard drive now, and not the computer, why is there no disk space? My guess is that it must still somehow be saving to the computer. But how? And how can I get it to save solely on the G: drive where there is enough room?
I am running Windows XP and the latest version of iTunes.
An additional but not as crucial issue:
Much of my music has been lost, with the being displayed next to the songs in the iTunes library, and only 50 (purchased) songs remain on my iPad. This was because those missing songs were stored on a different external hard drive ( I:). However, I copied many of the music folders on I: over to G: so that everything could be together. I am wondering if it is possible for me to get these songs back onto my iPad. But this is not my most important issue right now, because I believe that once I get the first issue solved I can simply plug in I: and G: at the same time while syncing the iPad, and get the songs back.
Note: I have come to realize the iTunes program itself is still under Program Files in the C: drive. Does this have to do with anything?
Short term, free up some disk space. Long term, move the library to a bigger drive.
tt2
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. The disk you are attempting to use is full
If I have 20 GB of memory.
thank you.Hi and welcome to Apple Discussions.
Irrespective of your iTunes downloads you are going to run into serious problems with only 1GB of free space. The general recommendation on these forums is that one should have 10% free space as a minimum or 15% as an ideal.
Having as little as 1GB could result in system corruption or, at worst, HD damage. I recommend that you free up some space as a matter of urgency.
If you would like any guidance on what is safe to remove post back but a good starter, often neglected, is to empty your Trash.
Good luck,
Adrian -
i need help please!
It sounds like your PC or Mac's internal HD is full. You need to delete some data or move it to an external hard drive or storage device of some sort before you'll be able to successfully complete the restore.
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I keep getting this error code while trying to import a cd to my itunes: "Error occurred while converting the file. The disc you are attempting to use is full. removing files and emptying the recycle bin will free up additional space." What does this mean?
Well it probably means exactly what it says... How much free space is there on your hard drive where the iTunes Media folder resides? I believe there is also an obscure bug that can occur when software doesn't read the true value of the free space properly, and the workaround is, perversely, to duplicate some content so that with less actual free space the software in question perceives it as more. I've no idea if iTunes is affected by such a bug.
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I was playing music on iTunes (my iTunes library is stored on the hard drive) when I realized that it was running slow and giving me some pinwheels. So, I force quit iTunes, ejected the hard drive, waited a couple of seconds and plugged it back in. To my surprise it gave me an error that said "The disk you insterted is not readable by this computer" with the options to initialize, ignore, and eject. I have been searching Google, YouTube, and other forums for fixes (I am not too handy with Terminal without some assistance). I am able to go to Disk Utility and I see the drive there, and when I go to the partition is says "not mounted" I have tried repairing the disk only to get the notificiation that tells me Disk Utility is unable to repair the disk. I also ran Terminal and tried doing diskutil repairDisk and repairVolume to no avail. Below you can see the information I have gotten from Disk Ultilty and Terminal. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated as I have my music library, art projects, and other very important data on this drive! Thank you in advance!
Yikes, doesn't look too good. But there are still things you can try.
I noticed the disk is formatted as MS-DOS FAT32. While such disks can be read and used on Macs, it's better to set up your disks formatted for the Mac. For one thing, the Mac disk repair tools don't work as well on FAT32 (PC-style) disks. Which might be why Disk Utility did not succeed.
I suggest using a PC running Windows to connect the drive to and see if the data are all visible, and if not, run the built in disk check tools in Windows. Also, WD disks usually come with disk tools on the drive, did yours come with those? Either for the PC and/or Mac? You might be able to download them from the WD sites. -
I have an older macbook pro and the hard drive is starting to go (making loud noises). i tried to back up to an external hard drive (my passport essential se) using time machine and the computer keeps shutting down. the same thing happens when just trying to save my pictures from iphoto to a flash drive. suggestions to complete backup please?
Sounds like you'll need to access that drive while it is not booted. You need to replace it anyway, so do that, then one way or another (ext enclusure, et), access it and copy files.
If you keep trying to boot it, you might kill it for good and not get your files, so just swap it out first. -
I keep getting "error occurred while attempting to import file *******. The disc your are attempting to use is full." I have an external hard drive that I moved files over to, but apparently they're also still on my hard drive? HELP!
So you have backed up the content of the computer's hard drive, too?
That usually is a great idea since it is possible to lose use of the system
if parts of it have accidentally been removed or get over-written, or the
main system files get corrupted, when the hard disk drive gets too full.
If you have not trashed the originals of your created content, that remain
after you made copies on an external hard drive or other device, then
that is what you'd have to do to reclaim the capacity still in use by them.
What are specifications of the hard disk drive? The unused capacity
verses the used, in GB? If the hard drive has less than 15 to 20%
free or unused capacity, you could run into trouble. Mine are 40-50%
unused hard drive space, so ample room is available for automatic
Virtual Memory to use that capacity as temporary swap file space.
This is helpful when the computer could use more physical RAM
memory capacity, but doesn't have it. Or if the RAM is maxxed out
and you can't add any more. Virtual Memory is part of OS X and the
system automatically can use as much as is available, but it is better
to be sure there is plenty of resources available to include chip RAM
as well as unused or free hard drive capacity for use as VM.
If for some reason your files in Trash won't go away when you empty
it, you may have to restart. Be sure you have not included any System
files in the content in the Trash, or the Mac may not start up later on.
You may have to boot the computer from the install-restore OS X DVD
and run Repair Disk from its version of Disk Utility, to be sure it's OK.
I'm guessing that by now you know enough about the vintage system
in the older hardware to figure it out, so I won't write about it now.
In any event... hopefully you can simply trash the files, but check them
carefully, & you may need to remove (copy to archive first) even more.
Good luck & happy computing! -
The error message I get on my PC is "The ITunes library file cannot be saved" An unknown error occurred (-50)and my music library has disappeared. I recently tried to copy a CD to my library - it appeared to copy ok but then did not appear in my music library. The library does not show up even when my iPad is connected to my PC. My entire library is now held on my iPad and I wish to have it in iTunes so I can sync my iPhone to it as well. Help?
Don't know what changed today but it downloaded and installed on the shuffle. So far so good.
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i was trying to restore my itouch because it showed on my itouch the itunes bar on top and the charger on bottom so i went on itunes and when i pressed "restore" and then pressed "restore and update", another sign popped up saying "The ipod "ipod" could not be restored. The disk you are attempting is full. Removing files and empty the recycle bin will free up additional space. What do I do?!?!?! please help me ASAP
Hi
I followed this guy's instructions and it worked:
http://evsiphone.blogspot.com/2009/05/iphone-iphone-could-not-be-restored.html
I did disable the security (AVG and Zone Alarm) when I tried on my own PC. My wife's laptop which eventually got it working also uses AVG and Zone Alarm but on an XP O/S whereas my PC is Vista - maybe this is why.
Cheers for you help.
Andy
Message was edited by: bigbadandy -
Hello, I have an error while trying to add move music into my itunes library. 'The itunes library file cannot be saved. You do not have enough previledges for this operaion? help - what does this mean?
Hi luxmi01,
Here is some information and troubleshooting on the permissions issues you are seeing:
Trouble adding music to iTunes library or importing audio CD
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1387
Cheers!
- Ari -
I am trying to download a digital copy to i-tunes, but keep getting an error message stating that the disc I am attempting to use is full. What does that mean???
Hi, reagans3.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
I see you are experiencing issues with iMessage. I am not sure what troubleshooting steps that you have processed; however, there are some additional steps in the article below that may help.
iOS: Troubleshooting Messages
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2755
Cheers,
Jason H. -
How do I back up ipad to external hard drive?
I want to back up my IPad (without the cloud) to an external hard drive that also will back up my IMac using Time Machine. How can I do this? Thanks!!
There are some wireless external hard drives that can be used with the iPad.
The Kingston Wi-Drive, which costs $50 for the 16 Gigabyte, and then $30 more for every 16 gigs more. It works by you turning it on and then accessing the files on it from an app that you download on your iDevice. You can access music, movies, and other stuff. No connections or anything, it works like a WiFi connection, you connect to it from the setting on the iPad under wireless networks.
Then there is the Seagate GoFlex, which some would recommend over the Wi-Drive. But this one costs $199 and had 500 Gigabytes of storage. It works the sameway as the Kingston: no wires, runs over its wireless connection. You can actually fit up to 300 HD movies on it.
Another option:
Expand your iPad's storage capacity with HyperDrive
http://www.macworld.com/article/1153935/hyperdrive.html
On the road with a camera, an iPad, and a Hyperdrive
http://www.macworld.com/article/1160231/ipadhyperdrive.html
Mac - How to Move the iPhone & iPad iTunes Backup folder to an External Hard Drive
http://osxdaily.com/2011/03/05/how-to-move-the-iphoneipad-itunes-backup-folder-t o-an-external-hard-drive/
Windows - Change iPad default backup location
http://apple-ipad-tablet-help.blogspot.com/2010/07/change-ipad-default-backup-lo cation.html
Windows - Changing IPhone and iPad backup location
http://goodstuff2share.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/changing-iphone-and-ipad-backup- location/
Cheers, Tom -
A recent convert from PC: External Hard drive, iTunes library, and NTFS
So I recently picked up an iBook and am using it in addition to my Toshiba laptop. My entire collection of mp3's is about 13,000 songs, occupies over 40 gig and is stored on an external hard drive. All tags are complete and accurate (That was a long, hard month!).
I would like to have my iTunes library "import" my collection, but it is far too large for the iBook HDD. If I understand correctly, I can't import it to my external HDD because being NTFS, my Mac can't write to it (and I assume "importing" involves some altering of the files or their tags). Mainly I want to take advantage of iTunes' search function.
Currently, when I want to add to my collection, I rip the CD in iTunes, Transfer it to my Creative Zen Touch, plug that into the Toshiba, then transer to the external HDD. whew.
So--what do you all recommend?
Bonus section:
Soon I will be getting an iPOd 60 Gig. Will I have any problems transferring tune to it without being able to write from the iBook to the external HDD?
ibook g4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)Just a thought:
So if I were to install iTunes for windows on the PC, then let it do the importing onto a separate folder on the external HDD would iTunes on the Mac recognize it as an iTunes library and let me search?
To quote Spinal Tap: "There is a fine line between clever and supid."
What side of the line is this idea on?
ibook g4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)
ibook g4 Mac OS X (10.4.3) -
I'm just wondering what step I should start with to resolve this. There's probably a library issue but I'm not really sure where to start with that.
I'm pretty sure that the voice over is what is giving the error with itunes because when I try to download it, it won't then the error will pop up after a few moments of itunes trying to download it. Thanks for your support!Don't know what changed today but it downloaded and installed on the shuffle. So far so good.
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