Updating LARGE iTunes library

Hi folks
I keep my iTunes library (and associated files) and music folder together on an external hard drive so that I can access my music both at home (PC) and at work (Mac).
I have approaching 400GB of music, so every time iTunes decides to update my the library - for which I am never given a choice or warning - this becomes an extremely time-consuming task. I have just upgraded to Snow Leopard, which I assume is the reason my iTunes library is now updating again, despite there being no changes made to my configuration or additional music added since the last time I loaded the library (on OS 10.4).
Is there any way to speed up this process or skip it? It seems to be initiated every time there is some iTunes update and always take forever. This current update looks like it will take many many hours - it's at about 5% after an hour. It also seems like the process is taking far longer than it ever did on 10.4 - has anybody else noticed this?
I keep two copies of my .itl file, one that has been updated for my Mac and one for my PC. I generally do the following, if anybody has comments or suggestions to make:
0) All music and iTunes files are stored in a parent music directory on my external
1) Update iTunes library on the Mac
2) Duplicate it and all associated files
3) Open the Mac library on my PC, which initiates an automatic library update and creates a Windows version.
4) Duplicate that too - I now have two separate copies of the library, one for each OS to avoid having to update the library every single time I open it on a different platform.
5) Any new music I want to add I do on my Mac system, so the Mac library remains up to date while the Windows version falls behind until I decide to update it by opening the Mac library in Windows.
Basically, I'm looking for any insight into: 1) just what iTunes is updating, 2) why it takes so long (yes I realise 400GB is a LOT of music), 3) how I can improve the process or avoid it, and 4) better solutions to my current setup, given my desire to have my music in a single location but accessible to both my Mac and PC.
Many(!!) thanks

Hi all,
So I do not have a solution per se, but I can tell you a few things.
First, do know this is not due to the size of your libraries, meaning it isn't the size that is triggering the updating. I have a close to 2 TB iTunes Library of both music and video and mine does not do this and even on iTunes updates that it does trigger an update, it doesn't take long at all.
Second, know that how you have your systems setup concerning iTunes and this sharing across systems and OS's isn't officially supported for the software. So blaming iTunes or being ****** at it isn't truly warranted...when you use the software as designed it doesn't act like this...I have dealt with iTunes a lot of the years when I was a Genius for Apple. The software is designed as a one system deal.
To answer a few of the questions - iTunes manages a lot. In the main library xml file it keeps track of all the information about your particular tracks. Also it keeps the files managed in the music folder itself. In addition it monitors for things like Genius Playlists/Mixes and gapless playback. If you are shuttling the information files back and forth from one machine to another it doesn't surprise me iTunes is sitting scanning your files and folders often and it takes forever.
How do you stop it from doing this...honestly, stop doing this....
Accept the fact that it is designed as a one system deal. It may not completely please you, but that is how it was made to function. I also have two systems, though both Macs. I realized long ago, my desktop was always going to be my main iTunes system. That is the system that has everything and it is the one I sync my iPhone to. That is the main hub. For my laptop I just copy over to it some top favorites as far as music and then any videos I want with me when I am out and about. With iTunes 9 Apple made that a whole lot easier with the built-in sharing function.
If you truly MUST have access to it all, you would be best to designate one system as your main hub, then use something like Orb (http://www.orb.com/en) to access your media from your laptop and/or iPhone.
Once you stop moving between systems like you have been doing, I think you will find iTunes will stop behaving in this manner.
Good luck!

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When I want to use the large one, which I usually do via Airport, it can take hours to update itself. The "Genius" for example, can take hours just by itself... Then it does something for "gapless playback" or something...
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"One more question, if you do have a second library you option into, are the library documents on the external drive or in your music/iTunes folder?" So they have all been on the external drive. I called Apple Support about dead tracks issue, and the 1st guy told me I SHOULD split them up, but that caused issues and I called back and the 2nd guy told me NOT to do that, so I've left them all on the external drive. The 2nd guy seemed more knowledgeable than the 1st guy.
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This being the case, it would be interesting to see how it behaves if the library lives on your macbook.
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Option into "create a new library" and create this new library in your music folder on your macbook.
While in this blank library go to the advanced preference tab and deselect "Copy files to the itunes media folder.....)
Then, from the itunes file menu browse to the music folder on the external drive and select it.
This will build a library that lives on your machine while the music files continue to live on the external.
This experiment is only worthwhile if you are sure that the library database for the music on the external drive lives on that external drive.
The risk with having the library live on your machine is that another library on another machine might also try to manage this music (your wife's machine for example) potentially causing a mismatch between your library and the music folder.
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Warren Willows wrote:
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Warren,
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The latter is basically the same as the first one, as iTunes will still use the old location to look for music files that are already in the library. In my case, I'm moving from a USB HD to a NAS over WLAN...this way I can still reach my entire lib from anywhere in the house; without being hooked up to the USB HD.
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I went to my computer, turned off iTunes, went to my iTunes folder and copied all of the files from the iTunes directory (remember my music is on an external drive) to a folder in another location. I was surpried to see my iTunes.xml file was over 150mb in size. I then restarted iTunes and of course had no music in it. I am now importing my file library in again to see if it helps. Maybe I has a corrupt iTunes file.
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Updating LARGE iTunes library

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