Using iTunes, MacBook and the external HDD.

Hi there, however much I love iTunes, I absolutely despize the lack of function when it comes to splitting the music library between my MacBook and an external HDD.
I have a rather large Library and it is a real issue when using a HDD limited MacBook.
Why is there no simple function to allow a user to pass data back and forth between these?
iMovie has a very simple and wonderfully easy to use 'drag n drop' function which allows a user to move video between any or multiple external HDD and the HDD on the MacBook.
When connected, the media on the HDD is available to use in iMovie. When it is not connected, only the media on the MacBooks HDD is available.
Would it be conceivable to adopt a similar system whereby iTunes would 'show' an external HDD and allow a user to drag and drop media straight over?
Now THAT would be amazing! Please, it is terribly limiting and self-defeating to have a portable device without being able to EASILY move ones media from a 'home' based large external HDD and the more versatile, smaller portable MacBook HDD.
iMovie does it, can you adapt iTunes to do the same?
Yours,

click here and here for information.
also, peruse this user tip:
In iTunes 9.
iTunes prefs -> Advanced.
Set the iTunes media folder location to the external.
Then select the movie files (or any files in iTunes) and right click Consolidate.
This will copy only the movies to the external location.
After it finishes, iTunes prefs -> Advanced and set the iTunes media folder location back to the internal. This will tell iTunes to use the internal drive for new files.
You can then delete the movies from \Music\iTunes\ on the internal to free up space.
To copy a movie back to the internal, simply right click - Consolidate (since you pointed iTunes back to the internal).
just edit these instructions to meet your needs.
JGG

Similar Messages

How can I use iTunes without connecting the external drive that has all my music on it?

I have all my music on an external drive. Sometimes I would like to access iTunes, for purchases and other, without having that drive plugged in. I used to be able to do this, but something has changed and I can no longer figure out how. There must be a way.
Thanks

Well, you can always ignore the fact it will automatically direct anything to a new blank library it will create on the internal drive. Just let it do it (as long as you keep track of any purchases that download, or maybe you can turn off automatic downloading ) The next time you need to use it with the external drive hold down the option/alt key while starting iTunes and select the library file on the external drive.
iTunes Store: How to enable Automatic Downloads - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4539

Can I use Time Machine and an external HDD to move to a new mac?

I'm in the process of selling my MBP. I'm looking to buy a Mini with dual screens for a better photo editing experience. Here's the deal. I have to sell my laptop first, then I will use that money to buy the mini.
I have a portable 1TB HDD, I'm using Time Machine to back up my laptop. After my laptop is sold and I restore it.. Can I plug the portable HDD into my new mini and load the backup as if I didn't get a new computer?

omfgskyler wrote:
... Can I plug the portable HDD into my new mini and load the backup as if I didn't get a new computer?
See Pondini's Excellent information here...
Setting-up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC

HT4878 Why is this data chart Timeline multi colored (in About/Storage) and the external drive is only pink?

1. When viewing the Storage Timeline for my Macbook and the External Drive for the Time Machine backup instead of multi-colored bars the data is only showing a one pink one. Is that because it is all "backup" on the external? 2. Is the discrepancy in size the OS being left out? Thanks.

Time Machine makes full backups of the hard drive. If you want to change this, you can open System Preferences > Time Machine > Options, and add excluded items. However, I recommend you to keep backing up the whole drive, so you will be able to restore the whole backup in case of a hard disk failure

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. suggestions to complete backup please?

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 am using a mini display to hdmi with my macbook and the display works fine. However, the sound will only play iTunes such as music and movies but when i go online to watch movies on youtube it will not play any sound. Please help

I am using a mini display to hdmi with my macbook and the display works fine. However, the sound will only play iTunes such as music and movies but when i go online to watch movies on youtube it will not play any sound. Please help

HDCP maybe? Read this http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/11/26/displayport.drm.conflict/

Can two accounts just use one macbook and one iphone.error occurred talking to the iTunes store

I have two accounts(A and B), of course I just use one iphone and one macbook.
but now ,the problem is,
the account A can use xcode organizer to upload App,
and the account B can't upload in the same MAC and Xcode,
the error message is: error occurred talking to the iTunes store
and the console print: *** Error: An error occurred while deserializing the JSON request. Error Message - Invalid JSON character read at index 0
(of course if I change from account B to A, upload success）
it cotinue for three days, of course there are many people have the same problem.
must I buy another iphone ,another macbook,and install another xcode
I am so sad.
thank you

the problem is , .ipa can't upload by(in) account B
I think the bug can be two possible list blow
      1. the .ipa is wrong
      2. the account(B) is wrong.
if   the .ipa is wrong
the .ipa can't upload by any account (account A or account B, just change the identifier and the sigh identity)
but if the .ipa can upload success by account A,
so , the .ipa(program) is right.
then, there is exist only one possible,   the account (B) is wrong,
K T , do you thine my logic for this problem is right

Can the MacBook Air be backed up using Clone softward and an external hard drive?

I want to find the best way for a new college student to back up her MacBook Air files. Can she use cloning software and an external hard drive? I'm unclear if the Air supports attaching an external hard drive.

The computer should be cloned using Disk Utility, so no additional software is required. However, it's preferable to incrementally update the clone using backup software. I would recommend using one of the following. They each have different capabilities and features. Each can be used for a free trial period. My personal preference is Carbon Copy Cloner. All of them can make and maintain bootable clones.
Suggested Backup Software
1. Carbon Copy Cloner
2. Get Backup
3. Deja Vu
4. SuperDuper!
5. Synk Pro
6. Tri-Backup
Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
Clone Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion using Restore Option of Disk Utility
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue
         button.
     2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
     3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
     4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it
         to the Destination entry field.
     5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
         the Source entry field.
     6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
An excellent source of external drives is OWC.

MacBook Pro iphoto external HDD and can't open iphoto.

I have a Macbook Pro OS X 10.9.2 and I cannot open iphoto. My HD has 0 kb free. Is this why? It worked yesterday and I haven't uploaded anything new, just attached a WD my passport ext HD and did a time machine back up. I can't locate the Iphoto backup on the external HDD. When I attempt to open iphoto I get an error message - Unable to write to library "iphoto library". Its got around 850GB of photos in there. Plan was to back up time machine on one HDD, then just the actual photo files to another HDD and store old photos on the external drives, thus freeing up my MacBook Pro.
I have a copy of time machine from about 2 weeks ago which is when my old external drive ran out of space. The new drives are WD My Passport for Mac 2TB.
I've tried holding down the cmd-alt buttons and can get the menus up but if I click 'repair database' I get the same error message up.
Any ideas?
I have dragged the iphoto library from finder, which is showing around 850GB, to the WD HDD and its backing up but very slowly!!
If I can get iphoto open I can get some photos off of it which no doubt will solve the problem!!

The ext HD is not partitioned. It also has a Time Machine back up on it
You don't want to run an iPhoto library off the same drive/partition the Time Machine uses. It will eventually run of of space and damage the library. Running a library in that manner is asking for problems.
Should I (can I?) rename one of the iphoto libraries so I know which is which?
Yes. Then if you're not sure which library you're using Control (right) - click on the iPhoto title in the top frame of the window to see which library it is:
What is the best way to keep my photos backed up on an ext HD before/ after editing as I want to keep the original as well as the edited version.
That's what iPhoto does. When you edit a photo the edits are applied to a modified version separate from the original/master version. iPhoto has a Revert to Original option which removes the edited version. Also when viewing an edited photo in the edit mode the Shift key will toggle between the edited version and orignal version.
Any ideas if it is easy to extract my music from itunes from time machine back up?
Enter Time Machine, go to the Music folder or wherever you kept your iTunes library, select the library and click on the Restore button. It will be restored to the Music folder on your boot drive. If you want to restore the library to another location Control (right) - click on the iTunes library and select "Restore to .....". That will let you pick the location for the restored library.
am thinking of getting LIghtroom to use instead of iphoto but have no idea whether it would talk to the photos that are in iphoto on my ext HD. Perhaps Aperture would make more sense?
Lightroom works alot like iPhoto and Aperture, a database based application. You can't use both Lightroom and iPhoto. You'll have to pick one and use it alone.
However, Aperture can use the same library as iPhoto so there would be no converting the library as LIghtroom would require.
Your best solution would be to daisy chain another EHD off of your TM hard drive to use with your iPhoto and iTunes libraries and any other files you'd like to keep there to use. Then have TM backup both your boot drive and the second EHD. The TM drive should be about 2X the size of the drives it's backing up.
So if you go that route you might want to get a new EHD for TM that's big enough and use the current TM drive as your working drive.

Help reg what formats to be used for my new 4tb mini stack to back up my macbook and 2 external hard disks

Hey Guys,
I need an advice from you experts regarding the different formats to be used to format my New 4 Tb ministack from OWC. I have a Mid 2010 Intel macbook pro with 500gb hard disk using Mountain lion and two external hard disk from Samsung and Iomega 1Tb each. I want to format this ministack into 4 partitions each of 1Tb each.
1) 1 Tb for time machine to back up my macbook pro.
2) 1 Tb of Free space to be used to store extra data using both windows and mac os.
3) 1 Tb for Samsung back up
4) 1 Tb for my Iomega back up
I know that for 1st option i need to format the partition (volume) to Mac os extended (journalled). I need help for others.For the 1 Tb free space, can i use NTFS so that i can use it on my wifes windows laptop and use a third a party application like tuxera NTFS for use on my macbook which i am already using to use my samsung and Iomega Ext HDD.
Also What format is required for these two 1 Tb volumes dedicated for external hard disk backups and how can i back up my external hard disks to these formatted volumes. Do i need to format them to Mac os extended (journalled) as well as i shall be using macbook pro to back up these hard disks.
Which would be the best software to back up these Ext hdd,can i use time machine? or CCC ?
Your help help shall be gretaly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Get Disk Warrior that will repair the problems without requiring that you reformat the drive - $99.00 on a bootable CD. Will not work on a FAT formatted drive.
You will need to use Drag and Drop to save your files by copying them from the bad drive to a good one.
To reprep the drive:
Drive Preparation
1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Security button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

HT1449 I tried to move the itune folder to an external hdd, (precisely as written above) but after "consolidating, happens nothing

tried to move the itune folder to an external hdd, (precisely as written above) but after "consolidating, happens nothing

That's because too many people confuse moving media folder with moving the library properly.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168

HT201250 Can i store my files on time capsule from my ipad, and copy them back, without using itunes to sync the tablet?

Can i store my files on time capsule from my ipad, and copy them back, without using itunes to sync the tablet? i want to buy an iPad Air and to forget my laptop and i think that even the 128 gb wont be enough some times. I am wandering if time capsule can be used as external hdd and to connect on it via wifi ...

No. You cannot access your Time Capsule directly from an iOS device. The only way to back up an iOS device is to a computer through iTunes or to iCloud, though in some cases you can open and save files via another cloud-based service such as Dropbox.
Regards.

How do I back up my iPhone through iTunes to an external HDD; my iTunes library is already on the external HDD

Hello, this is my first time posting a question to the apple support community.
I have a bit of a (possibly unique) problem. Due to space limitations on my internal SSD, I have moved my iTunes library to an external HDD. However iTunes still backs up my iOS devices locally (~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup). This is causing a problem as it is making my SSD very full, the only way to remedy this is to remove old backups manually. Is there anyway to backup these iOS devices to the external HDD where my iTunes library is?
Thanks very much!

I am a bit confused now. I did the download and extraction of the junction utility. Now I want to backup my 32 gb iPhone 5 to the external, not the internal hard drive of my computer. I didn't quite understand the example of the path they wanted me to use. Should I physically just cut and paste the folder of my backup from Settings and Documents, etc., or how do you get the junction utility to do that? I'm not following and I'm usually excellent with computers.
I'm on a PC, running XP. Thanks.
Lori

I have followed Apple support Article HT4527 for moving itunes but have insufficient space on my new PC for the complete library of. How can I leave music on the external HDD but associate the content on my external HDD with my pc itunes when it is open?

I have followed the Apple Support Section Article HT 4527 and have moved itunes media onto an external Hard Drive. The complete file is 103GB in size.
I have downloaded the latest itunes onto my new PC.
When I follow the article and try moving the itunes file onto the new PC, I am informed that there is insufficient space on my new PC.
In any case, like my old system, I want to leave my music on the external HDD and just have the music library displayed in itunes when I click on the "Music" folder.
How can I get itunes on the new computer to interogate my external HDD to just list the library and leave the music on the external HDD?

you can do this by keeping the external hard drive connected and doing the following
-hold shift key down on computer while opening iTunes and a prompt will appear to choose a library
-select choose library, iTunes should bring up your explorer windows where you can search for the external HD
-after you find the external HD find the iTunes folder you just copied to it
-after opening the iTunes folder look for the file that says iTunes library.itl or if you can't see that extenstion just look for a document looking thing in the iTunes folder that shows up as a database file
-double click the database file and boom iTunes should load your library without having to copy it to the computer
PS: do make sure that if you are going to do it this way, make sure that the external HD is connected at all times, because if you don't then you will get exclamation marks next to your iTunes songs
double PS: if you are unsure how to find out if the iTunes library file is a database file just right click it and choose properties and under the type it should say database file
hope this helps:)

Can i use my time capsule to wirelessly backup my macbook and its external hard drive, which up until now was it's time machine and storage? How?

Can i use my time capsule to wirelessly backup my macbook and its external hard drive, which up until now was it's time machine and storage? How?

The external drive must be connected to the Mac using either USB or FireWire
You must remove the external hard drive from the list of items that are "excluded" from backups in Time Machine Preferences.
Here's how:
Open System Preferences (gear icon on the dock)
Open Time Machine
Click Options
Look for the name of the hard drive in the list of "excluded" items and click on it to highlight it
Click the -- (minus) button at the bottom of the list to remove the hard drive from the list of "excluded" items....so it will now be backed up
Strongly recommend that you do the first backup using Ethenret from your computer to the Time Capsule since the entire contents of the external drive will be copied on the first pass. Ethernet will be 3-5 faster than wireless.
Once you have the first backup done, you can use wireless for subsequent backups since they will nornally be much smaller....unless you add large files to the external drive.

Using iTunes, MacBook and the external HDD.

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for