Using iTunes on an external drive..

So I know how to put my libary on an external drive and pull music from that. My problem is this: my external drive is connected to my airport extreme. I have two laptops that my fiance and I use and we both want to pull music off it. It works, but we're constnatly forgetting to "connect to the hub" via Finder. Consequentially, iTunes likes to make a new iTunes music folder on the laptops' HDs and then we have to go through the whole process again of updating the location, and letting iTunes organize it all...
It's a pain in the butt.
Any suggestions on what we can do so we don't have to deal this mess? iTunes sometimes even makes a new folder when the laptop is already connected to the external HD!
The apple support page says this:
"Additional Information
If you move your library to an external drive, you'll need to power up and connect the drive before starting iTunes. If you don't, iTunes will prompt you to either locate the library or to create a new library (which will result in an empty library)."
I'd really like it to ASK ME to find the library rather than making a brand new iTunes folder.
I know people play music off their Time Capsule's like this, do you guys still have this problem or is your Time Capsule "automatically" connected to your computers? Any way to get my external Western Digital via the Aiport Extreme to do the same?

Sure.
First thing you're going to want to do is transfer everything to the external:
MacMuse: Moving iTunes to a new drive
Then, just make sure that the external drive is powered on and connected every time you start iTunes.

Similar Messages

How can i use Itunes from an external drive

How can I install iTunes on to an external drive an use as my master librarian for music and movies, it must pretty simple, thanks guys!

Hi,
Read this http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
Jim

Problems using iTunes and my external drive.

So I initially had a little trouble getting my iTunes to work smoothly with my external drive, a My Book 1Tb, but after a lot of trouble shooting and help from people on the forum I got it and it worked brilliantly. But now, it seems to have run out of gas, the drive is on (indicated by the blue light on the front of the case) but there is no disk image on my desktop and no matter how many time I 1) search for the drive, 2) disconnect it physically from the computer and reconnect it, 3) shut everything down and boot back up it is still unresponsive. I started having problems with my TimeMachine saying it could not back up files onto the disk and couldn't figure that problem out either. And now this, I am really hoping it isn't the drive, even though I thought it was. However, my Mac (iMac G5) has really been acting up now too.
Every time I try to verify and repair the disk permissions in DiskUtility it freezes while still verifying. And my iTunes has been locking up and constantly unresponsive. I am not that savy with technology and so I am now at the end of my rope.
Please help me solve my issues?

You might want to take this over to the Leopard discussion group since it really sounds like it is a drive or computer issue. It will get better attention that way.

Using iTunes on an external hard drive

My iTunes are clogging my lap-top C drive, so I've purchased an external HD. I have a single USB connection between the external drive and the lap-top. I'd like to run iTunes from the external drive exclusively, but can't quite figure it out; any one done this successfully?
Thanks

Sure.
First thing you're going to want to do is transfer everything to the external:
MacMuse: Moving iTunes to a new drive
Then, just make sure that the external drive is powered on and connected every time you start iTunes.

I redirected iTunes to an external drive and moved my iTunes library and folder, but my hard drive is still low on space. How can I be sure that my music is all on the external HD ONLY, especially with the new iCloud technology?

I redirected iTunes to an external drive and moved my iTunes library and folder, but my hard drive is still low on space. How can I be sure that my music is all on the external HD ONLY, especially with the new iCloud technology? It doesn't look like I created any more space by doing this, AND I totally lost all my iTunes playlists. I'm not sure if because I added old library materials manually if this messed up my playlists, or if the new location is just not reading my moved library. In any case, I followed step by step instructions and found a few holes and thought I'd just "figure it out" but I guess I'm not as smart as I thought since I'm still scratching my head many hours later.
Thanks for any support ;-)
Eaglerocker

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) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder.
If this is to a new computer and you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
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.

Question on iTunes libraries on external drives

Back a few years ago I put my itunes music library lived in a NAS drive. If the drive was not mounted however when you launched iTunes the library would reset resulting in a blank iTunes.
This was such a deal breaker for me in the end I ditched the nas.
Now I have my itunes library on an external USB Harddrive. If for some reason the drive is not attached when launched, all that happens is you see your library of music but when you select anything a little alert icon goes next to it with a warning the music could not be found. When you attach the harddrive all is well again.
A friend has an extreme base station with his music folder on. And has just explined to me the self same issue as I used to have.
Can someone explain why iTunes will sometimes work fine, and sometimes reset depending on how it feels? Is there a way to predict this, and more importantly ensure that iTunes simply says it cannot find the tune, and not reset the whole library. Which is a most odd behaviour anyhow.

Your iTunes folder on your Startup Drive (in your USER>MUSIC>ITUNES folder) contains a file that is the roadmap to all of your songs, ratings, playlists, etc. Your iTunes application (in the applications folder on the startup drive) is, well, the application (like an engine) that runs iTunes.
By default, your iTunes Library (where all your actual MP3 files are stored) is in that iTunes folder (in your USER>MUSIC>ITUNES folder). However, when you store it on an external drive, you usually change it's location (in Preferences) so that iTunes knows where the Library is located.
So.....what's probably going on is that you have iTunes set up right for an external drive and it will run properly when that drive is plugged in. iTunes knows where everything is because all that info is contained in the file I mentioned. When you start iTunes and your external drive is not plugged in, iTunes will default to the iTunes Library in the folder on your Startup Drive (USER>MUSIC>ITUNES folder), which is probably empty. It knows where all your songs are on that external drive, but can't access them b/c the drive is off or disconnected.

Using iTunes from an external harddrive?

I would like to know if it is possible to download and run itunes from an external harddrive.
I have a lot of music and would not like it to be on my macbook's harddrive.

The iTunes application needs to be on the boot drive, but you can put your media anywhere you wish. The easiest way is to just drag the entire iTunes folder (the entire folder, not just the iTunes Music folder) to your desired location. Then hold down the Option key while launching iTunes. You'll be given a dialog box where you can select the iTunes library you want to use. Navigate to and select the iTunes folder in it's new location.
Note that this procedure assumes that all of your tracks are contained in the iTunes Music folder. If they're scattered around your drive, moving them becomes much more complex. And don't launch iTunes with the external drive not mounted or iTunes will default back to the internal drive. If it does, though, just mount the external drive and launch iTunes with the Option key again.
Don't delete the tracks from the old location until you've confirmed that they're working correctly from the external drive.
Regards.

Big problem- using ipod as an external Drive

Hello
Right now i am tring to save my School work (i do Homeschool) on myipod, using it as an External Drive. I plug my ipod, amd i go to my computer, and i see the ipodd drive, i open it, and after 5 seconds it colses by itself. Itunes does not open eiter, what shall i doÉ its really urgent!
(doe sit have to do ith disabling Disk Mode? if yes, tell me how...cuz my itune is in French...and i do now how ou call that in French)
Chris

If you restore the iPod you will delete the files, so don't do it unless you have backups. Sorry I don't know about the error code.

I tried to transfer itunes onto an external drive, now have serious probs.

I tried to transfer itunes onto an external drive, then i deleted the itunes folder from the computer. This completely emptied itunes......oops... then i put back the music saved on the drive back onto itunes, but its only put on a small amount, all of my playlists are gone and most of the album artwork....aaaahhhh..... I havent synced my ipod yet, is there any way of replacing all of the lost data transferring it back onto itunes from the ipod itself?

Copying from iPod to Computer threads...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1300144
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=797432&#797432
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=809624&tstart=0
Also these somewhat dated but still useful internet articles...
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/
http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/02/how-to-get-music-off-your-ipod/
http://playlistmag.com/help/2005/01/2waystreet/
Good luck!
Patrick

Moved iTunes to an external drive, library files can't be located - help?!?

So ok, I knew it couldn't be that easy...
I copied my iTunes to an external drive to free up space on my laptop - followed the instructions for moving files on a PC - and got to the part about moving the old iTunes folder to the recycle bin. Well, the recycle bin wasn't large enough for the folder, so it deleted everything straight out of MyComputer. Apparently the "library files" went with it.
Now I can see all my songs/movies/videos in folders on the external, but can't get my iTunes to associate with it when I open it.
Is there any way to fix this? I'm tearing my hair out, here. I have a full backup on DVDs - will that help?
Thanks!

got to the part about moving the old iTunes folder to the recycle bin.
There is no part about moving the _iTunes folder_ to the recycle bin.
There is a part about moving th _iTunes music folder_ to the recycle bin.
Did you move them to the external by using iTunes menu File -> Library -> Consolidate?
Or did you move them to the external yourself?
Which folders exactly did you move?

New iTunes folder on external drive...move xml file there?

About a year ago, I created a new folder on an external hard drive and I thought that I followed the apple designated steps to move my itunes music to that folder. I then selected the advanced tab in preferences in iTunes and selected the new folder on my external drive as my "iTunes" folder. iTunes seems to have worked OK for this past year using the folder on the external drive. After updating to the latest version of iTunes (11.1.1), I tried to sync some apps to my iPhone 4, and I got the message that the external drive folder I am using as my "iTunes" folder on the external drive is not the one associated with my iPhone. iTunes asks if I want to erase my iPhone and use the contents of my external drive folder on my phone. This is the first time I have seen this message, even though it has been a year, and I have connected my phone to iTunes during that time.
In investigating this, I see that the .xml and .its files are not in the folder on the external hard drive. In fact, there is no folder at all called "iTunes" on my external drive. They are still in the "iTunes" folder in my music folder on my internal hard drive. This is what is still in the music folder in my home folder on my internal drive:
Should I manually move the .xml, the .ita and the other files into the folder on the external drive?
Thanks

In my message above, I tried to include a .png file of what my internal hard drive has in the music folder, but that did not work, so I am trying to paste it in here. I am wondering if I should manually copy these files to the music folder on my external hard drive. There is no folder on my external drive names "iTunes".

Want to run iTunes from an external drive, how?

I want to run iTunes from my external drive, I have already made back ups of my library and media files but I can't figure out how to save iTunes to the external drive? When you download itunes it just automatically downloads to the computer. Can you even do this? If not, how can I use the saved info on my external drive (library and media files) with my itunes on the computer. The problem we are trying to solve is a lack of space on our computer and we want to free as much space as possible. Thanks!

I want to run iTunes from my external drive, I have already made back ups of my library and media files but I can't figure out how to save iTunes to the external drive?
Drag the iTunes library to the external drive, launch iTunes with the Shift key held down, and point it there.
(56927)

I just purchased Time Capsule today. I ONLY want to use it as an external drive. I do not need it for Time Machine. I can see the TC in my finder, but when I click on a file or video to drag and drop, I get message that TC can't be modified. Help please

I just purchased Time Capsule today. I ONLY want to use it as an external drive. I do not need it for Time Machine. I need to free up room on my computer. As of now, I can't even load updates. I can see the TC in my finder, but when I click on a file or video to drag and drop, I get message that TC can't be modified. Help please!

I agree with Kappy.. passing files and especially via wireless is slow as slow.
Just need to be sure your TC is the new AC model??
And the OS on the computer is Lion?
Have you completed the setup of the TC via the utility? You do still need to get internet via the TC so it has to be plugged into the main router..
Give us the full picture of the network.
Then we can help you get into it.. whether you should put your files on it is another question.

Question about moving itunes to wd external drive?

i found the page where it says u can move itunes music to external drive but will that include my tv shows also and if so can i delete it from my laptop after i move it to other drive?

\Music\iTunes\ folder is the main iTunes library location. It contains the library files, music files and everything else.
I have all of my music files already stored on an external HD. But for some reason when i moved it all
What exactly does "moved it all" mean? What did you move?
in other words in the old drive I still have the following files:
itunes library genius
-itunes library extras
-itunes library
These three are all the same type of files. I don't know what type of files they are
The iTunes library.itl file is the iTunes database file. Without that, iTunes is empty.
Since i already have all of my music files on my ext. HD can I delete these files without messing anything up?
Only if you want iTunes to be completely empty and you want to start from scratch.
Moving the music file syourself is not the correct way to do it. iTunes will lose everything.
If you want to move everything, copy the entire \Music\iTunes\ folder to a new location.
Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
Select *Choose library* and select the iTunes library.itl file in the iTunes folder you moved.

HT201250 Hi, I hope this question won't seem too basic but if I want to use a new larger external drive for my time machine backups, will it do a new full backup the first time I plug it in and if so, do I really need all the old backups on my smaller ext

Hi, I hope this question won't seem too basic but if I want to use a new larger external drive for my time machine backups, will it do a new full backup the first time I plug it in and if so, do I really need all the old backups on my smaller external drive?

50maz wrote:
Hi, I hope this question won't seem too basic but if I want to use a new larger external drive for my time machine backups, will it do a new full backup the first time I plug it in
Yes, it will do a full backup.
and if so, do I really need all the old backups on my smaller external drive?
Only if you want to be able to go back in time to those previous Time Machine backups. When you plug in the new larger external drive, you will only be able to go back as far as the first day you plugged it in and ran the first Time Machine backup on it.

Using iTunes on an external drive..

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for