Q: how do use itunes on external hard drive to a new computer

You're welcome.

tt2

Hi,  I want to accomplish exactly what is being explained here.  However, When I get to step 5, Im confused.

I have 2 questions:  where is F:\itunes\tunesmedia\temp folder located and how do I move F:\temp into that folder

I give generic steps in my post make a split library portable. The itemised steps elsewhere in this thread have been prepared for a particular set of circumstances.

If you want to tell me where your library & media folders are now I can suggest what to do,

tt2

Everything is in f:\itunes. I just had to format reinstall windows on my PC. So I have a brand new iTunes and everything is on external hd.

I want everything that involves iTunes to run

Off my external HD ( F drive).

If you copied the whole iTunes folder out from <User's Music< to F:\iTunes then hold down shift as you start iTunes and connect to the library file F:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl

tt2

There is nothing in my music. I am starting from brand new computer basically . All of my iTunes files are on f drive . I can get to step 5 of these instructions but cannot locate f:\itunes\itunesmedia\temp

Is it only the media that is in F:\iTunes, or did you also preserve the library files?

Do you have a file called iTunes Library or iTunes Library.itl in F:\iTunes?

Again that set of instructions was for another set of circumstances, not yours. You can't find the folder becuase it isn't there and the instruction doesn't apply.

tt2

No. Only have catagories listed. Music, tones, mobile apps., etc...

I can add this whole folder to iTunes, but then it shows taking space up on

My main HD, which I want to avoid .

When I followed the steps above, a free called "iTunes Library" was created . It was an ITL file/data base file.

Not "free", file. I forgot to mention, that prior to this i was operating iTunes from

My external HD. My default folder in iTunes was F:\itunes

Let us try again...

Here are typical layouts for the iTunes folders:

In iTunes under Edit > Preferences > Advanced there is an option to choose the media folder. Changing the media folder changes the path to the section outlined in red. The library files stay where they always were. When you say you were operating iTunes from the external drive, or my library is in F:\iTunes you either mean that F:\iTunes is in the layout as above (1), or that F:\iTunes corresponds to the iTunes Media folder in the above diagram (2).

In the first instance (1) moving the library to a new computer is simply a matter of connecting the drive, then shift-starting iTunes to open the library file at X:\iTunes\ITunes Library.itl where X: is the drive letter.

In the second instance (2) you only have the media. As I understand it you want to build a portable library on the external drive. This set of steps will work for your current situation:

1. Rename F:\iTunes as F:\iTunes Media
2. Delete any library files and/or Album Artwork folders that are in F:\iTunes Media
   
3. Shift-start-iTunes and create a new library at F:\iTunes
   
4. Move the iTunes Media folder inside F:\iTunes, merging with the empty folder there
   
5. Use File > Add Folder to Library to add the folder F:\iTunes\iTunes Media
   

tt2

Am I creating a sub folder "iTunes" within the "iTunes media" folder ?

This is what I have: when I open my external drive (F), all of my folders are displayed. 1 of the folders is labeled "iTunes" . Within that folder is all of my iTunes content. Am I supposed to rename this folder "iTunes media"? I did the shift/iTunes start and created the file and renamed it "iTunes ", it then appears as a folder within F:\itunesmedia an it won't let me combine the two because "iTunes" is a sub folder of "itunesmedia". 

I renamed "F:\itunes" to "F:\itunesmedia", shift started iTunes created folder in "F" drive called iTunes. When I attempt to move "iTunes media" into the newly created "iTunes" folder I get a message saying "the folder already contains a folder named "iTunes media". It also asks if I want to replace the files that have the same name .