Peternotsoperfect

Q: iTunes on laptop. iTunes library and db on external HDD. Can't link the two.

Decided to junk the 7 year-old old family PC in favour of the newer, 2 year-old laptop. Created an external HDD (F;\ drive) using the drive from the old family PC. This obviously preserves all photos, iTunes, documents etc.

 

Installed iTunes 11 on the laptop C;\ drive, attempted to point to the iTunes Library and db on the external HDD via Preferences -> Advanced, but nothing happens, iTunes just sits there blank. (iTunes DOES see content in the Cloud). I have noticed that a lot of the knowledgebase stuff refers to iTunes Media folder, whereas I notice that the location on the old HDD is referred to as iTunes Music.

 

It looks as though iTunes has never converted the directory structure, even though the version of iTunes on the old PC was quite recent (at least version 10 as I recall). Is it possible to manually create the correct iTunes hierarchy so that iTunes is pointing to an iTunes Media directory structure? Making a huge assumption that that is the issue.

 

Incidentally, all of the various media folders are still present in iTunes on the F:\drive, and can be played by double-clicking and using Quicktime.

iTunes, Windows XP, iTunes on a Windows XP PC

Posted on Sep 30, 2013 2:03 AM

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Q: iTunes on laptop. iTunes library and db on external HDD. Can't link the two.

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  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 30, 2013 3:26 AM in response to Peternotsoperfect
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 30, 2013 3:26 AM in response to Peternotsoperfect

    Setting the media folder in preferences doesn't change which library file is opened. To do that press and hold down SHIFT as you start iTunes and keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Click choose and browse to the library you want to open, presumably F:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl.

     

    Assuming that works as expected go to File > Library > Organize Library and, if not greyed out, tick Rearrange files in the folder iTunes Music. This will put your media folders into the modern shape which gives Music its own subfolder of the media folders.

     

    Close iTunes and rename the folder iTunes Music as iTunes Media, then restart iTunes. iTunes will automatically update itself to work with the renamed media folder. Now your media folder also has the current name.

     

    Lastly there will be a redundant iTunes Music Library.xml file in your iTunes folder that you can discard. Given that your library is now in a non-standard location iTunes will update iTunes Library.xml instead. This is the file that you would connect to any third-party programs that want to use it.

     

    tt2

  • by Peternotsoperfect,

    Peternotsoperfect Peternotsoperfect Sep 30, 2013 4:10 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2013 4:10 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thank you, I will try this when at home this evening and will revert.

    Pete

  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 30, 2013 4:23 AM in response to Peternotsoperfect
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 30, 2013 4:23 AM in response to Peternotsoperfect

    You're welcome.

     

    If you copied over everything it should work with the shift-start thing, but if there are any problems getting the library to see the media I can usually suggest tweaks to get it working again, or I have a script for systematically relinking the files.

     

    tt2

  • by Peternotsoperfect,

    Peternotsoperfect Peternotsoperfect Sep 30, 2013 12:28 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2013 12:28 PM in response to turingtest2

    Hi,

     

    OK, I appear to be coming up against a permissions issue. When I browse to the Library.itl file iTunes returns the message "The iTunes Library.itl file is locked, on a locked disk or you do not have write permission for this file". Is there a way around this?

  • by turingtest2,Solvedanswer

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 30, 2013 12:50 PM in response to Peternotsoperfect
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 30, 2013 12:50 PM in response to Peternotsoperfect

    Repair Permissions

    Right-click on your main iTunes folder and click Properties, then go to the Security tab and click Advanced. Use the Change Permissions... button grant to your account (or the Users group) and SYSTEM full control of this folder, subfolders and files, then tick the option to Replace permissions entries... which will repair permissions throughout the library. When complete switch to the General tab, click in the Read-only check box to clear it, then click Apply.

     

    RepairPermissions.png

     

    If you don't have the option to change the permissions then use the Owner tab and Edit... button to take ownership from an account with administrator privileges. Tick the option to Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.

     

    Repeat with the media folder if it isn't stored inside the main iTunes folder.

     

    You might also want to kill any "mystery" identities that have come over from the old computer...

     

    tt2

  • by Peternotsoperfect,

    Peternotsoperfect Peternotsoperfect Sep 30, 2013 3:00 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2013 3:00 PM in response to turingtest2

    After working through the permissions stuff I returned to your guidance on "Setting the media folder..." and chose the Library on the f:\drive. Immediately iTunes showed approx 2450 songs and a message about "Determining Gapless Playback Information" which took a few minutes, and pop up appeared for iTunes tutorial. I will now press ahead with the remainder of the advice from "Assuming that works..."

     

    OK, completed that paragraph, now moving on to "Close iTunes and..."

     

    Done! I believe we have success :-) Thank you so much for your help with this, I would never have got to the solution myself, you were a huge help. Next time I'm up in town I should buy you a beer.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 30, 2013 5:20 PM in response to Peternotsoperfect
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 30, 2013 5:20 PM in response to Peternotsoperfect

    You're welcome.

     

    tt2

  • by Tzioup,

    Tzioup Tzioup Oct 22, 2013 9:13 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2013 9:13 PM in response to turingtest2

    Hi there

     

    I'm experiencing similar issues with yet one major difference: your solution didn't work. Also, unlike the original poster, I cannot play any of my files on quicktime/VLC. I have made a post here outlining my situation.

     

    Hope you feel like lending another hand!

     

    Cheers

     

    L