-
All replies
-
Helpful answers
-
Aug 28, 2014 7:06 PM in response to stephenfromsurbitonby Limnos,This is how you should move a library 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 choose a library, then select the copied iTunes folder. To backup simply copy the whole folder to the backup drive.
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.)
If you didn't do the above then we will need more detail on exactly what is on the backup drive. The critical thing is the presence of an "iTunes Library.itl" file which is what stores the structuring information for what is otherwise only a jumble of media files.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391