bobsbarricades

Q: Use Media Folder from previous computer iTunes 11.4

I have a new install, but my iTunes media folder that was on an external drive is still there.

 

I go to tell my iTunes where the folder is (still on the external) and it asks if I want it to move and rename the files.  I say NO because I just want it to know that's the directory, it doesn't need to move or rename anything.  Right?  WRong? 

 

How can I do this?  Is there a way I can think of it in the future so it won't always feel so complicated?

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), 8 Core 2.8Ghz 10GB RAM

Posted on Sep 30, 2014 8:14 PM

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Q: Use Media Folder from previous computer iTunes 11.4

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  • by Chris CA,Solvedanswer

    Chris CA Chris CA Sep 30, 2014 8:54 PM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (79,584 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 30, 2014 8:54 PM in response to bobsbarricades

    Do this...

    1. Quit iTunes.
    2. Hold Option and launch iTunes.
    3. Select Create new library...
    4. Select the external drive.
    5. Let it finish then quit iTunes.
    6. Open the new iTunes folder on the external drive.
    7. Delete /iTunes/ iTunes Media/ folder and replace it with your media folder.
    8. Start iTunes then iTunes menu File > Add to library… and select /iTunes/ iTunes Media/ folder (your media folder you replaced).

    This should be all you need to do.

  • by bobsbarricades,

    bobsbarricades bobsbarricades Oct 1, 2014 8:45 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 1, 2014 8:45 AM in response to Chris CA

    Shouldn't I have just done the 8th step?

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Oct 1, 2014 8:52 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2014 8:52 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    bobsbarricades wrote:

     

    Shouldn't I have just done the 8th step?

    It depends upon how you want it configured.  If you start iTunes the default action will be to put the library files on your internal drive.  If you then drag the media files to the library it will copy them to the internal drive.  You can, of course, keep the media folder on the external drive if before you add the files to iTunes you designate the external drive as your media folder location.  Unless you have a specific reason to split your library files (media in one place, remainder of library files in another) creating the library on the external drive makes more sense so it is easier to move it all in a few minutes when you need to.  You did ask, "Is there a way I can think of it in the future so it won't always feel so complicated?" and keeping it all together is the least complicated.  Just decide if you want it on the external or internal drive.

  • by bobsbarricades,

    bobsbarricades bobsbarricades Oct 1, 2014 8:57 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 1, 2014 8:57 AM in response to Limnos

    So if I had started iTunes, pointed it's library to the external, and then done "Add to Library" it would've had the same effect? If true, I think the missing link, and this is my inability to communicate properly, was the Add to Library command in the menu. 

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Oct 1, 2014 9:11 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2014 9:11 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    A city library is a building with infrastructure plus a collection of books.  An iTunes library is the same.  The library files are a bunch of files that give iTunes the structure you see when you open iTunes, such as playlists, ratings, etc., plus the media files.  "Pointing" in iTunes preferences doesn't tell iTunes to put the library structural files there, it only tells iTunes where to store the media (actual music, movies) files you add from that point on.  If you do as you say, start iTunes, it will create the library files in the default location (the internal drive).  If you then point to the external drive it will think, "Okay, any media files now added from this point on will go to that location."  You will end up with your library files on the internal drive and your media files on the external drive.  This will make it complicated to move in the future.  There can be reasons for wanting to split a library but I'm not hearing any from you.

     

    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

     

    If you want iTunes to use a library in any other location other than the default location in your music folder on your internal drive you will have to use the option+start feature at some stage to tell iTunes to use the library in another place, either by making a new one there or using one that has been copied to that other location.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Oct 1, 2014 9:30 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (79,584 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 1, 2014 9:30 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    bobsbarricades wrote:

     

    So if I had started iTunes, pointed it's library to the external, and then done "Add to Library" it would've had the same effect? If true, I think the missing link, and this is my inability to communicate properly, was the Add to Library command in the menu.

    Doing as I suggested above will put everything iTunes together (not just the media) in one folder (on the external).

    Doing this will make it simpler to manage everything.

  • by bobsbarricades,

    bobsbarricades bobsbarricades Oct 1, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 1, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Chris CA

    I know I marked this as solved, but turns out after it loaded all of those files it didn't remember anything about them.  The metadata describing which were audiobooks was totally erased.  So now all my 20 some audiobooks are scattered throughout my 30k plus song library waiting to be relabeled as audiobooks =(

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Oct 1, 2014 11:06 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2014 11:06 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    bobsbarricades wrote:

     

    I know I marked this as solved, but turns out after it loaded all of those files it didn't remember anything about them.  The metadata describing which were audiobooks was totally erased.  So now all my 20 some audiobooks are scattered throughout my 30k plus song library waiting to be relabeled as audiobooks =(

    None of them?

     

    Audiobooks showing up under music

  • by bobsbarricades,

    bobsbarricades bobsbarricades Oct 1, 2014 11:08 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 1, 2014 11:08 AM in response to Limnos

    No, I've had to go back and reauthorize my audible books, try to find my sherlock holmes radio shows, firefighters audiobook Bible, etc.. and go into the "get Info section to remind them they are audiobooks.  All of them. 

     

    Thankfully it kept track of my podcasts as Ravi Zacharias switched his server and there are still hundreds of older podcasts I had stored. 

  • by bobsbarricades,

    bobsbarricades bobsbarricades Oct 1, 2014 11:27 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 1, 2014 11:27 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    Geez, this gets even crazier when you are forced to sync your phone.  Same "architecture" of the iTunes folder.  Absolutely NOTHING has changed in that folder...yet I have to erase my entire iPhone and resync it to this one...

     

    As much as I love how most of Apple products work iTunes has been such a huge pain for me to use for almost a decade now.

     

    sorry - it wont let me edit my other post.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Oct 1, 2014 11:31 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2014 11:31 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    Without having details about the files from you I cannot say why it happened.  Generally audiobooks have a .m4b extension which is unique to audiobooks but I guess if you have radio shows then possibly they are in .mp3 format and there is nothing really telling iTunes they are audiobooks. iTunes gets the "kind" information from the file type unless it is specifically told a file is something else.  When you re-added them to the library they reverted back to being identified as music files.  This is why it is handy being able to re-locate all your iTunes library intact so you don't have to re-add files.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Oct 1, 2014 11:33 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2014 11:33 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    Yes on the iPhone.  You have created a new library, even if it has similar content.  An i-device can only sync with one library ata time and it isn't seeing the old one so it will erase the content on the phone and sync the content from this library.

  • by bobsbarricades,

    bobsbarricades bobsbarricades Oct 1, 2014 11:33 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 1, 2014 11:33 AM in response to Limnos

    Wait, what's the difference between re-locating and re-addng?   It sounds like re-locating is exactly what I was trying to in the first place since they were already on my external!

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Oct 1, 2014 11:59 AM in response to bobsbarricades
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2014 11:59 AM in response to bobsbarricades

    If any one thing is your "library" it its the iTunes Library.itl file.  This contains a list of all the files iTunes recognizes, the playlists, ratings, playcount, etc.  If a track exists in your media folder but is not listed in this file then as far as iTunes is concerned it doesn't exist. From the information we had earlier it sounded like you did not preserve the iTunes folder which contains this file from your pre-"fresh install" time.  You basically lost your library structure and all you had were the media files which had been stored on a separate drive.  Did you in fact retain all your files and folders from before the install?  I am presuming not because otherwise iTunes should have simply started up as it did before (it is possible to reinstall a system and keep all other files intact).

     

    Relocating = moving a library from one place to another..

     

    Re-adding = your files were in a library but you create a new blank library and the files have to be added to that to be recognized as being part of your iTunes collection.

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