Q: How to move iTunes syncing from Windows 7 to mac
Up to very recently, I was using an external hard drive and Windows 7 to sync my iPhone and iPad with iTunes. I can't do that anymore. Not only am I not able to use Windows 7 any longer but the external hard drive is now dead. However, I had a backup of all the files from that external hard drive. What I'd like to do, if possible, is to use a new hard drive to do the syncing with iTunes but from my Mac mini instead of Windows 7. What's the procedure to achieve what seems to me like a mission impossible? Thanks for your help.
Mac mini, iOS 5.1.1
Posted on Jul 23, 2015 5:22 AM
Not impossible by any means, but two main considerations here.
A drive formatted for use with Windows won't work fully with a Mac without being reformatted. You can read files to copy off but you can't write to the drive without reformatting or using special NTFS software. If you go the reformat route you will have to store the files somewhere else temporarily while reformatting. You probably want to consider getting a new drive anyway since you now no longer have a backup.
Second, it depends upon exactly which files are on the external drive. If you had a complete iTunes folder on there, including the critical iTunes Library.itl file, you can start iTunes from that library (once you sort out the drive format issue) by holding down the option/alt key while starting iTunes and selecting the .itl file when iTunes asks you to select a library. If you only had media on there you will need to recover the .itl and related files from the Windows computer and move them to the Mac, preferably putting them all together again. See "portable" --> https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392
Posted on Jul 23, 2015 6:58 AM
