How do I export complete itunes library (songs and all) to external HD

Question

Level 1

25 points

How do I export complete itunes library (songs and all) to external HD

I know I can backup my itunes library to dvds as I have done that but can I save a copy of it to a external HD like I did to a dvd. I want to export not just the playlist but my complete library with songs and all.

PC, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Jan 16, 2008 9:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jan 16, 2008 9:59 AM in response to James Olson

Assuming you use the iTunes default settings where iTunes copied added items to your iTunes folder and organizes your library (meaning - everything is all self contained in the iTunes folder), then all you have to do is drag & drop your iTunes folder (not just the iTunes Music folder you find inside the iTunes folder) to the external drive and copy the entire thing. If you want to test that it worked or would like to actually start using it from that location instead, use these instructions when you start iTunes to point it to the new location... How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447 If you are just testing, then close iTunes after you verify it works, and restart iTunes again with the same instructions and point it back to your internal drive (original) location. Patrick

Reply

Answer 2

James Olson Author

Level 1

25 points

Jan 16, 2008 10:21 AM in response to PT

Thanks Patrick for the quick response, I will try that shortly, one other question you might be able to help me with. Is there a way to email a person a list of my complete library, over 6500 songs. I guess I might have to zip it up though but let me know, thanks.

Reply

Answer 3

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jan 16, 2008 10:29 AM in response to James Olson

Easiest way is to Select All on the main library window so everything is highlighted. Do a Copy (Control-C). Now open a spreadsheet application (Excel, Open Office, etc.) and go to the second box down (leave the first row to add headers). Do a Paste (Control V) and your entire library will be neatly pasted in all lined up in columns just like in iTunes.
You can now easily delete the columns you do not want or sort your library in various ways. And you can also email the spreadsheet to someone (assuming they have a spreadsheet program that can open it).
Patrick

Reply

Answer 4

James Olson Author

Level 1

25 points

Jan 16, 2008 11:18 AM in response to PT

wow, thanks. thats awsome, now one last question, i went to my hard drive and opened the itunes folder up that i sent all my songs to and that worked fine but when i clicked on the elvis presley folder it brought up about 7 different folders inside elvis presley, so i clicked on each folder and about 5 folders only had one song in it and the other two folders had about 25 songs each in them so a total of about 55 songs approximately where in itunes under elvis presley i have well over 200, why didnt they show up under some of the folders i clicked on under elvis

Reply

Answer 5

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jan 16, 2008 11:39 AM in response to James Olson

Most likely it is because you have some Elvis tracks or albums in the iTunes library that are tagged as "Compilations". Compilations are stored in a folder called, {gasp!} Compilations and inside that will be folders by album. You may find some Elvis albums tucked in there. So to fix, select the albums that have this issue in iTunes, do a Get Info on the entire bunch of tracks, then change "Part of Compilation" from Yes, to No. Assuming you let iTunes organize everything, when you OK out of there, iTunes will move them to the proper folder location.
Compilation tags are really meant to tag albums of songs by different artists, not a collection of songs by a single artists like Greatest Hits albums. The idea is that if you have, for example, a Soundtrack with ten songs by ten artists, tagging it as a compilation will keep them together both in the iTunes library window and in the folder system. If you sort your library by Album by Year, it will sort them by artist, put the albums in order of release and then at the bottom of your library, all the compilation albums will be listed in order of release and all those artists kept together with their album rather than spread all over your library.
Patrick

Reply

Answer 6

James Olson Author

Level 1

25 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:09 PM in response to PT

thank you so much for all your help Patrick, really appreciate all the good info. thanks.

Reply

Answer 7

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jan 16, 2008 12:33 PM in response to James Olson

Glad I could help. Apple makes great products, great features, but gawd-awful documentation. So most of those great features become hidden features. 🙂
Patrick

Reply

Answer 8

James Olson Author

Level 1

25 points

Jan 17, 2008 11:41 PM in response to PT

Hi Patrick,
Im back, I finally got time to try and do what you said about the compilation of elvis songs i have and what i did was i highlighted all the elvis songs, probably around 200 or so and went into get info and bottom left there was compilation and it was no in the box and a empty box to the left of the box so i ck the box and hit enter i think and it went thru it appeared all the songs, took about 30 secs to a min and was done, i went back into the 7 or so folders and nothing changed, still missing alot of music, so where did i go wrong? also since it appears your up on apple, i really want the iphone but it appears sometime in 08 2.0 is coming out from the rumors i hear and more memory and 3g, even though 3g isnt in all areas but more memory anyway, i can wait but dont want to wait 6 months to a year, i know mac has there meeting this month, wonder if they will discuss the releasing of 2.0, what is your opinion? is it poss. just to email me directly so i dont have to go thru all this. goblue8000 at yahoo dot com. dont want to put it thru right way, sometimes they don t want email addresses on boards, not sure why.

Reply

Answer 9

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jan 18, 2008 6:14 AM in response to James Olson

Ok first thing to check is do you have your library set up in preferences to Keep Library Organized? Second, if you go into the "Compilations" folder, are the Elvis albums in there? If not, can you try to do a search for one of the songs in the Elvis folder and find out where it is being stored? You can actually do that in iTunes. Pick one of the songs, Get Info and the first tab summary page at the bottom is a "Where" field telling you were the actual media file is located.
Sounds like you did it right. If you pick a bunch of songs that are a mix between Yes and No with respect to being Part of a Compilation, if you Get Info that mix, the default is to show No even if some are Yes. Selecting the check box next to No and hitting OK like you did would indeed set ALL of them to No.
As I said, first thing to do is check that setting and then find out where it is iTunes is hiding those songs so we can figure out why and how to fix it.
Patrick

Reply