a novice user, libraries and external harddrives

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Level 1

8 points

a novice user, libraries and external harddrives

I have an external hard drive where I want to store my Itunes library. In fact I moved my library there and deleted, maybe prematurely, my libary on the main hard drive under my identity. Under preferences "advanced" I told Itunes where to find the library. Now when I try to sync my Ipod (I have a classic 80gb) it tells me that I am synced with another Itunes library and it asks me if I want to "erase and sync" or "transfer purchases". I don't want to loose anything, my son has his Itunes library on our main hard drive and I don't want to sync with that. On top of all that, I am truly a novice at all this. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Dell, Windows XP

Posted on Jun 23, 2008 9:31 AM

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Answer 1

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jun 23, 2008 9:47 AM in response to Western1425

Can you put everything back the way it was before you tried to make the move to the external?
Patrick

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Answer 2

Western1425 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 23, 2008 10:32 AM in response to PT

I think so. But I would prefer to have my library on the external HD. It is growning too large.

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Answer 3

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jun 23, 2008 11:49 AM in response to Western1425

Yes, I know. But if you can get everything back the way it was before. Then we can move the entire library to your external drive in a way that will work...
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 don't have those default setting in effect, then we will have to work to get everything consolidated first. But for now, assuming it was all self contained and you copied the folder... 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, or it doesn't seem to work correctly, then close iTunes, and restart iTunes again with the same instructions and point it back to your internal drive (original) location. Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307074 Patrick

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Answer 4

Western1425 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 23, 2008 12:34 PM in response to PT

Thank you very much. I am going to try this tonight. I really appreicate you taking the time. I did move everything back and it is working fine the old way, so I will start over.

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

278,351 points

Jun 23, 2008 1:09 PM in response to Western1425

Now you've restored you library you could try one of these step-by-step guides on how to move your library to the new location.

*iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Music folder (The iTunes Way)*
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305451 - OK if you're happy to let iTunes manage the naming of all your music files & folders.

*Moving your iTunes Music folder (The Control Freak Way)*
HOWTO: Move your iTunes music while preserving library data (when you don’t let iTunes manage your music library) - For control freaks like me who want more control over the file-level organisation of their library.

Normally your iTunes folder would end up at *C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\My Documents\Music\iTunes* and inside that folder is another called *iTunes Music*. Most relocation schemes involve moving the *iTunes Music* folder rather than the the main iTunes folder or the entire Music folder.

There is a third approach however - move any of the folders that you wish, Music, iTunes, iTunes Music to a new location and create a symbolic link or junction to redirect file requests from the old location to the new one. XP doesn't have a built in tool for creating these links, but I've found Junction Link Magic which works. Just move the folder (again! - sorry you'd moved it back while I was composing this message) then fire up *Junction Link Magic* and create a link from the original location of the folder you've moved to it's new location on your external drive.

tt2

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Answer 6

Western1425 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 23, 2008 1:18 PM in response to PT

This worked very well and very easily. Thank you. I appreciate your help.

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Answer 7

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Jun 23, 2008 1:35 PM in response to Western1425

You are welcome. The nice thing about this method, since everything is nicely self contained on the external in one folder, you can take that external drive to any computer running iTunes, use the same instructions to start iTunes to point to another library, and run your library off the external drive.
Useful if you want to use the same library in a couple places (home & work, home and summer home, etc.) or want to run it off a friend's computer, etc.
Anyway, glad you have it all set now. Have fun!
Patrick

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Answer 8

Jun 30, 2008 12:30 PM in response to Western1425

Hi,
When a add the complete album from external hd to iTunes sync in a alphabetical order. How could import musics from a complete album at the same order from hd (album) file?

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