Confused about File System for iTunes

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Level 1

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Confused about File System for iTunes

My laptop was recently serviced. The resulting file system is confusing--before I make any changes, I would appreciate some guidance. There are two hard drives on my computer, both with iTunes files:

C:\username\my documents\username's music\iTunes (contains itunes library.itl and itunes music libary.xml)\previous tunes

DATA (D:)\my music\itunes (contains the music folders)\usernames' music\itunes (contains itunes4musiclibary.itl and ituneslibrary.itl and itunesmusiclibrary.xml)

I want data and music files on the D:\ and program files on the C:\ - HOW do I clean up this mess? Thank you.

HP Pavilion Laptop, Windows XP

Posted on Aug 10, 2008 8:14 AM

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Answer 1

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Aug 10, 2008 8:35 AM in response to LCSteve

It's hard to tell exactly what is going on from what you say, the the deault arrangement for iTunes is very simple.

When you install iTunes it creates an iTunes folder in c:...\My Music. This folder contains:
The Library databases - iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml
The iTunes Music folder - the default location for all music files.
The album artwork for artwork downloaded from the iTunes store.

In addition to this, iTunes has the capacity to create a new library somewhere else by doing a shift key start - this prompts you to choose a library, or create a new one.

You can also copy your iTunes folder to another location with Windows explorer and then use the shift key start to tell iTunes to use it - "Choose a library".

So the questions, which library was iTunes using before? One or the other? Also did the the library in use only use music files from its own iTunes Music folder or did it also point to files in the other location.

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Answer 2

LCSteve Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 10, 2008 10:11 AM in response to polydorus

It appears iTunes has primarily used the folder on the C:\ drive, since the itl file is 3.82 mb and the xml file is 4.43 mb.

On the D:\ drive in the "first" itunes folder <D:\mymusic\itunes>, the itl file is 32.6 KB and the xml file is 52.1 KB...in the "second" itunes folder (D:\mymusic\itunes\username's music\itunes>, the itunes4musiclibrary.itl file is only 8 KB, the ituneslibrary.itl is 9 KB, and the xml file is 6 KB.

How it got so messed up, I don't know--as I said earlier, though, I'm afraid to change things until I better understand HOW to change them. My "goal" is to have all the music files on the D:\ drive.

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