b How to copy and move your music files from one computer to another
This is the conceptual framework with related and important links. Apply it to your specific situation and resources.
The safest and best way (in my opinion) to move your Library to a new computer is to actually clone the entire iTunes folder structure, rather than just copying the song files. By copying the entire iTunes folder and all sub-folders, you capture not only the music files, but the all-important .ITL Library file (located directly in the iTunes folder), which contains all the data about your songs (playlists, ratings, comments, playcounts, last played, etc). See:
What are the iTunes Library files?
Install iTunes on the new computer. Then go back to your old computer and move the "iTunes" folder which usually resides inside your "My Music" folder from the old computer to the
i exact same place
on the new one. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will behave exactly the same way it did on the old, Play counts, ratings, comments and all!
b It is usually safer moving files between computers with the same version of iTunes!!
This process works best when cloning exact versions of iTunes, your music files and the iTunes meta-data files. It is also important to note that there is a new naming convention for the iTunes .ITL database file when moving from version 4.8 to 4.9. The ITL file is upward compatible, but not downward compatible (4.8 will choke on a 4.9 ITL file).
Here's a list of methods to copy and move your music files from one computer to another:
1) Use an External Hard Drive (ExHD) to move the complete files and Folder structures from one computer to another (my preferred option). You can clone the entire iTunes folder structure in one very easy step.
2) Connect the two computers through a router. Or use a Crossover (for PC-to-PC) or Direct (for Mac/Mac or Mac/PC) Ethernet cable (See:
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3001.html). Copy files between computers.
3) Connect the two computers via a USB-to-USB Network Bridge. See:
here as an example.
4) Use the
iPod as a transfer device, as this extensive Apple link explains. This well written process also works fine while using any other data transfer medium (ExHD, Flash Drive, DVD, CD, Zipp, Jazz, etc.). It will be a bit easier if your iPod (or copy medium) has a larger capacity than your music collection, otherwise you will need to perform multiple copy/move transfers.
5) Burn several DVDs (at 4.7GBs each) with your music data files and load them onto the new computer. Re-writable DVDs are more cost effective (if your DVD drive can manage these types).
6) Burn 6x more on CDs (at 700MB each) than in #5 above and load the files on the new computer. Re-writable CDs are more cost effective (if your CD drive can manage these types).
7) Use a larger USB Flash drive (1GB - 4GB) to move the files. Best if the flash drive is larger than your Library, otherwise you will need multiple copy/move transfers.
Switch from PC to Mac Using the iPod
Hudgie, "Migrating iTunes for Windows to a new PC", 04:11pm Jun 9, 2005 CDT
How to copy music between authorized computers
