Original Music Files Can't Be Found After Computer Move

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Original Music Files Can't Be Found After Computer Move

I recently purchased a new computer with Windows 7 (my old was XP). I downloaded and installed iTunes 9 on this new computer. I then used an external backup drive I had to transfer all my iTunes files over from my old computer to my new one.

Now, when I click on any song in my library, it tells me it cannot find the original file. I can browse to it and find it, but it only corrects that single song and none of the other thousand or so I have. I really don't want to have to do each one, one at a time.

I have been searching the net and this forum for a few hours, and found plenty of posts on recommendations on how to transfer the files to a new computer. The problem is, I am already past that point - I had already moved them all (and it appears not the recommeded way). Is there some way I can re-point/re-map all my files at once so it knows where to find them on my new computer (they are all there!). Or conversely, maybe I can move all the files to the location where it is looking for them. Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks.

Dell, Windows 7

Posted on Apr 17, 2010 4:36 PM

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Answer 1

ed2345

Level 9

63,632 points

Apr 17, 2010 8:51 PM in response to Joe_14

Joe_14 wrote:
The problem is, I am already past that point - I had already moved them all (and it appears not the recommeded way).

Now you see why the recommended way is recommended!

If they were all Consolidated on the old machine, and you copied over the entire iTunes folder, then the library will be intact on the new machine.

Is there some way I can re-point/re-map all my files at once so it knows where to find them on my new computer (they are all there!). Or conversely, maybe I can move all the files to the location where it is looking for them.

There is no automatic way. You can repoint them manually, or you can try as much as possible to put them back the way they were, or you can re-add them to the library and create new library entries.

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Answer 2

Mothy

Level 1

10 points

Apr 17, 2010 9:05 PM in response to ed2345

I have this same situation happening to me. I upgraded my laptop from one OS to another and still have hundreds of songs that won't sync after spending hours burning my CDs to my music file.

This is why I hate to use iTunes. iTunes kept me from buying an iPhone for quite some time. It will be the reason why I switch to a Windows based phone if there are no changes soon. I'm a huge Apple fan, but this is where Windows has Apple beat. (Maybe the only place, but a big area in my opinion.) Windows Media is 100X more user friendly, better drag and drop functional, and seems to be a smarter application. I'm sure Apple is aware of this and will make adjustments as more and more new users join. I'm strickly talking about the phone syncing module. I don't use iTunes for anything else.

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 17, 2010 9:54 PM in response to Mothy

I upgraded my laptop from one OS to another and still have hundreds of songs that won't sync after spending hours burning my CDs to my music file.

You don't "burn CDs to a music file".
There are many music files and you import or RIP files from a CD to the computer.

Shouldn't have taken that long. You could fit about 120 songs to a data CD. Better yet, use a DVD and burn about 1000 songs to it.

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Answer 4

Joe_14 Author

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Apr 18, 2010 10:56 AM in response to Chris CA

Sheesh, I though Apple was supposed to be more user-friendly than Windows!

All my songs were in the same location on my old computer, so I am pretty sure that they are "consolidated" in the same location on my new computer. They are all under the same folder, it just doesn't appear to be where iTunes is looking for them! If I could figure out where iTunes "wants" them to be, I could move all the files there.

Or is it not even worth the hassle and would it make more sense to wipe out all the songs/library on my new computer try re-importing them from scratch? I just downloaded two new songs since the move, so I would just need to make sure that I don't lose them.

By the way, can someone explain to me the difference between the iTunes "Media" folder and the iTunes "Music" folder? The Music folder seems to hold all the songs. Is the Media folder where playlists are stored?

Thanks

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 18, 2010 12:01 PM in response to Joe_14

I just downloaded two new songs since the move, so I would just need to make sure that I don't lose them.

In iTunes, select these new songs and drag them to the desktop for now.

would it make more sense to wipe out all the songs/library on my new computer try re-importing them from scratch?

All you need to do is copy \Music\iTunes\ folder from the old computer to the new computer.
You don't need to add to library or reimport or anything else.

the difference between the iTunes "Media" folder and the iTunes "Music" folder?

Itunes 9 changed to the Media folder. Inside this are folder for Music, Podcasts, Movies, Playlists, etc, instead of having everything in the Music folder.
If you had a library prior to iTUnes 9 and simply upgraded iTunes, it will retain the iTunes music folder.
If your create a new library or upgrade the old library, it will use the iTunes media folder.

Is the Media folder where playlists are stored?

No. The playlists (and all other info about everything in the library) are stored in the iTunes library,itl file.

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Answer 6

taradeer

Level 1

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Apr 18, 2010 12:41 PM in response to Joe_14

I have the same problem. All of the music is in the ITunes folder,but I am having to manually locate each one. Very frustrating!

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Answer 7

Joe_14 Author

Level 1

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Apr 19, 2010 7:45 PM in response to Joe_14

OK. I figured it out. On my old computer, the files were under "iTunes Music" folder. On my new computer, they are under the "iTunes Media/Music" folder. So I just moved all the subfolders and files from the "iTunes Music" folder to the "iTunes Media/Music" folder, and voila, most of them showed up. I just had to do a little clean-up and re-point my compilations and Amazon MP3 downloads.

After all is said and done, only missing one file. But I will continue to look for that one.

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Answer 8

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 19, 2010 11:59 PM in response to Joe_14

On my old computer, the files were under "iTunes Music" folder

The music/media files are there but if you had simply copied the folder above that (\Music\iTunes\ folder) everything would have copied fine and your library would be identical to the old computer.

However, you seem to have it sorted at this point so good luck!

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Answer 9

Joe_14 Author

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Apr 20, 2010 5:37 PM in response to Chris CA

I had copied them over exactly as they were, but the thing was the structure of the iTunes folder layout appeared to have changed. It is possible, because I downloaded a newer version of iTunes on my new computer before I copied over the music files. They must have made some changes, otherwise, it would have worked like you and I expected it to.

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Answer 10

taradeer

Level 1

0 points

Apr 20, 2010 5:40 PM in response to Joe_14

I finally found that too and put them in there,,, still doesn't seem to be working. I think I will wait till the weekend when I am rested and don't feel like trowing things to try again!

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Answer 11

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 20, 2010 7:43 PM in response to Joe_14

They must have made some changes, otherwise, it would have worked like you and I expected it to.

It would not have worked because you did not copy the entire iTunes folder.
You copied just the music files. The entire folder needs to be replaced else it will not work.

I downloaded a newer version of iTunes on my new computer before I copied over the music files

Don't copy just the music files.
You need to copy the entire \Music\iTunes\ folder & replace the \Music\iTunes\ folder on the new computer.

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