stream movies from external HD to ATV

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stream movies from external HD to ATV

All of my movies are stored on my external HD. How can I get Itunes to find them so I can stream them thru my ATV? thanks!

Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jun 15, 2010 2:08 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 15, 2010 2:14 PM in response to lacyb13

A couple of ways, but firstly you need to plan a strategy for storing content.

Can I assume you have music and some other stuff already in itunes and on your internal drive. If so, do you want all your content on the external drive including music etc or just the movies.

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Answer 2

capaho

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Jun 15, 2010 6:35 PM in response to lacyb13

Change the location of your iTunes library in iTunes preferences to the external drive, then run the options from the File->Library->Organize Library menu in iTunes. Keep in mind that your video files need to be in a format that is iTunes/ATV compatible for them to play on an ATV.

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Answer 3

lacyb13 Author

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Jun 16, 2010 9:11 PM in response to Winston Churchill

I keep all of my music and photos on the internal HD. But all of my movies are saved on the External when I import on imovie. I edit them and create projects in imovie. I keep them on the external drive because I have run out of room on the internal drive.

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Answer 4

lacyb13 Author

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Jun 16, 2010 9:13 PM in response to capaho

I keep all of my music and photos on the internal drive. would that keep me from being able to access them?

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Answer 5

capaho

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Jun 16, 2010 11:08 PM in response to lacyb13

The files you have on the internal drive will remain in the library list, but you will have to run the options as I indicated previously in order to update all of the file location information in iTunes.

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Answer 6

Jolly Giant

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Jun 17, 2010 1:43 AM in response to lacyb13

lacyb13 wrote:
All of my movies are stored on my external HD. How can I get Itunes to find them so I can stream them thru my ATV? thanks!

assuming you have selected to +copy files to ... when adding to library+ in the advanced pane of the iTunes preferences, just drag them (or the folder containing them) from the external into an open iTunes window while pressing option on your keyboard. this will cause iTunes to index the path to the original's location (the external) but not copy the files physically.

if you want to use these files, make sure the drive is mounted on your desktop *before+ you launch iTunes.

also, as capaho mentioned, the files need to be in a format that iTunes and TV understand.

J GG

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Answer 7

lacyb13 Author

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Jun 18, 2010 10:45 AM in response to Jolly Giant

Ok, I am going to try this. But how will I know if it worked? is there a way to see the path in itunes?

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Answer 8

Jolly Giant

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Jun 18, 2010 10:47 AM in response to lacyb13

lacyb13 wrote:
is there a way to see the path in itunes?

yes. right-click on a file in iTunes and go to the summary pane. it will show you the path to the file's location @ the bottom of the window.

J GG

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Answer 9

lacyb13 Author

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Jun 18, 2010 12:00 PM in response to lacyb13

I cannot get it to work.
It just keeps copying the file.
I have deleted the movies I have in itunes because they are stored on the external HD
NOw I want to be able to play them on the ATV but keep them on the external.
I have tried doing what you suggested.
I opened the ext. HD
I opened itunes.
I held down option and clicked on a movie in "imovie projects" folder in ext. HD window
I tried to drag it into itunes.
nothing happens
It will copy without holding the option. but nothing happens while holding the options
What exactly is an "open window" Maybe that is what I am doing wrong....not dragging it to the right spot???

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Answer 10

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jun 18, 2010 12:36 PM in response to lacyb13

lacyb13 wrote:
I cannot get it to work.
It just keeps copying the file.

check your settings in preferences > advanced. is +copy to iTunes media folder when adding to library+ checked or not ? if it isn't, don't press option.

if it is, you need to keep pressing option while you drag (and keep option pressed for a little while for good measure) until you see iTunes saying +determining volume+ ... or something along th@ line.