iTunes Music Library vs iTunes Media

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iTunes Music Library vs iTunes Media

I have been using iTunes for quite some time and have always allowed iTunes to 'keep iTunes media library organized'. I was recently checking on a song in the library and noticed that iTunes has changed it's default path sometime in the last few months and is now putting newly added tracks to 'iTunes Media'.

I have checked through the help files and they indicate, 'If you upgraded to this version of iTunes, you can reorganize your iTunes media by selecting "Reorganize files."' but I have not found anywhere in iTunes that has a "Reorganize files" option.

Is this button missing from the Windows version of iTunes? Is there any automatic way to move all files or do I just need to use the 'consolidate my library' option and then delete the original 'iTunes Music Library' folder?

Thanks,
Dave

IBM, Windows 7, None

Posted on Jun 29, 2010 9:58 PM

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Answer 1

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Jun 30, 2010 12:04 AM in response to Lucky_D

Look at the screenshot from this apple article.
Is the bottom option to "upgrade to itunes media organization" grayed out on your PC? If so, it's already been done.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3847

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Answer 2

Lucky_D Author

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Jun 30, 2010 12:36 PM in response to Katrina S.

Yes, it is already grayed out. As mentioned in my first e-mail, I have always used the iTunes organization, but now that iTunes has changed their default location, is there any automatic way to put it all back in one place?

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jun 30, 2010 12:52 PM in response to Lucky_D

As mentioned in my first e-mail, I have always used the iTunes organization

*Keep iTunes music folder organized* in iTunes prefs -> Advanced is not the same as using the *iTunes Media organization* in iTunes menu File -> Library, which was introduced only in iTunes 9.
The folder organization is slightly different.

but now that iTunes has changed their default location, is there any automatic way to put it all back in one place?

See the link above.
iTunes menu File -> Library -> Organize library.
Tick Consolidate. This will copy everything in iTunes into the new folders if they are not already there.

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Answer 4

Lucky_D Author

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Jun 30, 2010 2:52 PM in response to Chris CA

If you read my first post, I was hoping to avoid this as I'm not sure I have space or time to wait for it to duplicate my 60Gb music library as 59.9Gb is in the old "iTunes Music Library" and only the last month's music (about 20 tracks) is in the new "iTunes Media" folder. I was hoping that this missing mystery 'reorganize' button would move rather than copy and speed up the process.

If I use the 'consolidate' function, will this update all the links within the iTunes application so I can remove the original 'iTunes Music Library folder'?

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jun 30, 2010 4:24 PM in response to Lucky_D

I'm not sure I have space or time to wait for it to duplicate my 60Gb music library as 59.9Gb is in the old "iTunes Music Library" and only the last month's music (about 20 tracks) is in the new "iTunes Media" folder.

Consolidate won't duplicate anything if it's already in the iTunes folder (either the Music or the Media folder). It will be moved around. If it's outside the iTunes folder, it will be copied into the iTunes folder

If I use the 'consolidate' function, will this update all the links within the iTunes application so I can remove the original 'iTunes Music Library folder'?

Can you be more specific?
There is no _iTunes music library folder_.

I was hoping that this missing mystery 'reorganize' button would move rather than copy and speed up the process.

If you have a previous (to iTunes 9) library and youreorganize to the iTunes media folder, iTunes will still use the \Music\iTunes\iTunes music\ folder. For some reason, it does not rename this folder.

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Answer 6

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 1, 2010 1:10 AM in response to Lucky_D

Yes, I'm curious too, about the exact folder paths you're seeing.
Where are the 20 new tracks?
Where are the other older tracks?

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