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Copy/Move Itunes from one computer to another

Greetings,

I need help...I purchased a new Sony Vaio laptop and wanted to copy all my music (itunes, walmart purchases, and music ripped from CDs). I read all I could online, including this site and consulted a local college student. All said I could just copy the entire My Music folder from one computer to the other. I did (making sure I placed the itunes song in the Media folder) and then added folder to the Library. Everything works fine except I do not have the ability to looked at my purchased songs. (1) How do I recreate the purchased songs log? (2)Is there a legal issue of leaving the songs on the old computer (desktop)? (3) Are there any problems/issues I need to know before I get too far down this path? Thanks for your help. BTW, I have made backups of my itunes account.

Sony Vaio F series, Windows 7

Posted on Aug 22, 2010 11:11 AM

Reply
13 replies

Aug 24, 2010 9:14 AM in response to Eddy_G

If you still have your old PC and want all your previous ratings, playlists etc, there is an easier way than adding your songs to a new blank library....but you didn't ask about that, exactly.


+1) How do I recreate the purchased songs log?+
First you need to be able to see the Green "Purchased" icon under the STORE section on the left. Get a free songs of the week.
Make a smart playlist that has "kind contains protected". Control-A to seleact everything in the samrt playlist and drag&drop that onto the green Purchased icon.
Repeat using a smart playlist that has "kind contains purchased".
If you get a message about skipping duplicates, by all means, skip duplicates.





(2)Is there a legal issue of leaving the songs on the old computer (desktop)?
You can have purchases on up to 5 PCs. Matter of fact, it's an excellent idea to have them on another PC as a backup, since there is only one download from the store for music & video.
Just remember to deauthorize your old PC if you are going to get rid of it.




(3) Are there any problems/issues I need to know before I get too far down this path?
Not sure what you're asking, here.

Aug 25, 2010 10:54 AM in response to Katrina S.

Thank you for your assistance.

First, if there is an easier method of copying the library, I am interested in learning how. However, I want to maintain BOTH computers with the same songs on each. I have authorized both computers and I can share the library while at home, but not any other time.

Second, I do not have a Green "Purchased" icon under the STORE; all I have is "iTunes Store". On my desktop (computer with original library) I have the "Purchased" icon. I took a screen shot, but there is not a way to attach to this reply.

Third, my last question was just a request for any information, advice or warning for any problems/circumstances I might not have thought of to ask about.

Finally, and this is not related to my original post. I have both Windows Media Player and iTunes...Windows Media Player does a much better job of album artwork and to manually assign artwork. Is there any manual method for iTunes?

Aug 25, 2010 12:41 PM in response to Eddy_G

You're welcome!

+First, if there is an easier method of copying the library,+
There is, and the method you tried at first should have worked. Are both PCs running the same version of itunes? If they are both at the latest version 9, did the old PC ever have itunes 8 on it before?
+All said I could just copy the entire My Music folder from one computer to the other. I did (making sure I placed the itunes song in the Media folder) and then added folder to the Library.+
There shouldn't have bee any placing itunes song in the Media folder - they should have already been there. And you shouldn't have had to add the folder to the library. Copying the entire folder over should have been as easy as opening itunes and seeing the complete library as it looked on the old PC. Sounds like you started with a blank library on the new PC and added songs - that's adding some steps that changed the desired result.



Second, I do not have a Green "Purchased" icon under the STORE
When you start with a blank library and haven't made any new purchases, that's normal. If you get a free single of the week it will show up. Then you can add your previous purchases like I posted with the smart playlists.
Or you can go back and do the move from the old PC correctly, and it will all be there.



Let's get all that sorted before talking artwork - you're right, WMP gets artwork from AMG and itunes locks you into the itunes store. But that is another thread!



oops, I meant to ask if you have read this iLounge article and understand the difference between itunes library content vs itunes library database
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/

Message was edited by: Katrina S.

Aug 25, 2010 1:48 PM in response to Katrina S.

Thanks again for your assistance. I know some of this might be straightforward for many people, but with 8 titanium rods in my back and the strong narcotics to help decrease the pain--well let's just say, sometimes the words just run together. So this Ol' Marine really appreciates your help.

First, both PCs are running the latest version (9.2.1.5). However, the original computer had several previous versions, thus the location of My Music instead of My Media. To clarify my process: on my laptop (new computer) I have iTunes installed on C drive. All my user files, including My Music is located on D drive. I copied the My Music folder from the original computer to the new laptop. On the original computer, there was an iTunes folder inside My Music; the same was true for my new laptop. The only music on the new laptop were the three included songs with either the iTunes install or songs placed there from the OS. I copied all the songs from My Music to the new My Music folder and the files in the old iTunes Music folder were copied to Media (within the iTunes folder). I then verified that the folder was included in the location for songs (I cannot remember the exact wording of the selection or choice.)

Second, I will try to get a free song and verify My Purchases shows up.

Third, I just glanced at the link you provided--yes, I read that article a couple of weeks ago. I will re-read it again.

Finally,since I want to maintain both computers with the same songs, will have to copy entire library each time I make a purchase? If so, should I make purchases on the same machine each time and then copy to the other computer? These are some of the unkowns I alluded to earlier.

Have a good day!

Aug 25, 2010 6:34 PM in response to Eddy_G

+First, both PCs are running the latest version (9.2.1.5). However, the original computer had several previous versions, thus the location of My Music instead of My Media+
Good to know - the different folder structure between 8 and 9 has tripped things up when moving libraries.



+All my user files, including My Music is located on D drive+.
Now I think I know the problem. On your new PC, you might think you moved everything to D: but itunes is still going to create an ITL on C: and use that.
Unless you do a shift-start and choose the ITL file on D:

Message was edited by: Katrina S.

Aug 25, 2010 7:19 PM in response to Katrina S.

When I signed onto my itunes account on my new computer most of the purchased songs from the old computer were there but many songs weren't. My purchase history shows that these missing songs were purchased but are not showing up in my library or purchased file. I'm not sure how to get access all of my purchased songs on my new computer. I do have home share enabled for 5 computers and am not sure if this has anything to do with it. Thanks for your help.

Aug 25, 2010 9:17 PM in response to Katrina S.

I double-checked--all program files are on C drive. I checked the registry to verify. Only the media files are located on D drive. Path is D:\Users\Eddy\Documents\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media.

Will I have to copy everything from one computer to the other every time I make a purchase to maintain two libraries?

If you will help me with that, I will figure everything else out.

Thanks for your time.

Aug 26, 2010 12:05 AM in response to Eddy_G

+If so, should I make purchases on the same machine each time and then copy to the other computer?+
I've found it easiest to keep things straight that way.


+Will I have to copy everything from one computer to the other every time I make a purchase to maintain two libraries?+
Yes. Some folks like Home Sharing, and I have used it a little bit. But mostly I just use it to see what's missing on the 2nd PC, and copy the files over using Windows Explorer and regular windows file sharing.



The reason I resigned myself to using one PC as the main itunes library is, there is no way to combine play counts. Some programs (such as TuneRanger) claim to do this, but they are around $30 and the online reviews I've read aren't so hot.




+Path is D:\Users\Eddy\Documents\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media.+
If there is an ITL file in D:\Users\Eddy\Documents\Music\iTunes, when itunes is closed, double-click on it and it will launch itunes with your old library. You can only double-click in Windows 7. Older OS, you need to do the shift-start of itunes. I discovered yesterday by accident that double-clicking finally works in Win 7. The shift-start is kind of a pain.

Aug 26, 2010 7:22 AM in response to Katrina S.

I think I determined the problem, but then again it might be the way iTunes 9 consolidates, in which case I am incorrect.

This is my current file structure for the library. Keep in mind this would be alot easier if I could send a screenshot but still have not determined if this forum allows or has the capabilities to do so.
All on D drive...
My Documents\My Music\AC-DC
\Air Supply
\Alabama
\...
\iTunes\iTunes Media\
\Automatically Add to iTunes
\Music\12 Stones
\Aerosmith
\Alan Jackson
\...
\Music\Aerosmith
\Alan Jackson

Note I have a Music folder inside a Music folder inside the Media folder. I have searched for several hours to find the correct folder structure of iTunes 9 in Windows 7 but cannot find it. While I have duplicate folders (Aerosmith, Alan Jackson) I have different songs in both folders. I know some were purchased by iTunes, some from Wal-Mart and some were ripped. Just about all of my songs from iTunes show up 4 times (2 mp4 and 2 mp3). BTW, I spent over an hour repopulating my Purchased items. I completely understand all the frustrated posts on the web of people like myself tried to do what Apple suggested, but the library(ies) just get all messed up. Do y'all read posts on the web?

As you can imagine, I am just about ready to only listen to live365.com or use Windows Media Player exclusively. At this point is it easier to delete everything on the new computer (if so direct me to a link to do it the APPLE way) and then copy or is it IMPORT all the files again. If so, please direct me to the link so I can do it the APPLE way.

Nov 5, 2010 9:24 PM in response to Eddy_G

Well since I first started this process several months ago, I have read and re-read everything that will simplfy this process. I have removed all the songs on my new laptop, upgraded to latestet release and attempted to copy my entire music library (which includes an Itunes library, downloaded songs from Wal-Mart, and songs I burned) to the new computer. I cannot under any circumstance get Itunes to find any of the songs I have moved. I have double-checked the default location of the songs and that is where the songs are located. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER PROCESS. I took this to a local computer store and they said they would not even mess with moving itunes (legal reason, copyright etc). They did say, Apple purposely makes this process difficult for Windows users. There are hundreds of websites that tell you how to move or copy your songs and I have tried several. Nothing works. PLEASE HELP ME. I have been dealing with this too long. (1) All the information is included in the posts above. I want to copy my songs and have them play. PLEASE HELP.

Nov 5, 2010 9:48 PM in response to Eddy_G

Do you still have the original computer with all the files?
They did say, Apple purposely makes this process difficult for Windows users

They were incorrect.
Moving iTunes is exactly the same for Windows or Mac OS and it is very simple.
All said I could just copy the entire My Music folder from one computer to the other. I did (making sure I placed the itunes song in the Media folder) and then added folder to the Library.

That's not how to do it.
All my user files, including My Music is located on D drive. I copied the My Music folder from the original computer to the new laptop. On the original computer, there was an iTunes folder inside My Music; the same was true for my new laptop. The only music on the new laptop were the three included songs with either the iTunes install or songs placed there from the OS. I copied all the songs from My Music to the new My Music folder and the files in the old iTunes Music folder were copied to Media (within the iTunes folder).

If you copy /My Documents/My Music/iTunes/ folder from the hold computer to /Music/ on the new computer, it should work fine.
Open iTunes and everything should be there.

Nov 8, 2010 1:23 AM in response to Eddy_G

This does sound very frustrating!
Apparently I am not understanding where/how the files on the old PC are organized. Instead of being scattered over the hard drive it sounds like they are in nested folders several levels deep, and that is confusing things.
How it got that way, I do not know.
Anyway - this is one of the drawbacks of trying to help folks over the internet, when you are not in front of the PC to see what's happening.



I don't understand why a PC shop couldn't help you. That sounds odd. The thing Apple makes difficult for both Mac & PC users is, copying non-iTunes songs from an Ipod to a PC. This is to stop folks from giving away songs to 100s of their closest friends.

Copy/Move Itunes from one computer to another

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