how to move MobileSync backup folder?

@ramirovgonzalez & hizaira:

Once you transfer the files out of the original "Backup" folder (on your C: drive) rename or delete that "Backup" folder so that junction can create a new one which links to your target folder.

Didnt work. I followed the instructions plus I changed the name of the driver from d to f . The message on command prompt is " 'D:\' is not recognised as internal or external command, operatable program or batch file"

Any ideas?

Oops, sorry proohu01, I left out .exe from the command. The response I got from the cmd when typed in correct was a lot of information about what the different postfixes do (-q, -s), starting of with information about the creator and then following up with: The first usage is for displaying reparse point information, the second usage... (and so on)

Does this indicate that the junction worked? (I can't see any folder (looking like a shortcut) in the origional location on the C:\ drive (Roaming\Apple Computers\)

Hi,

I have tried the steps perfectly as described.

When I run the command from the location where the junction file exists, it gives me the usage information about the junction.

Here is the command I used:

junction.exe C:\Users\kanna\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup H:\Itunes\mobilesync\Backup -s

following is the result i got

Junction v1.06 - Windows junction creator and reparse point viewer

Copyright (C) 2000-2010 Mark Russinovich

Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

The first usage is for displaying reparse point information, the

second usage is for creating a junction point, and the last for

deleting a junction point:

usage: junction [-s] [-q] <file or directory>

-q Don't print error messages (quiet)

-s Recurse subdirectories

usage: junction <junction directory> <junction target>

example: junction d:\link c:\windows

Can someone suggest me where I went wrong.??

Thanks

I used another tool called NTFS Link. Move the folder <Profiles>\<AppData>\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup to another location, then create an empty folder called Backup in <Profiles>\<AppData>\Apple Computer\MobileSync and use NTFS Link to create the junction.

tt2

Hi Stefan. Yes this is the iTunes for Mac forum, but sometimes questions end up in the wrong place or there is some crossover. You should be able to relocate the MobileSync/Backup folder using a junction as described elsewhere. As a PC user I don't have all the answers for this aspect for Mac users. Regarding the library itself however...

Here are typical layouts for the iTunes folders:

However in your case it would appear that your library has ended up in the ~Music folder instead of ~Music/iTunes.

If you have upgraded from version 8 (or earlier) to iTunes 9 (or later) at some point, then your media folder (everything inside the red outline) may still be called iTunes Music instead of iTunes Media. The extra Music folder inside the media folder is used if you have allowed iTunes to Upgrade to iTunes Media Organization (iTunes 9) or used File > Library > Organize Library > Reorganize files in the folder "<Media Folder>" (iTunes 10). Depending on your choices for Keep iTunes Media folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library plus a little bug in which one build changed the name of the file storing the choice of layout it is quite easy for some of your files to be organized according to one layout and some the other.

Assuming you're happy letting iTunes organize your files the following steps should tidy things up:

1. Make sure that under Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab your media folder is given as ~Music/iTunes Media. Edit if necessary, but don't consolidate files at this stage if prompted.

2. Select File > Library > Organize Library... > Tick Reorganize files in the folder "iTunes Media" and click OK. Skip if this option is greyed out (already upgraded).

3. Select File > Library > Organize Library... > Tick Consolidate files and click OK. This will bring any files currently organised outside the designated media folder into it. NB This will create duplicate copies of any file that needs to be consolidated, and you will need to manually clean up afterwards. If space is at a premium use something like Move Files to Folder to move files into the correct folders.

4. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab, uncheck Keep iTunes Media folder organized and click OK.

5. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab, check Keep iTunes Media folder organized and click OK. This triggers iTunes into reorganizing everything into the correct, portable, layout.

6. Close iTunes, wait a few seconds for it to finishing saving the library, then copy the entire Music folder to the root of the internal hard drive.

7. Rename the copied folder as iTunes

8. Click the icon to launch iTunes and immediately press down Option and continue to hold down until asked to Create or Choose a library. Choose the new copy of the library on the internal hard drive.

9. Once you are satisfied all is well you can delete the old copy on the SSD.

tt2

This does work, but what happens in my case is that it writes the content to both folders... so while it copies to my empty drive, it's also filling my C: - it's creating a mirror of content instead of just "linking" to the directory on the large drive... any ideas on how to remedy that?

I've been battling with this for a large part of this afternoon - I have linked my iTunes backup folder to my external drive, and it's copying stuff there, but the problem is it's still writing to the iTunes folder, so I'm getting two copies.... it's drving me nuts.

Thanks!

This route really worked for me.

Note 1: Make sure to install the Junction.exe in C:\Windows

Note 2: Cut and Paste the entire Backup folder from the location C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup to D:\Backup (or any other destination drive)

0

Effectively the Junction software creates a symbolic link between the default Backup folder (in c:\) to d:\

Cheers!

marsmlodzinski, I am facing the same problem on Windows XP, but with the iOS 5.0 update.

I´ve used junction successfully to create the link to D:\iPhoneSWUpdates.

The files are also shown in

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

On C: I only have limited free space which is not enough for the iOS 5.0 update file. When I put a large test file in location

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

it is also shown in D:\iPhoneSWUpdates and disk space from partition D is used instead of C. So far, so good.

However, when I start iTunes and start downloading the iOS 5.0 update, disk space on C: and D: will be used. When disk space on C: is running out, the download stops with an error and I cannot update my iPhone.

I’ve been struggling with this issue the whole day of yesterday and today and nothing seems to work. 😠 The whole thing has worked with previous iOS updates (e. g. 4.3.2, 4.3.3 and so on). May this be a problem of iTunes 10.5 that is does not recognise the junction correctly?

Alex_34 wrote:

.... May this be a problem of iTunes 10.5 that is does not recognise the junction correctly?

It wouldn't surprise me. I know that in the past using Junctions for regular iTunes content such as Movies has failed, presumably as whatever OS calls it makes break the link. It might be worth seeing if it makes any difference if you apply the junction to say Apple Computer rather than the Software Updates folder. If that won't work then try to find some other large lump of application software or data that you can shift onto drive D: just while you do the update, then shift back when it is done.

tt2

i did this quite easily ( Windows)

go to a different drive and create a folder where u want to keep all ur apps.

copy the apps from \username\my music\ to the new place where u created the folder in my case it was f:\iTunes

create a shortcut in \username\my music\

link this shortcut to the backup folder again in my case

f:\iTunes

it all works fine now

anujmehta15 wrote:

i did this quite easily ( Windows)

go to a different drive and create a folder where u want to keep all ur apps.

copy the apps from \username\my music\ to the new place where u created the folder in my case it was f:\iTunes

This is about the Mobilesync backup folder., not apps.

I have the same situation! ****... why does Apple have to be soo confusing about certain stuff. I can`t update my iPhone because I don`t have enough spage for a backup on C: created a link on D: but the moment I create the link everything that is in the Backup folder on D: pops back up on C: so I have mirror folders with the same content. What can be done?! Help! 😟