ImagoX

Q: How do I move my iTunes Library from one PC to another when all my actual songs live on an external hard-drive?

Need to transfer my iTunes from one Win7 laptop to a new one.  The trick is that all my music files live on an external hard drive, which I also use for Home Media Server use (iTunes only has a portion of my full collection under management for use on my iPhone).

 

I don't want to consolidate the music files to the My Music folder (which almost all tutorials say is the first step to transfer the library) - I want to keep them on the external drive.  I want to retain my playlists mainly, as well as things like Podcasts which are unique to the iPhone.

 

  How does one accomplish this? 

 

  Thanks in advance!!

 

-Matt

  Columbus, Ohio

iPhone 4, Windows 7, External hard drive

Posted on Apr 21, 2011 8:36 AM

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Q: How do I move my iTunes Library from one PC to another when all my actual songs live on an external hard-drive?

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  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 21, 2011 8:48 AM in response to ImagoX
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    Apr 21, 2011 8:48 AM in response to ImagoX

    Also: in case it matters: I'm going from a 32-bit version of Win7 to a 64-bit install.  Not sure if there's any issues with the library file in this scenario.  The music files, of course, are all MP3s and will not change.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 21, 2011 10:19 AM in response to ImagoX
    Level 10 (86,891 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 21, 2011 10:19 AM in response to ImagoX

    Sounds like you currently have a split library where the library files are at their default location in your user profile, but the the media folder is on an external/secondary drive. If you copy your existing library folders across to the new computer and arrange for the external drive letter to remain the same on the new system then it should be OK. However, you may want to look at the possibility of making the library portable.

     

    Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:

     

     

     

    In the layout above, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library is considered to be portable. You can rearrange things to make a split library portable by taking a number of small steps which don't break the library.

     

    Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated. If the library is in the old style layout then it should ideally be be upgraded to iTunes Media Organisation (Library > Organise Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder>) to ensure that iPod Games, Mobile Applications etc. are brought inside the media folder.

     

    The basic non-fatal manipulations are:

    • You can connect to an alternate set of library files by holding down Shift (Win) or Option (Mac) when starting iTunes.
    • You can move the library files to a new location as long as the media stays put.
    • You can move the library files and the media together if the media folder is a direct subfolder of the library folder.
    • If you have already moved/copied the media content from a subfolder of the library folder to a different location then you only need to copy the library files for it to appear as if you have moved the entire library in the way allowed above. I.e. just copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder.
    • You can rename the media folder to iTunes Media (if it isn't already) if the media folder is inside the library folder.
    • iTunes uses the name of the folder holding the library files as the window title. Having made a library "portable" you may need to take a final step of renaming the library folder to iTunes or, if the library files have ended up at the root of a drive, moving all of the library files and content folders into a new folder called iTunes.

     

    After each change you need to open, test and close the relevant library before attempting another change. If a change broke the library, undo it or revert to using the previous set of library files.

     

    In essence all you need to do to make your library portable is copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder on the external/secondary drive and use the hold-down-shift/option-when-starting-iTunes method to connect to it. Other manipulations may be required to normalize the library so that the library and media folders have standard names.

     

    Don't forget to deauthorise the old computer if you're not planning to use iTunes on it again.

     

    tt2

  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 21, 2011 12:07 PM in response to turingtest2
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    Apr 21, 2011 12:07 PM in response to turingtest2

      Thanks - that's a very helpful answer.  

     

      I have some questions though...

     

      1. Yes, my library consists of many, many songs (20x or 30x what I can fit on an iPod or iPhone), stored on the external HDD, as well as a few small things (podcasts, iphone apps, etc.) stored, I assume, in the iTunes directory.  When I sync my Phone, I tell iTunes to only include tracks in existing Playlists, limiting the numbetrof songs set to the portable device.  Also, I've been making MP3s of my music since like 1995 (no kidding), and everyhitng's arranged in a "Artist\Album\Song Name.mp3" format that I also use for a home music server.  I need to keep this layout, so I DONOT want to consolidate my music into the "My Music" or an iTunes folder (as everythign else I use will lose track of it or it will be duplicated, making syncing a bear).

     

    2. I have the new PC set up to up to use the same drive letter for this external HDD.

     

    3. When you say: "Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated", won't this either move or copy all my music to a single folder?  That will either duplicate all my files (remember... I literally have tens of thousands) or move them to that new location (breaking functionality with other apps)?

     

    4. If I copy over just the "iTunes Library.ipl" file to the new install of iTunes, won't that just use the same logical paths to the files on the external HDD?  Here's what my iTunes diirectory in my Music folder looks like - the "F:" drive shown is the external HDD:

     

    http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l223/ImagoX/itunes_layout.jpg?t=1303411755.

     

    Appreciate the help!!

     

      PS - I am using the latest build of iTunes (10.something).  The new PC has the 64-bit version, but the file latout looks the same.

     

     

      -Matt

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 21, 2011 3:49 PM in response to ImagoX
    Level 10 (86,891 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 21, 2011 3:49 PM in response to ImagoX

    Hi Matt. What is the full path to the location of your artist folders on your external drive? I can probably cook up a set of step-by-step instructions that make your library portable without changing your existing file names.

     

    tt2

  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 21, 2011 5:10 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2011 5:10 PM in response to turingtest2

      It's as easy as can be:

     

      F:\MP3

     

      All my songs and sub-folders are in there.

     

      Thanks so much!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 21, 2011 6:11 PM in response to ImagoX
    Level 10 (86,891 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 21, 2011 6:11 PM in response to ImagoX

    OK. So your current media library is at C:\Users\Matt\Music\iTunes.

    Your current media folder is C:\Users\Matt\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music.

    Your library is in the old style layout.

    The bulk of your media is at F:\MP3 and you're happy with the layout of it.

     

    Are you OK with the media files moving to F:\iTunes\iTunes Media but otherwise retaining the same file & folder names they have now. If so carry on, otherwise I'll give you the steps for migrating the library without making it portable first, or indeed at all.

     

    1. With iTunes closed backup the iTunes Library.itl file somewhere.
    2. Open iTunes.
    3. Open Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab. Check the media folder location is given as C:\Users\Matt\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music.
    4. Make sure Keep iTunes Music folder organised and Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library are turned off.
    5. Close preferences.
    6. Use File > Organise Library > Rearrange files in the folder iTunes Music. This will pull the files in the Mobile Applications folder into your current media folder and tell iTunes you want to use the new layout in future for anything that it is managing, e.g. podcasts, apps etc. Exisitng content on F: won't be touched.
    7. Open Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab. Change the media folder location to F:\MP3. When you click OK you will be asked if you want to copy existing content to the new location. Click No.
    8. Close iTunes. Reopen it. Check that media folder location is now correctly given as F:\MP3.
    9. Use File > Organise Library > Consolidate files. This will pull any files that are outside F:\MP3 into it, but leave those that are already inside alone.
    10. Close iTunes.
    11. Copy the files iTunes Library.itl iTunes Library Extras.itdb iTunes Library Genius.itdb sentinel and the folder Album Artwork into F:\.
    12. Click the icon to start iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key until asked to choose or create a library. Click choose and naviagate to the library file at F:\.
    13. Test that the library works i.e. that your files play.
    14. Close iTunes.
    15. Create a folder called F:\iTunes.
    16. Move the files iTunes Library.itl iTunes Library.xml iTunes Library Extras.itdb iTunes Library Genius.itdb sentinel and the folders Album Artwork & MP3 into F:\iTunes.
    17. Click the icon to start iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key until asked to choose or create a library. Click choose and naviagate to the library file at F:\iTunes.
    18. Test that the library works.
    19. Close iTunes.
    20. Rename F:\iTunes\MP3 as F:\iTunes\iTunes Media.
    21. Open iTunes, test the library.

     

    If at any stage the library won't play your media undo the preceeding step where this has involved moving or renaming files or use the shift-start-iTunes method to open the previous copy of the library.

     

    If you've made it this far you can now connect this drive to your new computer and connect to the library with the shift-start-iTunes method without needing to worry which drive letter has been assigned. If your new machine has a big enough drive you can copy the entire iTunes folder to, say, C:\iTunes and it will just work, meaning that your external drive can function as a backup... You really should keep at least two copies of eveything.

     

    Fast backup for iTunes library (Windows)

    Grab SyncToy2.1, a free tool from MS. This can be used to copy your entire iTunes library (& other important data folders) onto another hard drive or network share. You can then use SyncToy periodically to synchronise or echo your library to the backup. A preview will show which files need to be updated giving you a chance to spot unexpected changes and during the run only the new or updated files will be copied saving lots of time. If your media is all organised below the main iTunes folder (which is the point of doing all the above) then you should also be able to open the backup library on any system running the same version of iTunes.

     

    tt2

  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 22, 2011 6:14 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2011 6:14 AM in response to turingtest2

      Once again, thank you VERY MUCH for the detailed explaination...  I noticed a rew things while performing these steps:

     

      1. Re: "Open Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab. Change the media folder location to F:\MP3. When you click OK you will be asked if you want to copy existing content to the new location. Click No"  I was not asked if I wanted to copy existing content - the wondow just closed when I hit "OK:.

     

    2. Re: "Use File > Organise Library > Consolidate files. This will pull any files that are outside F:\MP3 into it, but leave those that are already inside alone."  I just did this step, and it looks like it's copying all the music files that exist in my library (many, many songs) someplace...  I hear the external HDD clicking away as the file names are displayed in the "Copying Files" window.  Where are they going?  Hope I have the HDD space to make copies on the same drive or on the laptop's HDD...  It would be nice if iTunes told me where they were going.

     

      I'll keep at it and report back.  Hopefully this thread will serve to help someone else out in the future with this same setup...

     

      Thanks again!

     

      -Matt

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 22, 2011 7:07 AM in response to ImagoX
    Level 10 (86,891 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 22, 2011 7:07 AM in response to ImagoX

    ImagoX wrote:

     

      Once again, thank you VERY MUCH for the detailed explaination...  I noticed a rew things while performing these steps:

     

      1. Re: "Open Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab. Change the media folder location to F:\MP3. When you click OK you will be asked if you want to copy existing content to the new location. Click No"  I was not asked if I wanted to copy existing content - the wondow just closed when I hit "OK:.

    Hmm, perhaps they've changed the way that behaves.

    2. Re: "Use File > Organise Library > Consolidate files. This will pull any files that are outside F:\MP3 into it, but leave those that are already inside alone."  I just did this step, and it looks like it's copying all the music files that exist in my library (many, many songs) someplace...  I hear the external HDD clicking away as the file names are displayed in the "Copying Files" window.  Where are they going?  Hope I have the HDD space to make copies on the same drive or on the laptop's HDD...  It would be nice if iTunes told me where they were going.

    Grr, that wasn't supposed to happen. Stuff inside the media folder should be left untouched. Please accept my apolgies for the bad advice.

     

    Given that it is copying the files there are two ways to go. Let it finish (which it probably will have done by the time you read this, unless it has maxed out the drive), accept that iTunes is now managaing your files its way (which is what I usually reccomend) and clear up the old copies that are left in the top level F:\MP3 folder, before completing the rest of the steps I gave you before. The alternative is to go back to the earlier backup of the library, clear out the newly made duplicates and try again. Either way all is not lost.

     

    Please let me know which way you want to go and I will write out steps. Again, my apologies.

     

    tt2

  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 22, 2011 7:25 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2011 7:25 AM in response to turingtest2

      It's OK... iTunes *is* confusing.  I'm just happy that I'm not the only one who's confused - I've been using PCs since the late 80's and I've never run acruss an app as confusing as 'Tunes. 

     

      Well this is odd...

     

      I'm pretty sure the music files were copied SOMEPLACE on the F:\ external HDD, but I can't tell where!  The space taken up on the drive is now 58% (larger than before but I'm not sure if the prior percentage sorry - I wasn't paying attention) so the files SEEM to be duped... The odd thing is if I search for a file, I only see my originals (verified by checking the "Modified date").  Any ideas where they may have been copied?  I don't *think* they were copied to the C:\ drive - I didn't have sufficient HDD space left on that drive for a second set of files (I don't think).

     

      -M

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 22, 2011 8:28 AM in response to ImagoX
    Level 10 (86,891 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 22, 2011 8:28 AM in response to ImagoX

    Select any song and use CTRL-I to Get Info, then check the location on the Summary tab. If iTunes copies files to consolidate them the date added/modified dates and all other meta-data gets preserved even though iTunes is now connected to a different physical file..

     

    tt2

  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 22, 2011 11:22 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2011 11:22 AM in response to turingtest2

      Hmmmmm... Well, I sampled about a dozen songs at random, half of which were part of Playlists (the files I typically sync to my iPhone) and all of them has the right path: "F:\MP3\Artist...etc."

     

      So it looks like I'm good to proceed, but the big question remains: what was it doing for those 20-25 minutes while iTunes was accessing the external HDD and  listing all the file names with "Copying..." in the action window?

     

      Proceeding to the next step...

     

      -M

  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 22, 2011 11:39 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2011 11:39 AM in response to turingtest2

      OK, completed Step #19, but I hit a snag:

     

      I launched iTunes and held SHift till I got the Library Select box, chose the .itl file in "F:\iTunes" - everything works - all songs tested played, Playlisted or not.

     

      But...

     

      Step #20 says: "Rename F:\iTunes\MP3 as F:\iTunes\iTunes Media."

     

      There is no "MP3" subdirectory in the iTunes folder... it's still in the root directory of "F:\"...  Did I skip a step?

     

    I'll try proceeding on the theory that the library now contains the proper logical paths to the music files on "F:\" and will advise if they won't play.

     

     

     

      -M

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 22, 2011 11:55 AM in response to ImagoX
    Level 10 (86,891 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 22, 2011 11:55 AM in response to ImagoX

    Well 16 was:

    Move the files iTunes Library.itl iTunes Library.xml iTunes Library Extras.itdb iTunes Library Genius.itdb sentinel and the folders Album Artwork & MP3 into F:\iTunes

     

    I'm not quite sure I know where things are at the moment.

    Which library file are you accessing?

    What is the location of the iTunes Media folder as reported by Edit > Preferences > Advanced?

    What is the location of a typical file according to Get Info?

     

    Sounds like you need to unwind the bits of 16 that you did do by moving the library files and album artwork folder back up to F:\ Open, test a few files and close, then go forwards again moving the MP3 folder with the other stuff into iTunes.

     

    tt2

  • by ImagoX,

    ImagoX ImagoX Apr 22, 2011 11:53 AM in response to ImagoX
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2011 11:53 AM in response to ImagoX

      No joy... 

     

      I plugged the external drive into the new PC - the drive letter is the same.  Held Shift till I got the library select screen and navigated to the right library file:

     

    /___sbsstatic___/migration-images/150/15047694-1.jpg

     

      However, I get this error when I try Opening that library file:

     

    /___sbsstatic___/migration-images/150/15047694-2.jpg

     

      I can read/write from that drive on the new PC... Is this an AUthorization issue perhaps?  I did NOT yet de-authorize the old PC.

     

      Thanks...

     

     

    -M

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