bevfromsk
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: I followed the APPLE support instructions to copy my iTunes library over to my new iMac but there is still nothing showing in my iMac's iTunes library. Did I miss a step?

I followed the APPLE support instructions to copy my iTunes library over to my new iMac but there is still nothing showing in my iMac's iTunes library. Did I miss a step?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 20, 2012 2:27 PM

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bevfromsk

Q: I followed the APPLE support instructions to copy my iTunes library over to my new iMac but there is still nothing showing in my i ... more

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Feb 20, 2012 2:52 PM in response to bevfromsk
    Level 9 (54,649 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 20, 2012 2:52 PM in response to bevfromsk

    Which instructions did you follow? These?

     

    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527

     

    do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with moving just media files as in

     

    iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449

     

    Quick answer if you let iTunes manage your music:  Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive.  Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.

     

    You replaced:

     

    Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music > iTunes

     

    with the one from the other computer?

  • by bevfromsk,

    bevfromsk bevfromsk Feb 20, 2012 5:16 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2012 5:16 PM in response to Limnos

    Thanks for your assistance. I can actually see the new itunes file folder(s) in "Finder" however must still be missing a step because I can't see any music when I open my itunes library. Do I need to "do something" while in Finder. Sorry about this. I feel like a total duphus!

  • by ronwelty_,

    ronwelty_ ronwelty_ Feb 20, 2012 5:19 PM in response to bevfromsk
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Feb 20, 2012 5:19 PM in response to bevfromsk

    Just make sure you have a file called "iTunes Music Library.xlm" in the User/Music/iTunes folder.

    That basically is the file in which iTunes stores the informations about the music you added to your library.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Feb 20, 2012 7:52 PM in response to ronwelty_
    Level 9 (54,649 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 20, 2012 7:52 PM in response to ronwelty_

    ronwelty_ - Actually iTunes doesn't use the .xml; it puts it there so other applications can use the data. iTunes itself uses the .itl file which only it can read.

     

    bevfromsk - iTunes a central library file (library.itl) to generate the list of what it thinks you have for files and the location of those files.  This is what you see in an iTunes window along with playlists.  If you follow the wrong directions when you think you are moving your library, or you don't copy the right things to the right places, it all falls apart.  The listing no longer matches the actual file locations.

     

    I still don't know what procedure you did in moving your library. Clearly something has gone astray in the moving process but I don't know what.  Some of this will also depend upon how you manage your music, though most people stick with the default settings of iTunes.

     

    Ideally your iTunes folder should look like the ones in the links below with a library files, various media folders, artwork folder, and a few other files.  We will need precise, exact descriptions from you in order to analyze what is going on (since we can't look at your computer).

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    iTunes 9: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847

     

    Image of iTunes folder structure Dec. 2011 - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3547807

    see also:

    Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536

     

    If your library is totally blank then that means iTunes has completely lost track fo the original library file and generated a new one that is empty.  If the library has entries but a bunch of !, that means it is using the ral library file but the links got broken in the move.