Q: Running iTunes from an external hard disc, deleting songs on local disc
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Jun 29, 2012 5:47 PMby Chris CA,sukepeth wrote:
I've moved my iTunes library to an external hard disc,
Likely you did it all wrong.
- Quit iTunes.
- Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder to the external.
- Hold Option and launch iTunes.
- Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
- Delete /Music/iTunes/ folder.
THis is all you need to do.
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Jul 1, 2012 4:23 AMby sukepeth,Hi again,
When I moved my library, I followed the instructions here:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/
Although I did not choose to move the library database. Is the information here wrong?
I want to run my entire library from the external disc, and delete almost everything from my mac with the exception of just some music to play when I'm not at home. When I open iTunes, I want it to automatically find the external disk if it's available, but otherwise find the music on the local disc.
What am I supposed to do to make this work?
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Jul 1, 2012 5:49 AMby Limnos,You have to move the library database too, or you have to use a method for just moving media. Unless you know the details of how iTunes works I would move it all otherwise you are more likely to encounter issues such as the one you are seeing and won't know how to resolve them.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - Basically what ChrisCA recommends
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449 - moving just media but leaving all else on your main drive.
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
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847Image of iTunes folder structure Dec. 2011 - https://discussions.apple.com/message/16923545
see also:
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605
