I've downloaded iTunes to a new computer. My library is on an external hard drive. I've opened iTunes, clicked on "Advanced" and noted the location of my library; then I clicked on "keep files organized" and went back to the main menu and under "File" found "Library" and consolidated the files. Nothing happens. I've restarted a couple of times. Location of library still shows. How does iTunes find my library?
iPod classic, Windows XP
Do not do it the way you are trying to do it.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Quick answer if you use iTunes default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Start iTunes with the option (shift on Windows) key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.
Do not do it the way you are trying to do it.
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Quick answer if you use iTunes default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Start iTunes with the option (shift on Windows) key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.
Just a little confused:
1. When the instructions (and you) say to copy the folder "to the other drive," what do you mean? My iTunes library is on the external drive. I want my newly installed iTunes to find it. Do I have to transfer all my files to my computer for it to read? (I didn't do this with the other computer.)
2. I opened iTunes with the shift key as you noted and it asked me to choose or create a library. I selected "choose" and clicked on my main iTunes folder on the external drive (which holds a bunch of subfolders), but the window continues on to show all the subfolders. Do I need to click on each one of these subfolders? One by one?
In the normal course of events your iTunes database is created somewhere like C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes, the database that keeps a record of which tracks are in your library and where to find them is stored at C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl, and the media folder is created at C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media.
When you say "My iTunes Library" is on the external do you mean all of it, or just the media folder. If it is all on the external you can either copy it to the internal, or connect to it where it is, then use the hold-down-shift-start-iTunes method to connect to it.
If you've only copied the media folder then you will either need to go back and recover the library files from your old machine or create a new library containing the media. Simply "pointing" the media folder at the external drive is not enough.
tt2
And here I thought I was making it so easy for myself. <smile> I wanted to keep my library (yes, the media folder) on the external only. I didn't want to put it on my computer. I guess I'll delete iTunes from the new and just keep it on the old.
Many thanks!
As I read this, you've confused me again. . . . you wrote, "If it is all on the external you can . . . connect to it wherever it is, then use the hold-down-shift-start-iTunes method to connect to it."
THAT'S what I want to do. My question is, as this method has me pointing to the files on the external drive, it won't just allow a click on the MAIN folder--it opens all the subfolders of music. I must have 80 or 100 from different artists. Do I need to individually click on each one?
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. A portable library can be moved from one path to another without breaking the links between the library and the media and being self-contained is much easier to backup.
My guess is that all you have is the stuff inside the red outline, but not the rest. I.e. not everything that made up the working library on the old system.
If I'm right, and it is too late to recover the missing database files from the old system, then I would suggest you use the shift-start iTunes method to create a new library at <External>\iTunes (rename the current folders at the root of the drive if you already have an iTunes folder there). Then move the contents of your old media folder inside <External>\iTunes\iTunes Media. Finally use File > Add Folder To Library and add the iTunes Media folder.
This should import everything into your library, with the minimum of files needed to be copied, moved or renamed.
tt2
While I could not understand anything you wrote (sorry--my hardwiring just doesn't process some things), I did SOMETHING you said . . . and all my files imported. Now I have to recreate my playlists. But anyway . . . thank you SO MUCH for your help!
Alright . . . everything has been working fine since I last wrote. I've plugged everything in a couple of times (my external hard drive, I mean) and all has been working well. But this morning, I plugged in and fired up and . . . a window popped up that said iTunes could not find the library. What I had named the library was gone. There was nothing in my iTunes list.
So I've had to start over. Rename the file. Import everything. I'll be spending half a day re-doing my playlists.
What could have happened?
Did you give the hard drive enough time to mount properly on the computer? You cannot start iTunes first and then the drive. The drive has to be started and present on the computer's drive list, then start iTunes.
Yes--learned that a long time ago. <smile> But it's clear if I haven't done that, because iTunes will open up with exclamation points beside all my songs.
This time it wouldn't open. The window said, "iTunes can't find the library. Please create a new one . . . " or something like that.
Library on external hard drive
