multiple computers / one iTunes library

Sailacious wrote:

Working fine again on main laptop.

Good.

On the main laptop please tell me the location of the media folder as given under Edit > Preferences > Advanced and the value returned by running the script iTunesXMLPath.vbs.

If I've understood your previous posts correctly these should be E:\iTunes\iTunes Media and E:\iTunes\iTunes Library.xml respectively.

If that is correct then with the other laptop, connect the drive, click the icon to start iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Click choose and open the library file at D:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl. Drag the 3 songs from their current location into the folder D:\iTunes\iTunes Media\Automatically Add to iTunes.

tt2

No, changing the path in preferences only tells iTunes where to put new files that it is responsible for, not where to look for existing files, nor which library file to open.

Sounds as if the library is portable now, but the caveat that it is moved between machines running the same build of iTunes isn't being met. Download iTunes directly from http://www.apple.com/itunes/ if it won't update.

tt2

I'm trying to get my iTunes set up on two computers that I use. I want the iTunes on my work PC to be the same exact identical iTunes from my personal computer. I have an iPad now so I want to be able to add documents to my iPad from both my work computer and my home computer. I've tried reading through your threads above and I'm COMPLETELY lost. Can you just do a step by step walk through on how I make my iTunes on my personal computer match the iTunes on my home computer? Ideally I'd like to carry my iTunes on my USB drive that I always carry with me. Is that possible?

The exact steps you might need to take will depend on exactly what your setup is now.

If you have an iTunes library in the usual place, <User's Music>\iTunes, and the media folder is inside that as <User's Music>\iTunes\iTunes Media then it should just be a matter of cloning the iTunes folder to a portable drive, then cloning that copy to a corresponding folder on the other machine. You could just connect to the library on the external drive at each machine but that doesn't give you any backup security so what I do in practice is keep each machine synced with a copy on my portable drive using the tool from this user tip.

If your library is currently spread out then you'd need to use my techniques for making a split library portable first.

tt2

I will work on figuring out where my music is...I assume that it is all in the iTunes media folder as I have no idea how to move it anywhere. I'm very new when it comes to iTunes and Apple in general as this is the first Apple product I have ever owned. So I am very sorry if I sound really stupid! I am trying to make my life easier with my purchase of the iPad by being able to use it to balance my checkbook,. track my finances and calendar, etc. So bring able to carry my iTunes for my PC with me will allow me to make life a bit simpler.

Thanks for all your help and I will be in touch.

So I was able to sync my iTunes folders. but the only music in my iTunes is my purchased music. How do I find my other music? Once I find it...is that when I do the "making a split library portable"? I'm so confused...

Ignore that last question. I found the music...and it's in the iTunes folder. It's located at:

C:\Users\melody.gertken\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music

But it doesn't show up in my iTunes program like the rest of the music which is at the same location. Did I break something?

mgertken wrote:

Ignore that last question. I found the music...and it's in the iTunes folder. It's located at:

C:\Users\melody.gertken\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music

That sounds like it is where it should be...

But it doesn't show up in my iTunes program like the rest of the music which is at the same location. Did I break something?

Possibly... You can use File > Add Folder to Library and add the iTunes Media folder. Any content not already in your library will be added to it.

tt2

It worked!! Thanks so very much!!

One more question...

So now, when I sync my iPad between the two computers I get that message about erasing and syncing. What do I do when I get that message? Is there a way for it to stop giving me that error?

You've been such a great help!!! Thank you so very much!!!

The way I do it is to copy the working iTunes library folder from the "home" computer, to an external drive, then copy the folder from the external drive onto the "work" computer. Once this is setup rather than delete and replace the entire folder each time I use SyncToy which mirrors the updates to the folders in terms of additions, deletions and overwrites efficiently. Once both computers are using the "same" library your device will happily sync with it at either location.

tt2

You look like you know what you're talking about! Wonder if you could help direct me with this set up...

I have all my music on a drive on an old desktop windows xp pc using iTunes. I have a macbook air. I have copied some music onto the macbook air so I can listen to it while out of about. However, when I'm at home, I'd like to be able to listen to music from the the old desktop windows pc through the macbook. My Macbook can 'see' the desktop shared folders inlcuding the iTunes Music Library.xml and iTunes Library.itl.

In summary, I want to use the macbook-based library while out and about and the pc-based library when I can. What do I need to do?

Thanks!

Hi TT2,

I hope that you still log on here, you really seem to know your stuff. No one seems to be able to be able to help me.

I originally set up my Itunes on a home laptop, which is on its' last legs, then set it up on my work computer, then I just bought a used laptop for home. Whenever the message came up asking me if I wanted to synch them, or erase the songs ( or whatever), I didn't do it. My new home laptop, I've installed the latest Itunes, and it hasn't given me that syncing message.

The problems that I'm having are: on my home laptop: it doesn't give me the message / option to burn a cd, I can't create playlists, nor can I even name them. It's almost like I'm in a read-only state.

I'd like to just work from my home laptop and have it work, as well as have all of the songs be there, and be able to burn cds, and use my ipod.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!