Elizabeth Ploog
Level 1 (6 points)

Q: downloaded music not copying to music folder

I recently moved my iTunes to an external hard drive to be exclusively used there.  It is going well, with one exception.  When I download music, it is not copying to the music folder.  It is downloading into the library/main page of the application.  I went into iTunes preferences, advanced, and checked "copy music to iTunes media folder".  But that did not do it.  So I changed the name of the iTunes music folder to media folder, and that didn't work either.  Can anyone help me?  Please?  Thank you.

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Jul 13, 2012 1:41 PM

by turingtest2,Solvedanswer
turingtest2 turingtest2
Level 10 (88,293 points)
Apple TV
A:

If you didn't miss a step then it was probably me.

 

Just to make sure you don't throw anything away that you might actually want do the following:

 

  1. Use the menu item File > Library > Add folder to library and add the folder iTunes Media. Any files not already in your library will be added, those already added will be ignored.

  2. Hold down the option key and use the menu item File > Display Exact Duplicates. Sort the resulting list on the Date Added column, then delete all the files added today, sending the files to the trash.

  3. Click Display All at the bottom of the screen when you are finished.

  4. Your iTunes Media folder should be much tidier by now.

  5. If you haven't already done so delete the file iTunes\iTunes Libray as it is redundant (and empty).

 

tt2

Posted on Jul 17, 2012 11:32 AM

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Elizabeth Ploog

Q: downloaded music not copying to music folder

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  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jul 15, 2012 2:34 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 15, 2012 2:34 PM in response to Limnos

    When the site is back up and running...

     

     

     

    tt2

  • by Elizabeth Ploog,

    Elizabeth Ploog Elizabeth Ploog Jul 15, 2012 2:52 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 15, 2012 2:52 PM in response to turingtest2

    I was able to find Super Remove Dead Tracks, but it would not work due to system requirements.  I'll wait to see if the website comes back up.  Or do a search for a similar program.  thanks

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jul 15, 2012 3:19 PM in response to Elizabeth Ploog
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 15, 2012 3:19 PM in response to Elizabeth Ploog

    As Limnos says, Remove Dead Tracks may do it. Otherwise there are other approaches, but it will be best to clean out the dead links before moving on.

     

    tt2

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jul 15, 2012 4:08 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 15, 2012 4:08 PM in response to turingtest2

    Another way to sort out the dead links is with a set of Lost & Found playlists.

     

    Create a playlist called Found, select everything in Music and drag it into the Found playlist. Create a smart playlist called Lost matching All the rules Playlist is Music and Playlist is not Found. Your lost tracks will be in this playlist. You can delete them all with a Command-A to select them and Option-Delete to remove them.

     

    You can then delete the Lost & Found playlists.

     

    tt2

  • by Elizabeth Ploog,

    Elizabeth Ploog Elizabeth Ploog Jul 15, 2012 6:59 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 15, 2012 6:59 PM in response to turingtest2

    just an update-I'm using iDupe to eliminate the dead tracks..it's taking a while, but better than trying to do it by hand!

  • by Elizabeth Ploog,

    Elizabeth Ploog Elizabeth Ploog Jul 17, 2012 8:39 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 17, 2012 8:39 AM in response to turingtest2

    Hi.

     

    When I try to complete task #3 and right click the file, I do not get an option for consolidate.  This is what I see:

     

    Picture 1.png

     

    I'm stopping until I hear from you.................I know from past experience, when I stray from directions I am usually wrong.  thanks!!!!

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Jul 17, 2012 8:46 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog
    Level 9 (79,682 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 17, 2012 8:46 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog

    Elizabeth Ploog wrote:

     

    Hi.

     

    When I try to complete task #3 and right click the file, I do not get an option for consolidate.  This is what I see:

    Please reread the instructions. You should be in iTunes. not the Finder.

    3 Use the option iTunes > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate Files. - wait until complete.

  • by Elizabeth Ploog,

    Elizabeth Ploog Elizabeth Ploog Jul 17, 2012 8:57 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 17, 2012 8:57 AM in response to Chris CA

    Chris, thanks but you are referring to and "old" #3.....this is from July 15:

     

    Picture 2.png

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jul 17, 2012 9:05 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 17, 2012 9:05 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog
    1. Locate (in iTunes) and select the two songs that are in the iTunes Media folder either together, or one at a time, right-click (or equivalent) and select Consolidate Files... from the context menu (in iTunes). This will bring copies of those files into the correct folder.

     

    Chris's step will work as well, but would take longer.

     

    tt2

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Jul 17, 2012 9:02 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog
    Level 9 (79,682 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 17, 2012 9:02 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog

    Okay.

    Look at the songs in those folders and see what they are.

    Then locate these songs in iTunes, select them and right click > Consolidate.

  • by Elizabeth Ploog,

    Elizabeth Ploog Elizabeth Ploog Jul 17, 2012 9:32 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 17, 2012 9:32 AM in response to turingtest2

    that worked perfectly, I misunderstood the step.

     

    Now my issue is:

     

    Picture 4.png

    I did this.  To start iTunes, I would click on iTunes Library.  Since that file is now iTunes Library.itl, I clicked on it. I did not get the message that the library was missing; and it's empty of music.  ???????

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jul 17, 2012 10:03 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 17, 2012 10:03 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog

    Close iTunes. Tap the icon in your dock to start iTunes and immediately press and hold down the option key. You should get a dialog box asking you to choose or create a library. Click choose and browse to the renamed iTunes Library.itl file.

     

    I think I stated in an earlier post clicking on an iTunes Library file doesn't necesarily make iTunes open that file.

     

    If for some reason iTunes 9 on a Mac really doesn't want to open the file once it has been renamed as iTunes Library.itl (which I understand is what a new library created on iTunes 10 for Mac would be called) then rename it back to iTunes Library (there might be a smaller, empty library file there with that name that you need to delete first) and proceed with the next step.

     

    tt2

  • by Elizabeth Ploog,

    Elizabeth Ploog Elizabeth Ploog Jul 17, 2012 10:19 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 17, 2012 10:19 AM in response to turingtest2

    Everything seems to be in working order now-  I have the library.itl folder and a library folder (I did not create it).  iTunes opens when I select either one.  Should I delete  one?

     

    Also, in my media folder there are music files as well as a folder labeled music which contains the 463 artists not found in media.  How should I fix that?

     

    thanks

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jul 17, 2012 10:42 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 17, 2012 10:42 AM in response to Elizabeth Ploog

    Elizabeth Ploog wrote:

     

    Everything seems to be in working order now-  I have the library.itl folder and a library folder (I did not create it).  iTunes opens when I select either one.  Should I delete  one?

     

    Also, in my media folder there are music files as well as a folder labeled music which contains the 463 artists not found in media.  How should I fix that?

     

    thanks

     

    The (empty) iTunes Library file will have been created when you started iTunes and got an empty library. You can delete this file.

     

    By now you should have the following:

     

    A folder called iTunes containing the files:

    iTunes Library.itl

    iTunes Library.xml

    iTunes Library Extras.itdb

    iTunes Library Genius.itdb

    sentinel (hidden)

    and the folders:

    Album Artwork

    iTunes Media

    Previous iTunes Libraries

     

    Inside iTunes/iTunes Media should be the file

    .iTunes Preferences.plist (hidden)

    and the folders::

    Automatically Add to iTunes

    Music

     

    Inside iTunes/iTunes Media/Music should be:

    Folders for each of your artists, containing folders for each album by that artist

     

    If there are artist folders in iTunes Media rather than iTunes Media/Music then that might suggest one of the steps has been missed out.

     

    Can you check first that the media in your library is at least playing?

    If you get info. on a track what path is it stored on?

    Are the files at iTunes Media/<Artist>/<Album> folders extra files not currently connected to the library? I believe you mentioned 499 artist folders earlier and now we have a count of 463?

     

    tt2

  • by Elizabeth Ploog,

    Elizabeth Ploog Elizabeth Ploog Jul 17, 2012 11:19 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 17, 2012 11:19 AM in response to turingtest2

    Everything checks out as far as what is where........though I have a library.itl and a library which both open itunes. I do not have a library folder, empty or otherwise.

     

    As far as the Media folder, the music that is outside of the Music folder appears to be duplicates of some of what is in the Music folder.  Sometimes it's a whole album, sometimes just a song.  the track for these is iTunes/iTunes Media/artist/album     Should I delete those?  The tracks for the music in the Music folder is iTunes/iTunes Media/Music/artist/album and they are working properly, even those which have a copy in the media folder.

     

    I'm getting close to having a perfect itunes, thanks to you.   ps-I am sure I did not skip a step

     

    Message was edited by: Elizabeth Ploog

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