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Integrate my iTunes media folder

Hi,


There are good articles "how to move iTunes media folder" to an external harddrive (e.g. NAS).

Example: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US


My situation is the way around. I already moved my media folder to my NAS with iTunes on my Windows PC. Now, I bought a Mac and I'd like to integrate iTunes on my Mac with this external library.

On a Windows PC I start iTunes and it opens the iTunes library on my NAS.

On my Mac I start iTunes and a window opens with the message "that the iTunes folder couldn't found and I can create a new one or select another one". I can select the path to my NAS. This works, but isn't comfortable.


What do I've to do to start iTunes and the Library will be opened directly?

As I said this works from my Windows PC's.


Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 30, 2012 4:59 AM

Reply
6 replies

Jul 30, 2012 6:12 AM in response to sofe1166

In theory it should work the same with a Mac as long as the drive is mounted and ready. However, seeing problems with using NAS and iTunes isn't unusual if you browse this forum. Plain old external drives seem to work fine, but NAS introduce other issues.


Do things seem to work fine once you have it connected?


Is it doing this every time? Some issues I see reported are when the NAS has gone to sleep and iTunes is not realizing it is connected again.

Jul 30, 2012 6:44 AM in response to sofe1166

Define...

This works, but isn't comfortable.


If it is a matter of it being slow, but the library opens with all your existing content working properly then close iTunes, copy the files & Album Artwork folder from the iTunes folder on the NAS to <User>/Music/iTunes then open this copy of the library with the hold-down-option-start-iTunes method.


tt2

Jul 30, 2012 6:52 AM in response to sofe1166

I should add, do not confuse your "library" (which is multiple database files and folders working in concert) with moving just media files as in


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


If you are going to work with NAS then it is well worth the time learning the details of how iTunes works:


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

Jul 30, 2012 6:58 AM in response to sofe1166

The NAS (drive) is mounted and ready all the day (night times not).


Mac is powered up and you start iTunes, it will ask you that question I posted above. After you've linked iTunes with the Library it works fine till to shutdown your Mac. Next time you power up your Mac same scenario.


Perhaps there is a way to mirror the Library (1xxxx songs, videos, ...) between NAS and Mac harddisk!?


I'll have a look to the other mentioned articles.

Integrate my iTunes media folder

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