AbleHistorian
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Q: Reload iTunes media with no library file?

I attempted to back up my iTunes library from a 2TB external hard drive to  2 separate 1TB hard drives this weekend.  My Macbook Pro stopped recognising the 2TB drive part way through the back up and both drives are no longer usable.  I had copied my media about a month ago on another hard drive and have transferred that to a new 2TB drive.  I have tried to change my iTunes so it recognises the new 2TB as the iTunes library, but the person at Apple I spoke to today told me that since I did not copy the xml file I can not just change the address to have the new 2TB recognised.  (I'd had no idea about the xml file.  I'm an idiot.)

 

I understand that I will need to add the media files manually again, but here is where I have the problem. The Apple employee I was speaking with hung up on me when I asked if there was a list of instructions on the internet on how to do this.  He was unhelpful in general, so I don't want to speak with him again.  I've searched previous questions but haven't found one that tells me how to do this.

 

My main questions are:

 

1.  My iTunes brings up the icons/covers of all my media with the grey exclamation point next to them.  Can I just change the address of iTunes in Preferences and then manually re-load the media and all will be well?  Or will this not work, erase the metadata or some cause some other problem?

 

2.  If this isn't how to do it, can someone please tell me how to go about fixing this?

 

3.  Will I be able to re-download any purchases from iTunes made between the backup and this weekend to the new hd?

 

Many thanks for any help. 

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 8, 2012 7:23 AM

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Q: Reload iTunes media with no library file?

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  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Oct 8, 2012 7:56 AM in response to AbleHistorian
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2012 7:56 AM in response to AbleHistorian

    First, learn a bit about iTunes library structure.  It will help greatly if you understand what things should look like because you are the one who can see your computer..

     

    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/ht3847

     

     

    So all you have right now are the media files alone on the new 2TB drive?  You do not have copies of the library.itl or library.xml files?  Those are/were your real library files and if those are gone then so is all your previous organization.  The only thing to do then is to rebuild the library from scratch by creating a new library file and adding all your media to it again.  However, before doing that it would be good to do it in the proper location so we need to know where you want the new library.

  • by AbleHistorian,

    AbleHistorian AbleHistorian Oct 8, 2012 8:09 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 8:09 AM in response to Limnos

    Hi Limnos,

     

    Thanks for the quick reply.  I HAD wanted the new library on the new 2TB hd, which is why I copied the media from the old backup to there.  Now that I know about the missing xml and itl files I have a sinking feeling I'm going to have to delete and re-copy hem, aren't I?

     

    Thanks for the above links.  I'll certainly give them a read.

  • by Mike Johnson12,

    Mike Johnson12 Mike Johnson12 Oct 8, 2012 8:22 AM in response to AbleHistorian
    Level 5 (6,536 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 8:22 AM in response to AbleHistorian

    Part of the solution depends on how you backed up - did you just b/u the music/media files OR did you b/u the ENTIRE iTunes folder?

     

    In the iTunes folder are the filels that Limnos is referring.

     

    MJ

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Oct 8, 2012 8:24 AM in response to AbleHistorian
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2012 8:24 AM in response to AbleHistorian

    A historian should remember card catalogs.  The library files are the card catalog of your media collection.  If a library loses its catalog then the books are all still there, probably even nicely sorted on the shelves, it's just that the librarian doesn't know which ones are in the library, nor the ones in the best seller list or children's collection etc.  The books even have some basic information on them such as author, title, Dewey system, as do your media files have tags embedded in them.  The books don't have a record of how many times they have been checked out (your playcount) or which ones are people's favorites (your ratings).  Those were only in the catalog and lending records.

  • by AbleHistorian,

    AbleHistorian AbleHistorian Oct 8, 2012 8:34 AM in response to Mike Johnson12
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 8:34 AM in response to Mike Johnson12

    Sadly for me,  I just backed up the media because I didn't know any better.  I'm pretty new to Mac and iTunes and haven't had to access my backups before.  Any suggestions on how to get my media back into iTunes?  Thanks!

  • by AbleHistorian,

    AbleHistorian AbleHistorian Oct 8, 2012 8:37 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 8:37 AM in response to Limnos

    Ok, so the metadata is lost.  How do I get the media back into iTunes without creating a new account (which is what it seemed like iTunes was asking me to do)?  Thanks again!

  • by Mike Johnson12,

    Mike Johnson12 Mike Johnson12 Oct 8, 2012 8:42 AM in response to AbleHistorian
    Level 5 (6,536 points)
    Oct 8, 2012 8:42 AM in response to AbleHistorian

    Your iTunes account has nothing to do with your problem of reconstructing your Library. You do not have to create a new account. Log into your existing account from the main iTS page. Don't confuse account with new library.

     

    If you launch iTunes with the 'option' key down you will get a dialog. Chose the option that you want. Then start to add back your iTunes media.

     

    MJ