snpperhd
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: how do i share a single itunes library from an external hdd

I recently switched from a PC laptop to a MacBook Pro with latest Mac OS X 10.8.2.  Instead of moving over 130GB of music from my old laptop, I thought it better/easier to create/maintain a single music source for iTunes to sync with for all my devices...(iPad, iPhone and MBP)...and not have all that space taken up on my MBP.

 

I transfered my music from the old laptop to a Seagate external hard drive which is connected and available to my home wi-fi via a USB connection to my wireless router (WNDR4500). 

 

I attempted to import music into my MBP iTunes from the mounted share of that Seagate, but only playlists seemed to transfer...nothing in the music library.

 

What am I doing wrong?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 19, 2012 3:25 PM

by Limnos,Solvedanswer
Limnos Limnos
Level 9 (54,635 points)
Mac OS X
A:

In order to provide useful feedback we need to know exactly how you have things set up currently.  If it is any different from the standard iTunes structure where everything is kept in a single iTunes folder this can be critical in how you move items and not have things break.

 

Look at the links below.  They tell you what files and folders go to make up a complete iTunes library and where iTunes expects them to be.  If you have things differently then we need to know precisely where they are.  If you have things set up differently and move them by hand back together to where a normal library would be that too can break iTunes.

 

 

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

 

Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605

Posted on Nov 21, 2012 1:56 PM

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snpperhd

Q: how do i share a single itunes library from an external hdd

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Nov 19, 2012 4:42 PM in response to snpperhd
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 19, 2012 4:42 PM in response to snpperhd

    You're not providing details of what you are dong exactly in this moving.  You have to do it the right way or parts get left behind.

     

    iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.

     

    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.  Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.

  • by snpperhd,

    snpperhd snpperhd Nov 19, 2012 7:43 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 19, 2012 7:43 PM in response to Limnos

    My 'plan' for the moving of this music is to consolidate where my iTunes source music is stored.  I no longer wish to have it stored on a laptop/computer (PC or Macbook); 130GB of music out of my 768GB HDD is more than I am comfortable with.

     

    I maintained the music file folder structure during the move, the only thing I have not moved onto the external HDD is the iTunes folder.

     

    I do not necessarily need it to be the same as before, I can start from scratch...I just want the correct method to make it work.

     

    Thanks for your help.

  • by snpperhd,

    snpperhd snpperhd Nov 21, 2012 1:27 PM in response to snpperhd
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 21, 2012 1:27 PM in response to snpperhd

    I guess that is all I am going to get on this.  Apparently i am the only one that wants to do it like this.  Thanks anyway.

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Nov 21, 2012 1:56 PM in response to snpperhd
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 21, 2012 1:56 PM in response to snpperhd

    In order to provide useful feedback we need to know exactly how you have things set up currently.  If it is any different from the standard iTunes structure where everything is kept in a single iTunes folder this can be critical in how you move items and not have things break.

     

    Look at the links below.  They tell you what files and folders go to make up a complete iTunes library and where iTunes expects them to be.  If you have things differently then we need to know precisely where they are.  If you have things set up differently and move them by hand back together to where a normal library would be that too can break iTunes.

     

     

    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

     

    Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Nov 21, 2012 6:40 PM in response to snpperhd
    Level 9 (79,677 points)
    iTunes
    Nov 21, 2012 6:40 PM in response to snpperhd

    snpperhd wrote:

     

    I maintained the music file folder structure during the move, the only thing I have not moved onto the external HDD is the iTunes folder.

    That is what you need to move to the external drive.

  • by snpperhd,

    snpperhd snpperhd Nov 23, 2012 4:30 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2012 4:30 PM in response to Limnos

    Okay, I have everything setup normally; except for the fact that everything that was once on my old laptop is now on an external HDD.  iTunes still does not see ALL of the music it used to when stored on the laptop, but it has picked up some of the music since I moved the iTunes folders onto the external HDD.

     

    I imagine I will need to manually add the remaining music to itunes to complete the process. 

     

    Thanks for your assistance.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Nov 23, 2012 6:15 PM in response to snpperhd
    Level 9 (79,677 points)
    iTunes
    Nov 23, 2012 6:15 PM in response to snpperhd

    File > Add to iTunes and select the iTunes folder you copied to the external.