how do use itunes on external hard drive to a new computer

navgtr99 wrote:

I renamed "F:\itunes" to "F:\itunesmedia", shift started iTunes created folder in "F" drive called iTunes. When I attempt to move "iTunes media" into the newly created "iTunes" folder I get a message saying "the folder already contains a folder named "iTunes media". It also asks if I want to replace the files that have the same name .

Yes, step 4, "merging with the empty folder....", actually there might be one preference file and an "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder, but not a problem.

tt2

navgtr99 wrote:

Forgot to mention, the newly created "iTunes" folder is not empty. It has album artwork & iTunes media folders. The iTunes media folder has a sub folder within called automatically add to iTunes (which is empty). Then there are iTunes library database file, iTunes library XML document , iTunes library extras and iTunes library genius. Both are iTunes database files .

No, the iTunes folder is not supposed to be empty. This is meant to have the database files and the Album Artwork folders, all media is supposed to be in the iTunes Media folder. As long as that arrangement holds the library will easily move from one system to another.

tt2

So select "yes" to the replacing files question? After I'm done with this process my iTunes library and everything associated with iTunes will be on my F drive? So that will have to be plugged in every time I want to use iTunes or backup my iPhone/ipad to iTunes?

What should the media folder be set at? This is where all content will be saved to ?

navgtr99 wrote:

So select "yes" to the replacing files question?

Yes

After I'm done with this process my iTunes library and everything associated with iTunes will be on my F drive? So that will have to be plugged in every time I want to use iTunes or backup my iPhone/ipad to iTunes?

Yes, I thought you wanted your library on the F: drive and not have everything copied into you main drive. Alternatively, once it is organized properly, use this backup tip to clone the library into the main drive, switch to that copy and then use the backup tool to key the two copies in sync.

tt2

Yes,I want everything on external HD and nothing on my main drive. So far looks like everything copiedover to iTunes, however, the movies and TV shows did not go into iTunes. There are folders for them in the F:\itunes\itunesmedia.

Where are the movies and TV Shows now? If they are stored outside the iTunes Media folder that you've just imported then move them into F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\Automatically Add to iTunes. iTunes will add them to the library and move to the correct path.

tt2

They are in 2 separate folders (TV shows & Movies) within the main F:\itunes\itunes media folder.

Both those folders should have been imported when you used Add Folder to Library... Ah, iTunes will have categorized them as "Home Movies". look for the tab in the Movies section and change the Media Kind as required.

tt2

I apologize, but I don't I understand the last step you just explained.

tt2

Do I have to move the 2 folders into "add to iTunes " folder still? Also, do you know where the back ups get stored? I just backed up my iPhone and the available space on my main drive lowered.

Can you please tell me how to get that box to change the media type to open?

navgtr99 wrote:

Can you please tell me how to get that box to change the media type to open?

Highlight one or more items. Pess CTRL+I to Get Info. Select the Options tab.

tt2

navgtr99 wrote:

Do I have to move the 2 folders into "add to iTunes " folder still?

No, they've already been added, and reclassified. When you correct for Movie/TV Show they will go back where they belong.

Also, do you know where the back ups get stored? I just backed up my iPhone and the available space on my main drive lowered.

Moving the iOS device backup location

Open a command prompt by hitting the start button and typing CMD<Enter> in the search box that opens up, or with Start > Run on older Windows.

To move the current backup folder from C: to D: (for example) type in this command and press <Enter>

Move "C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\Backup"

Where <User> is your Windows user name.

To make iTunes look for the data in the new location type in this command and press <Enter>

MkLink /J "C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup" "D:\Backup"

If your preferred drive has a different letter or you already have a folder called "Backup" then edit "D:\Backup" accordingly in both commands.

If you have Windows XP then you'll need a third-party tool such as Junction to link the two locations together instead of the MkLink command. The source folder is C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Note if/when you move the library to a new computer it is not so easy to get iTunes to "see" these backup sets. Simply backup the device once, delete the backup folder on the external drive, then repeat the steps above, to give you one active backup on the new system.

tt2