how can I relink all of my music to iTunes

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how can I relink all of my music to iTunes

I followed the instructions with the new version of Itunes to relocate my music. I consolidated as the instructions recommended, I think.

I did this to put my system folders onto a new main drive, an SSD. Things are much faster now, but then I opened itunes for the first time.

First time I open it, it tells me to choose an itunes folder or make a new one. I try to choose the new location on another drive and it says it won't work and returns me to the previous window. Totally circular with no way out.

So, I point it to the location of my old itunes folder on my new cloned SSD - bingo it works and allows me out of the endless loop. Ok, but then when it opens up - nearly all of 80gb worth of music will not play and has no cover art! Now I'm concerned. Turns out all of my songs are on the new hard drive as they should be, great! But what am I supposed to do now? And why is this so difficult?

How do I relink the consolidated library to my music files?

Also, can't copy back the folder of music to original location - I had to move it since the SSD has less space than the old HD did.

Thanks for any help,

magazine

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), 2x2.6 quad-core xeon (early 2009)

Posted on Jul 9, 2013 1:56 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jul 9, 2013 2:24 PM in response to magazine

magazine wrote:

I followed the instructions with the new version of Itunes to relocate my music

What instructions?

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Answer 2

magazine Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 10, 2013 9:28 AM in response to Chris CA

I followed this:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449

Jesus, I hope that that wasn't the wrong thing to do! I just assumed that something like changing the startup drive would not have this many problems. Do you think I should have taken it into the store for this?

I hope that you can help me relink, thanks.

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Answer 3

magazine Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 11, 2013 10:55 AM in response to magazine

Hi out there!

Anyone have any suggestions for me? Did I not provide some information? I feel like I followed the instructions but ended up messing up 10 years of music.

As I say, I can't really switch back since I have a much smaller startup drive now. I do however still have the original MAIN startup drive still in the computer, it's just not the startup.

Thanks

magazine

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Answer 4

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Jul 11, 2013 11:22 AM in response to magazine

Sorry for not getting back with you...

That moves only the iTunes media, not the iTunes library (which is really kinda nebulous).

iTunes library = iTunes folder and all the media, wherever it is located.

The /Music/iTunes/ folder contains the iTunes library.itl file, which keeps track of everything in iTunes.

I do however still have the original MAIN startup drive still in the computer, it's just not the startup.

This is good you still have it.

Try this...

Hold Option and launch iTunes.
Select Choose library... and select the /iTunes/ folder on the original drive. It should be in /Users/your_user_name/Music/.

Don't mess with anything. We can get it cleared up. 😁

Does everything work okay?

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Answer 5

magazine Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 15, 2013 10:46 AM in response to Chris CA

Hi Chris,

Thanks for continuing to help with my issue. When I do this, it says:

"An Itunes library file could not be found in in the folder "MUSIC". Please choose a different folder."

This does not allow me to continue. However when I just open itunes it seems to work then it won't play anything and there seem to be many, many doubles of files. When I click on one, it says:

"The song “Beautiful Babylon” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"

Which, I can then do by pointing itunes to the location of the song on the old main harddrive in the folder MUSIC. I must have at some point consolidated and renamed the folder containing all of my music and named it MUSIC. Not sure why I did this, but it would have been years ago.

Thanks for any further help.

Would it work to move the Itunes media file or folder to the old MAIN harddrive?

Again, thanks.

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Answer 6

magazine Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 30, 2013 10:11 AM in response to Chris CA

Hi Chris,

Or anyone! Should I put the itunes media file back on my old harddrive? I still have all of the original files, they are where they should be, I believe. But when I open itunes, it does not play. And now there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of duplicates. What should I do?

THanks

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Answer 7

magazine Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 19, 2013 12:14 PM in response to Chris CA

Hi Chris,

I'm now trying to merge this old library with the one from my laptop.

When I followed your steps, I found the itunes library - but it did not find the songs.

I know they are still there, but itunes doesn't see them.

How do I relink the thousands of songs and coverart?

Thanks

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