How do I backup all iTunes contents correctly?

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Sunset1994 Author

Level 1

9 points

How do I backup all iTunes contents correctly?

Hi,

I need to transfer all my iTunes files to a new computer.

Due to a lack of storage I already transfered my iTunes movies and TV shows to a second harddrive (D) on my computer. I gave iTunes the respective paths. That's probably not the best way to do it, but I did it that way some time back unfortunately. The other contents of iTunes are still on my other drive (C).

Can I now easily back up all those folders on my other drive and the regular iTunes folder in My Music? What else do I need to backup? If I recall it correctly, the iPhone backups are located in the AppData somewhere, right? Can I simply copy those folders?

I only have basic iTunes skills but I can follow instructions quite well. I'd appreciate any help and advise!

Thank you!

iPhone 4S, iOS 6

Posted on Jul 28, 2013 7:26 AM

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Answer 1

Sunset1994 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 29, 2013 4:17 PM in response to Sunset1994

Can somebody help me?

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jul 29, 2013 5:08 PM in response to Sunset1994

See this backup tip for suggestions.

You may also want to reviewmake a split library portable post. Putting your entire library on say drive D: in a portable form means that a backup of the iTunes folder on another drive, say E:, can be opened and will function as a valid library. If you backup a split library then some if not all of it will only function properly when restored to the original locations.

tt2

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Answer 3

gresquer

Level 1

1 points

Jul 29, 2013 7:31 PM in response to turingtest2

turingtest2,

My sister's HDD on her laptop is very small and is almost full. Would transferring her iTunes library to an EHDD use the same process as you described in your backup tip? Thank you.

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Answer 4

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jul 30, 2013 3:14 AM in response to gresquer

If the library is currently all on the internal drive simply copy the entire iTunes folder to external drive, then hold down shift when starting iTunes, keep holding until prompted to create or choose a library, and choose the library in the new location. The backup tip should be used to create a security copy on a second external drive. The "split library" post is for when things aren't in the usual layout.

tt2

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jul 30, 2013 3:36 AM in response to Sunset1994

Sunset1994 wrote:

What else do I need to backup? If I recall it correctly, the iPhone backups are located in the AppData somewhere, right? Can I simply copy those folders?

I neglected to address this point earlier. Although it is possible to archive the device backup folders, attaching these to a new instance of iTunes is quite tricky. It should also be unneccessary. I've successfully copied my iTunes library into a new or rebuilt computer a number of times. Each device can be connected, and will backup & sync as if nothing had changed.

It is worth nothing that unless you restore an iOS device backup there is only one backup set reflecting the state of the device the last time it was connected. For this reason it is important to prevent iTunes from automatically backing up & syncing a device that you want to restore.

tt2

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Answer 6

gresquer

Level 1

1 points

Jul 31, 2013 12:41 AM in response to turingtest2

tt2, Thank you for the helpful advice! She did exactly as you said to do and it worked out perfectly.

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Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jul 31, 2013 12:55 AM in response to gresquer

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

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Answer 8

Sunset1994 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2013 3:50 AM in response to turingtest2

First of all thank you for your reply!
I still have a few questions regarding what you said.

I will certainly start working with the backup tool you mentioned once I've got all set up properly.

Right now I'm only trying to backup my whole Library once, then delete everything on my computer and put it back on the computer afterwards. My problem is, as I said, that I've put some parts of my library on my second internal drive, because I didn't have enough storage on my first internal drive....

So right now it looks like that:

Many TV Shows and Movies are on my second internal drive "D"

All other content and the standard library folder of iTunes are located in my internal drive "C" in My Music.

I'm not quite sure I have understood what you mean by a split library and how I have to use it.

For the solely purpose of backing up all my contents once, so that I can delete everything on my computer -

will it be sufficient to simply back up the my standard library in C and the TV Shows, Movies that I have saved in "D"?

If so, how will I be able to import those separated files into the new iTunes?

Also to avoid the storage problem from now on. (Drive D is significantly larger than C). Will I be able to put all my contents on the internal drive "D" after I reinstalled my computer and launch the new iTuens from drive D by holding Shift when starting iTunes for the first time? Will iTunes then use the new location on drive D for all purposes? Because if this would work I could piece all my contents together on Drive "D" in one folder and then simply select this folder for iTunes to work with. (Right now iTunes uses My Music on "C")

Sorry for the complicated wording, it's hard to explain, I hope it was understandable.

Thank you in advance!

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Answer 9

Jul 31, 2013 3:55 AM in response to Sunset1994

help me

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Answer 10

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jul 31, 2013 4:09 AM in response to Sunset1994

Your main library folder is on drive C: but some of the media is on drive D: so you have a split library. Split libraries are harder to back up and move around. I would suggest that you copy the entire iTunes folder from <User's Music>\iTunes to D:\ as D:\iTunes, then press & hold down shift as you click the icon to launch iTunes, keep holding until asked to choose or create a library, click choose, browse to D:\iTunes and open the iTunes Library.itl file inside it. This will get the main library into a more useful location. Depending on how much content is involved you can then use File > Library > Organize Libary > Consolidate files to bring in copies of the movies & TV shows. This duplicates all those files until you manually delete the originals. If there is not enough room for those duplicates on a temporary basis you can either selectively consolidate groups of files using the right click menu or use my script ConsolidateMyMoving.

Once your library is in the correct shape it becomes easy to transfer to a new computer, or restore to the same computer after wiping and reinstalling Windows. See this migrate iTunes library post for more details.

I keep my iTunes library and all my other documents on a separate drive so when I find I have to rebuild Windows I can reformat the C: drive, then reconnect to my documents and data after the install.

tt2

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Answer 11

Sunset1994 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2013 4:20 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks.

I'm copying the iTunes Library from C to D right now.

After I've done that, I will press Shift while launching iTunes until I can select the new library.

When I use the consolidate file function, it will duplicate those files into the library folder of iTunes, won't it?

If I have done that successfully I have all my contents in this one iTunes folder and I will be able to backup this folder and put it back on the computer after reinstalling it, right?

And on my new computer I will simply select the library file and everything is as it was?

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Answer 12

Sunset1994 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2013 5:05 AM in response to turingtest2

So I copied the iTunes folder over to internal drive D now and selected the library file.

I ran the iTunes info script and it seems like the media itself that iTunes uses is still located in C....

I enclosed a screenshot. That's not how it's supposed to be, is it?

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Answer 13

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jul 31, 2013 5:39 AM in response to Sunset1994

Sunset1994 wrote:

That's not how it's supposed to be, is it?

Nope, before you started the media folder should have been pointed to C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media. I suspect the way you've relocated the movies & TV shows in the past has confused things. Are there any media content folders in the main iTunes folder instead of iTunes\iTunes Media? If not then open the library file on C:\ again, correct the media folder to C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media, close iTunes, reopen, close again, then copy the five library files from the iTunes folder on C: to D:\iTunes, and switch to that library. This time the media folder should automatically correct itself to D:\iTunes\iTunes Media.

tt2

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Answer 14

Sunset1994 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 31, 2013 6:21 AM in response to turingtest2

What kind of media folders am I looking for?

Here is a screenshot of the contents of the iTunes folder.

And the content of the folder iTunes Media is the following:

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Answer 15

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Jul 31, 2013 8:22 AM in response to Sunset1994

Aha, a trick library...

With iTunes closed move the five library files and the Album Artwork folder from C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes up to <User's Music>
Use the shift-start-iTunes method to open the library file C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes Library.itl
Close iTunes, rename C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes as C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes Media
Open iTunes and check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder now reads C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes Media, if not edit, then close & reopen iTunes
Close iTunes, wait a few moments for it to finish saving the library, then copy the five library files into D:\iTunes (overwriting those you copied there earlier)
Move all the folders in D:\iTunes apart from Album Artwork, iTunes Media and Previous iTunes Libraries down into D:\iTunes\iTunes Media
Use the shift-start-iTunes method to open the library file D:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
Check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder now reads D:\iTunes\iTunes Media, if not edit, then close & reopen iTunes
Rename the iTunes media folder on drive C: and check that it has no effect on the active library before deleting

You can now move ahead with consolidating the other content that was already on drive D:

tt2

Message was edited (several times) by: turingtest2

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