Please HELP...trouble when started moving itunes to external hard drive

Question

Level 1

6 points

Please HELP...trouble when started moving itunes to external hard drive

I was moving my itunes library to an external hard drive. Somehow, I did something wrong. I was following these steps.

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

I ended up with an itunes folder in my external hard drive, which ONLY contained items from my previous itunes cloud. However, even though I didn't delete the previous itunes library on my desk top....it would no longer open. It would always open to the new itunes on the external hard drive with a few hundred songs. 20 + Thousand songs are missing, all of my movies, tv shows, playlists, etc.

I did manage to locate them under finder, itunes, & then itunes media. But, I can not access them by clicking the itunes icon on my desk top. Actually, when I click the itunes icon, it will no longer open up. I have no idea what I did and cannot fix it? Plus, I still haven't managed to copy the itunes library to my external hard drive.

Please Help!

Thanks.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Nov 10, 2013 7:07 PM

Reply

Answer 1

ffiti

Level 4

1,014 points

Nov 10, 2013 11:04 PM in response to dmbnewfie

Drag the content folder onto the iTunes icon.

Reply

Answer 2

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 3:14 AM in response to ffiti

If you mean the itunes media folder (under finder), then that still will not work. When I click on my itunes icon, itunes will not even open on my desk top.

Reply

Answer 3

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 7:51 AM in response to dmbnewfie

I'm still trying different things and nothing is working. It's VERY FRUSTRATING. Itunes will no longer work on my desktop when I click the itunes icon. Even though, my files can be located under 'finder'.

Reply

Answer 4

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Nov 11, 2013 7:55 AM in response to dmbnewfie

Read the instructions on this page:

http://osxdaily.com/2013/10/09/itunes-library-external-drive/

Reply

Answer 5

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 10:08 AM in response to Lexiepex

First, thanks so much for the link on trying to solve my problem. The page looks even more detailed than the previous link which I was using to try and move my itunes to an extra hard drive. However, I cannot even open my itunes to try and move it to an external HD.

Any ideas on how to fix that problem? Then, maybe I could go back to moving the entire itunes library.

Thanks again.

Reply

Answer 6

ffiti

Level 4

1,014 points

Nov 11, 2013 10:09 AM in response to dmbnewfie

Open iTunes and File > Add to Library... and select your content folder.

Reply

Answer 7

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Nov 11, 2013 10:14 AM in response to dmbnewfie

Open iTunes while holding the Alt(=option) key. It will ask you for a Library, point it to where the Library is now.

Reply

Answer 8

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:15 AM in response to Lexiepex

Thanks for the responses. It certainly helps a lot, since I obviously did something drastically wrong yesterday when trying to move my itunes to the external HD.

When I clicking on itunes....it still will not open.

When I click on itunes (on desk top) and hit Alt (option) key, it only brings up 3 options: force quit, hide, options (keep in dock, open at login, show in finder).

When I select 'show in finder' - My itunes which was 160 GB yesterday, is now only showing 343.3 MB. That's a lot of stuff missing from itunes.

So, unforunately the previous suggestions on how to fix the problem will not work.

Thanks.

Reply

Answer 9

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:19 AM in response to dmbnewfie

I just tried to play a song under 'finder' (that use to be in my itunes yesterday) and it says "The application iTunes can't be opened. -1712".

Reply

Answer 10

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:20 AM in response to dmbnewfie

No no, Quit iTunes, from the Menu. When it will not Quit, do it via ForceQuit.

Then, when iTunes is NOT running, hold the Alt(option) key and start iTunes: it will ask you to choose a Library.

Reply

Answer 11

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:26 AM in response to Lexiepex

Thanks for being patient and for simplfying it for me....I did that. However, it says "The folder containing "Itunes Library" cannot be found, and is required. Please choose or create a new itunes library."

Reply

Answer 12

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:34 AM in response to dmbnewfie

Now you must point to your Library (choose...), you know where you put it don't you?

Reply

Answer 13

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:35 AM in response to dmbnewfie

Would it be better to uninstall whatever is left of my itunes and then to try reinstalling it with a backup? (Though, I have never used a backup to restore anything before.)

Then, try to move the new itunes to an external HD.

Reply

Answer 14

dmbnewfie Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:39 AM in response to dmbnewfie

That worked! I've been STRESSED out since last night.....THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Seriously....when 160 GB goes missing......its stressful. I really appreciate all your help and patience. Hope you have a great day 🙂

Reply

Answer 15

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Nov 11, 2013 11:43 AM in response to dmbnewfie

Great 🙂

Reply