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Moving iTunes to HD 2 on iMac

I recently transfered my iTunes folder from the 251 gig Macintosh HD to the 1 TB SATA Macintosh HD 2 on my iMac. I checked the HD 2, found the iTunes library intact in the iTunes folder, clicked on some tunes, they played. When opening iTunes, I held the option key down and "pointed" to the new location of the folder. I then deleted the iTunes from the origianl location. (I have back ups on an external drive too.) Now when I open iTunes, it opens, all my music appears to be there, but when I click on a tune, I get the "The song XXX could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it" message. I click locate, open the folder on HD 2, find the song, click on it, accept the option to locate the other 9,000 or so songs this way, agree to this, and it doesn't work.

Any help?

Posted on Feb 9, 2014 7:16 AM

37 replies

turingtest2

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Feb 11, 2014 9:02 AM in response to Marquebber

Mark, It might be worth using the option-start-iTunes method to create a small test library at the root of Macintosh HD 1 (I'm assuming that is the right drive name). Call the library folder iTunes Test and import a single album by copying it into /Volumes/Macintosh HD1/iTunes Test/iTunes Media/Automatically Add to iTunes. Then close iTunes, move the folder to Macintosh HD2, option-start-iTunes and choose the moved folder.

Has this move worked properly?

Your backed up iTunes Library.itl file restored into /Volumes/Macintosh HD2/iTunes ought to work, but then the original steps you took (if I've understood correcly) ought to have worked too.

tt2

Limnos

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Feb 11, 2014 9:14 AM in response to turingtest2

t2: Here's another one: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5867764

Marquebber Author

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Feb 11, 2014 9:34 AM in response to Marquebber

Thanks tt2 and Limnos - will try this when I get back.

turingtest2

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Feb 11, 2014 9:50 AM in response to Marquebber

No worries. Repeating myself from the other thread...

For a file that isn't where iTunes is looking for it iTunes should normally display file://localhost/Volumes/<Volume1>/<Path1> in Get Info, whereas the file may actually be at Volumes/<Volume2>/<Path2>. If Volume1=Volume2 and Path1=Path2 then there really shouldn't be a problem (though there seems to be in another thread) but if there are differences then it should be possible to fix them one way or another, albeit a brute force move/copy if nothing else will work.

tt2

Marquebber Author

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Feb 11, 2014 5:11 PM in response to turingtest2

tt2, I'm embarrased to request this, but would you instruct me on how to create this test library in the root of HD 1? Been struggling with this for a while.

thanks,

Mark

turingtest2

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Feb 11, 2014 5:23 PM in response to Marquebber

See HT1589: iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one.

tt2

Marquebber Author

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Feb 11, 2014 6:55 PM in response to turingtest2

That was what I was trying to do. No matter what I try to name the folder or where I try to place it within HD 1 I get the message "The folder “iTunes Test” could not be created. Please create a different folder."

Marquebber Author

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Feb 11, 2014 7:01 PM in response to turingtest2

OK, little update here: just tried it again, this time trying to place it in the folder called Music that shows up as a pre-existing empty folder on HD 1 - as soon as I did, all of my purchased music automatically appeared. When I click on a link, the music plays. Perhaps this has downloaded from cloud.

Mark

Marquebber Author

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Feb 11, 2014 7:06 PM in response to Marquebber

tt2, moved folder to HD 2, deleted the one from HD1, opened iTunes with option key, pointed to new location, all albums now appear with cloud icon in upper right corner. I think I need to try again deleting these purchased albums from iTunes Test and put in something not in cloud? Method of doing this, so I don't delay you further?

gratefully,

Mark

turingtest2

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Feb 12, 2014 3:29 AM in response to Marquebber

You can ignore the cloud stuff. iTunes > Preferences > Store turn off Show iTunes in the Cloud Purchases.

I was suggesting importing a single album as a test, then moving the new library from one drive to the other to see how it behaves.

tt2

Marquebber Author

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Feb 12, 2014 5:10 AM in response to turingtest2

Ok, that seems to have worked, tt2, however, here are some things that happened along with it:

When I copied music into the Automatically Add to iTunes, it also appeared in a folder called Music (within iTunes Test) - this is probably no surprise, but when I then pointed to new location and iTunes opened the songs each appeared twice.

Next step please, and with gratitude,

Mark

turingtest2

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Feb 12, 2014 5:43 AM in response to Marquebber

What should have happened when you copied the files into Automatically Add to iTunes is that those copies were then moved to ...iTunes Test/iTunes Media/Music/<Artist>/<Albm>/## <Name>.<Ext> and the tracks added to the library.

Just checking that with the test library the iTunes Library.itl file is at <User>/Music/iTunes Test and the media folder is set to <User>/Music/iTunes Test/iTunes Media? The relationship between the location of the library file and the media folder (being in a direct subfolder of the folder holding the database) is required for the library to be portable.

There should have been no duplication of files so did you try to add them twice?

Once you have a test library, with the components in the correct relationship, then we want to see if moving that library folder from one drive to the other and using option-start-iTunes to reconnect to it leaves it in a working state or broken. If it works then it should be a matter of restoring the broken library and moving it over again (library files only since the media is already in place). If it doesn't work then something about the way iTunes works has changed significantly and we will have to try another tack. I.e. restore library from backup, consolidate media to new path of HD2/iTunes/iTunes Media then move library files into HD2/iTunes (having first moved out what is already there).

tt2

Marquebber Author

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Feb 12, 2014 6:11 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks so much, I'm just about at the point here where my confusion is overtaking my ability to follow your thoughts. Two things: when I hold the option key while opening iTunes, and am given the opportunity to locate, and drill down to the newly located iTunes folder, I should actually CLICK on Library.itl correct?

And: If I have never used ratings and such, and were to "rebuild" iTunes, what does that entail? Is it simple, or does this mean i have to load all CDs again?

Thanks for all of your patience. This is exhausting to me.

Mark

turingtest2

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Feb 12, 2014 6:55 AM in response to Marquebber

Marquebber wrote:

Thanks so much, I'm just about at the point here where my confusion is overtaking my ability to follow your thoughts. Two things: when I hold the option key while opening iTunes, and am given the opportunity to locate, and drill down to the newly located iTunes folder, I should actually CLICK on iTunes Library.itl correct?

Yes. You use the Choose option and then choose the specific library file to open. When creating a library you choose the folder where it will live and enter the name of the folder that will be created.

And: If I have never used ratings and such, and were to "rebuild" iTunes, what does that entail? Is it simple, or does this mean i have to load all CDs again?

It would mean importing the media folder into an otherwise empty library. You would the content of any regular playlists. The playlists, smart playlists and folders could remain if you work with the existing library file and clear out the broken links first. Or you could choose to start over with a completely empty database. You'd also lose ratings, playcounts and date added to library values - these are things that some people rely on for their smart playlists. Any .wav files in the library would lose all associated information bar a filename. Any devices that sync with your library would need reloading with content as the new entry in the library for any particular song isn't the same as the old one.

tt2

Marquebber Author

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Feb 12, 2014 7:29 AM in response to turingtest2

Thank you again tt2. I will have to try again later, due to other responsibilities, and I very much appreciate your help.

It appears that if I want to keep playlists I should keep trying to move whole iTunes folder. If you, or anyone else would like to to try to give me a step by step with specific instructions I'd be really grateful - I know that that is exactly what you are trying to do, and I apologize for my difficulties in executing, but as I said, this dilemma, which seems like it should be a no-brainer, is really baffling. Everything else I have moved to HD 2 has moved there just fine.

Mark

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Moving iTunes to HD 2 on iMac