Q: Main disk crash. Format and restore a library that was on an external disk
Hi! My main disk crash, and I had my iTunes library on an external Fw800 disk.
I format a new main disk, but now.. How I can restore my old library from the external device?
MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)
Posted on Feb 21, 2014 5:58 AM
It depends upon what you had on the external drive. Check the iTunes folder there. If it contains a file called library.itl you can start iTunes with the option/alt key held down and guide it to open the library on the external drive.
If all you see are media files on the external drive then your "library" was on the internal drive. Your media files are okay but the structure is lost (unless you had a backup, which you always should). You will have to start over with your library structure. To make sure iTunes does not put everything on the internal drive, go to iTunes' preferences (advanced) and change the media folder location to that on the external drive. Start iTunes and drag your media files to the Automatically Add To iTunes folder in the iTunes folder on the external drive. This will ensure the files are moved as added, not copied.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847
Posted on Feb 21, 2014 7:50 AM