darkhorse85

Q: iTunes Media Folder location - on a data parition

Hi, I use Mac with a partitioned hard drive. It lets me use a Snow Leopard and Lion. I use a third partition fror data, this is where my iTunes media folder is. iTunes Lion uses it just fine, but iTunes on Snow Leopard doesn't work that well - it can't access the iTunes media folder on the data partition.

 

Opened iTunes

Preferences > Advanced >

iTunes Media Folder Loctation > Change >

Data HD > "iTunes Media Green Folder" > Open > OK >

Keep organized > Yes

 

...Okay so its now still not there urggh!

 

File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate Files > OK

 

...Okay so its now still not there ...STILL! I'm getting upset and I want my music.

 

Can't you help? Thank you kindly

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on May 30, 2014 3:00 PM

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Q: iTunes Media Folder location - on a data parition

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  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos May 30, 2014 6:21 PM in response to darkhorse85
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 30, 2014 6:21 PM in response to darkhorse85

    Changing preferences settings only tells iTunes where to start storing new additions, not where to find media.  Your primary problems stems from not keeping all iTunes library files in the partition and only having media files there.  Your SnowLeopard library is not using the same data location information your Lion area is using.  Without going into long details I feel in your instance it would be best to move the whole library to the partition and start iTunes while holding down the option.  Guide iTunes for each boot system to the iTunes Library.itl file in the iTUntes folder.  I guess you could try starting the SL iTUnes using hte library in its location on your Lion partition but things can get nasty when using another system's files because of user permissions problems.

     

    I keep all my iTunes files on a separate partition which I use for data and I have removed ownership from that partition which means I never have ownership issues when using it from any account.

  • by darkhorse85,

    darkhorse85 darkhorse85 Jun 2, 2014 3:56 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 2, 2014 3:56 AM in response to Limnos

    Hi,

    Thanks for that. I will give it a go.  From what you have wrote I received suggestions/pieces of info (some of it was a little confusing to me):

     

    1) I'm only changing where the new stuff  goes (cheers iTunes!)

     

    2) I have to hold option/alt whist opening iTunes and select my music library then ...each time every time?

     

     

    Is that right and was there anything else that I missed?

     

    All the best.

    -M

     

    ...trust a cat to know about leopard

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jun 2, 2014 6:12 AM in response to darkhorse85
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2014 6:12 AM in response to darkhorse85

    By organizing it should both relocate all current media as well as start using the new location from that point on.  You're mostly okay there.  Where you are not okay is iTunes doesn't look at your files directly.  It only really looks at one single file, the iTunes Library.itl file which tells it where everything is located.  You need to get both copies of iTunes using the same complete library (media + library file).  The way you do that is using the option start method.  You should only need to do that once unless for some reason the library storage drive is disconnected when starting iTunes, in which case iTunes will use the default location and you will need to option start again.

     

    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

     

    By the way, both copies of iTunes will have to be the same version or the library will become unreadable to the older iTunes.

     

    There are variants to the above but I am not going to type in all the possibilities unless you say something that tells me you need a different structure.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Jun 2, 2014 6:51 AM in response to darkhorse85
    Level 9 (79,584 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 2, 2014 6:51 AM in response to darkhorse85

    darkhorse85 wrote:

     

    2) I have to hold option/alt whist opening iTunes and select my music library then ...each time every time?

    No.

    Once you select a library, iTunes will continue to use that same library every time it launches.

  • by darkhorse85,

    darkhorse85 darkhorse85 Jun 2, 2014 10:29 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 2, 2014 10:29 AM in response to Chris CA

    I tried what was suggested on the Snow Leopard HD partition. I receieved this message: 

     

    An iTunes Library file could be found. "iTunes Media Green Folder". Please choose another folder.

     

    Holding option/alt whilst launching iTunes > Choose Library > Devices > Data HD> iTunes Media Green Folder > Open >  I read "The message" > > Cancel

     

    Any ideas people?

    Thanks!

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Jun 2, 2014 10:51 AM in response to darkhorse85
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2014 10:51 AM in response to darkhorse85

    That's because there isn't a library file on your data drive.  You said you store media there, not the whole iTunes library (iTunes folder - see all the links I provided earlier).  Your library file is in your user area Music folder on your Lion partition.  You either need to use it there with Snow, or it would be more clean to move it to the data drive and reconnect both your Lion and Snow Leopard iTunes to the library there.  You can use the preferences selection to re-unite it all inside one iTunes folder which works best for most people unless you are very comfortable with using iTunes with split folders (you would be answering questions here, not asking them ).

  • by darkhorse85,

    darkhorse85 darkhorse85 Jun 3, 2014 3:33 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 3, 2014 3:33 PM in response to Limnos

    NO WAY!!!!! IT WORKS!!!!
    You've got 2 sloppy wet cheeks from across the pond!!!

    X X