iTunes won't recognize media on external hard drive

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Level 1

3 points

iTunes won't recognize media on external hard drive

Hello Everyone....

So I have a 17" Macbook Pro, that was recently repaired under Future Shop's PSP that I purchased. They wiped it completely clean, so I essentially have a brand new computer again.

Luckily, I put almost all of my data and media onto my external hard drive before it went in. I have been operating with my iTunes media stored on an external drive for some time now with success.

Now that my computer is completely new, I did all the available updates, and then went to link my library to my iTunes, as it's "new again". It doesn't have my library attached anymore. I think I forgot to save the actual library files that I'm now reading about, and instead just saved the actual mp4 files. To be honest I didn't know there were library files and actual media files, seems weird...

I've changed my preferences back to the external drive folder where my media is located, and I've clicked "consolidate files" and nothing happens.

I've tried to hit the "scan for media" button that pops up when you have a wiped or new computer and nothing has happened.

I tried to physically click and drag everything from my external drive into my iTunes, and the little "processing xyz..." popped up with the blue and white striped progress bar, however when I woke up this morning nothing had happened. I'm not sure how that developed.

I can't seem to find anything on the internet to assist with this particular issue. I have all my media stored properly in the iTunes media folder but no actual "library" file. I guess I didn't realize they existed!

Any ideas? I am losing my mind. This mac is my second and has been in for repairs twice, and has given me nothing but problems. I am aware this "problem" is my own dumb fault but I feel like it should be much easier to recognize your existing media when it's right there in front of you.

macbook

Posted on Oct 1, 2014 6:08 AM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Level 10

411,217 points

Oct 1, 2014 6:37 AM in response to graypolish

Preferences does not scan for media, it only changes the storage location for new additions. The files have to be added to the library. It sounds like you tried this in one of your attempts but it did not work (I don't know why it didn't unless there is some detail I missed).

Where do you want your library? On the external or internal?

If the internal, start iTunes. Drag your media files to the "Automatically Add To iTunes folder. iTunes 9: Understanding the "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder. - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3832 Or use the "Add" menu item to add files to iTunes, or drag them to the iTuens library in the sidepanel.

If somewhere else, start iTunes while holding down the option/alt key, select a library location. Add as above.

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

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Answer 2

graypolish Author

Level 1

3 points

Oct 1, 2014 5:05 PM in response to Limnos

thank you for the response!

It for some reason wasn't working earlier but I tried again while doing the exact same thing (selecting the folder and clicking consolidate in my preferences, then going to Library>organize) I was doing before and it seems to be linking up now... The files are on, and I want them to stay on my external, it just seemed to keep ignoring my request to consolidate after selecting the folder they were in...

I think part of the problem earlier had to do with the default power settings on my macbook that were reset when I got it back and I forgot to change - because as soon as the computer goes to sleep the external hard drive also goes to sleep, and then it's locked on wake up, so it doesn't "see" the folder anymore, so it wasn't staying connected long enough to actually consolidate.

Was having quite a panic attack- my computer is doesn't have enough space even clear to hold my entire iTunes library and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do if it wouldn't get with the program! Also the incessant panic that you're about to lose everything... that's not fun.

I think my main problem was not saving those "previous libraries" files that would have told iTunes what to display and linked them with the files themselves. who knew you needed a file to identify a file?! Seems sort of sad to me that something so minute could be such a big problem!!!

Won't make that mistake again.

Thanks again for your reply!

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,217 points

Oct 2, 2014 9:29 AM in response to graypolish

who knew you needed a file to identify a file?! Seems sort of sad to me that something so minute could be such a big problem!!!

It's standard practice not only with computers but any large-scale operation. What if your city library had to send a librarian to look on the shelves each time somebody asked if they carried a certain book? The library file also contain information that is not stored in the files themselves, and in fact WAV format files don't carry any information so you would simply see a filename if there wasn't a library file.

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