jfmatias

Q: This question is about backing up my iTunes Library on a external h/d (G-Drive) with Thunderbolt connection with my Macbook Pro.

This question is about backing up my iTunes Library on a external h/d (G-Drive) with Thunderbolt connection with my Macbook Pro.

 

First, I had my original iTunes Library (200 gb) on my Macbook Pro (which has 250 gb).

 

Second, I backed up the iTunes Library along with all my files on Macbook Pro using Time Machine on the external h/d G-Drive.

 

Third, I then copied my iTunes Library on the same external h/d G-Drive and redirected the ITunes path for media music files from my Macbook Pro to the external h/d.  I did this to free up gb my Macbook Pro.  I then deleted the ITunes library from my Macbook Pro.

 

Fourth, I have been ripping more music, adding it to the iTunes Library and making additional changes.

 

Fifth, everything has been working fine.  I can play my music using my Macbook Pro with my external h/d G-Drive connected as its source for media music files.

 

QUESTION:  When the Time Machine is doing its regular, routine backups of my MacBook Pro files, does it also update the iTunes Library (given the iTunes app is on the MacBook Pro with a path for media music files to the external h/d G-Drive.  Again, the Time Machine is backing up my Macbook Pro docs on to the external h/d G-Drive.  Is it also backing up the iTunes media music files which has been directed from the Macbook Pro to the same external h/d G-Drive.

 

Thanks.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Jan 26, 2015 5:20 AM

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Q: This question is about backing up my iTunes Library on a external h/d (G-Drive) with Thunderbolt connection with my Macbook Pro.

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  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Jan 26, 2015 6:14 AM in response to jfmatias
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 26, 2015 6:14 AM in response to jfmatias

    TM will not back up the drive it is on.

  • by jfmatias,

    jfmatias jfmatias Jan 27, 2015 7:02 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2015 7:02 AM in response to Chris CA

    Hum, this is helpful.

     

    So should I just delete the original iTunes library backup on external h/d G-Drive (when my iTunes media library was on my MacBook Pro) and manually backup my iTunes medial/music library now on the external h/d G-Drive on the same G-Drive? 

     

    How do you suggest I do this?

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 27, 2015 7:15 AM in response to jfmatias
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 27, 2015 7:15 AM in response to jfmatias

    You could do that if you want to do that kind of backup. A true backup is making a copy on another drive since a common source of data loss is drive failure or drive loss (your house gets broken into and somebody steals all your computer equipment sitting there on the table).

  • by jfmatias,

    jfmatias jfmatias Jan 27, 2015 9:11 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2015 9:11 AM in response to Limnos

    ABSOLUTELY!! And I will do that on another drive.  But for now, how do I make a manual  backup of my iTunes media on my external drive to the same external h/d?  Do I just click on the iTunes general folder and drag it?

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 27, 2015 9:24 AM in response to jfmatias
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 27, 2015 9:24 AM in response to jfmatias

    You say you "redirected iTunes the iTunes path for media files" and deleted the library from your internal drive.

     

    Terminology.  A "library" is everything in your iTunes folder.  If you moved only media to the external an deleted the library (=iTunes folder) from your internal drive your iTunes would now not be working because a functional iTunes is media + a whole bunch of support files and folders.

     

    Since we're not using the same terminology I am not sure exactly what it is you have where.  Basically if you want to back up everything you need to make sure you have a second copy of all iTunes related files and you will have to determine where you have all those.

     

    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 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702

     

    Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.

     

    As regards to the last link and"portable", it is best to not split your media and other library files unless you have a very specific reason for doing so.  It makes re-constructing your library more difficult in case of a drive failure and in some scenarios it is more likely to lead to broken links ( ! ).

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Jan 27, 2015 9:30 AM in response to jfmatias
    Level 9 (79,533 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 27, 2015 9:30 AM in response to jfmatias

    jfmatias wrote:

    So should I just delete the original iTunes library backup on external h/d G-Drive (when my iTunes media library was on my MacBook Pro) and manually backup my iTunes medial/music library now on the external h/d G-Drive on the same G-Drive? 

    No. You do not backup anything on the same physical drive it is stored on. You backup to a completely differnt drive.

    You should have 2 external drives.

    One for Time Machine (or other backup application)  backup and one for other data (such as the iTunes folder not used on the internal).

    Time Machine or other app will backup the internal AND the external with other data.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 27, 2015 9:50 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 27, 2015 9:50 AM in response to Chris CA

    You can back up to the same drive but it is of limited use.  For example, I once had a bad sector on a drive.  A second copy residing on a different part of the same drive would have been unaffected.  If a file becomes corrupted during writing a copy elsewhere on the same drive would likely remain unaffected. 

     

    However, there's  bunch of scenarios where only having a second drive works for backup against loss.