Q: iTunes can't see external library from older computer
Hey guys. I had a 2008 iMac with iTunes set up to read all of my music, movies, TV shows, etc. from an external hard drive. I recently got a new MacBook Pro and am trying to get iTunes 12.1 to see all of my existing media, with no luck.
My iMac was running Mavericks (and I guess iTunes 11?), which I assume auto-updated my older library and paths to be compatible. However, my MacBook Pro is running Yosemite (10.10.2) with iTunes 12.1. It used to be that you could just point iTunes to your existing iTunes or iTunes/Music folder and everything would instantly be available in iTunes with no problem. I've noticed in 12.1, though, that iTunes now builds its own iTunes Media folder, separates music from TV shows, movies, ringtones, etc., and has an iTunes library file in addition to several other database sidecar files.
My question is, how the **** do I get iTunes to just see my existing media? When I try pointing iTunes to the external HD, it creates an all new iTunes Media folder with db files in it. If I create that folder myself, it creates its own subfolder with existing db files. Even then, the db files don't actually point to any of my music, but rather to an empty library.
I've tried "add to library", but instead of just adding the info for accessibility, like it used to do, iTunes is actually copying every one of my files into the new folder. Given how huge my library is, I don't have the time or HD space for iTunes to copy and paste what's already there.
Any suggestions? I just want to point iTunes to my already existing files and folders from the previous version of iTunes without duplicating or losing anything.
MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), iTunes 12.1
Posted on Feb 23, 2015 7:48 PM
All I know is that my old computer had a Music folder on the internal HD that contained my iTunes library info. That info pointed to my external HD, where all the actual media was held (all created by iTunes).
Copy this music folder to the new computer.
Now, on my new computer with iTunes 12.1, iTunes doesn't see the existing library file, doesn't see the existing media or folders, and continues to rebuild a new library every time I attempt to redirect it.
If you had only the media on the external as you indicated, then iTunes will build a new iTunes library file.
Do this.
- Connect external to old computer.
- Do not launch iTunes.
- Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder to external.
- On the external move, the entire /iTunes media/ folder on the external into /iTunes/ folder you just copied to the external.
- Plug drive into new computer.
- Hold Option and launch iTunes.
- Select Choose library… and select the iTunes folder on the external.
This is all you need to do. You do not need to point iTunes prefs anywhere else...
Posted on Apr 13, 2015 7:37 AM