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Level 1

8 points

How Do You Backup Music on iTunes?

I've been using the free program, "SyncBack" to run all of my backups from my Windows PC to a 2gb external drive. The program adds any new files and it replaces any file on the backup when the source has a more recent file date. I have been using this program to backup my iTunes music in addition to all my other files. I have discovered that iTunes does not always change the file date when the tags for the music file have been revised. For example, I have added comments and grouping to existing songs in iTunes and found the file date was unchanged. As a result, SyncBack ignores the file when I run backups because the file date has not changed. Oddly, iTunes will sometimes change the file date when you edit tags and sometimes it doesn't.

I've found the only way I can get a good backup is to completely delete the backup and copy everything over to the backup new every time. It takes over an hour for me to do this and would rather only update the music that has tags that have changed.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions?

iTunes-OTHER, Windows 8

Posted on Mar 30, 2015 8:46 AM

39 replies

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Mar 31, 2015 10:24 AM in response to GeorgeH19

OK, try this EmbedData script. Make a backup of the iTunes Library.itl database before you start. Test on a couple of tracks that you know have this problem so you could retype the correct data by hand if needed. If it works as required let it work on more data. Note that the script cannot tell which files have this issue so for each track that appears to have a non-zero Year field when the script asks iTunes, the year is first incremented, and then decremented. As earlier, my worry is that in asking the question iTunes might read the empty value from the tag which is why I advise caution.

tt2

GeorgeH19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 1, 2015 9:40 PM in response to turingtest2

I tried the script several times and couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I decided to run it on all of my 13,000 songs. It took 47 minutes to run and worked to my satisfaction. I noticed you posted on the web page that the script could be applied to other fields. I looked at the script and revising it is something I can not do without some instructions. I have the same problem with the "Composer" field and would like to revise the script to run on it also.

I have looked at other fields and I haven't found any other problems like this.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 2, 2015 2:22 AM in response to GeorgeH19

Ah, shame I didn't know that before. I've updated the script so that it can process Composer as well as Year, but I've also put in options to make processing each field optional and only enabled Composer, so hopefully it will take closer to 47 minutes to run the second pass, rather than 94. Again please test a little to start with.

Let me know when you are done and I will upload it again with both fields enabled so it is ready for anyone else that has the same issue.

tt2

GeorgeH19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 2, 2015 2:56 PM in response to turingtest2

I have finished this project. You can make changes to your web site for everyone to use. When you make the changes, you might want to add the "Comment" and "Grouping" fields to the script. I made some manual changes that fixed them but it may not be so easy for others.

You might want to add some directions to your web site on how to transfer iTunes to a new PC. When you loose everything on a PC and have reinstall everything, you can copy everything in iTunes back to the exact same folder structure that you had and iTunes should work as it should. However, when you get a new PC, you can't always use the same folder structure so you end up having to use a process like described on this page:

http://www.heyhowto.com/music/transfer-itunes-playlists-and-song-ratings/

I have spent a great deal of time adding ratings and organizing songs. I found a script on the following web site that I thought might help me get started moving things to a new PC. It provides a way to save and restore Ratings/Playcounts/Last Played Date which will help.

http://ottodestruct.com/blog/2006/itunes-saveratings-script/

I feel like I owe you. I have a method that I use to add lyrics to songs on iTunes using free software. Lyrics don't take up much space and make your play back device more fun to use. I use a 2 step approach. The first step is an automated method and then use a manual approach for the songs that are left behind.

Thank you for your help!!!

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 2, 2015 3:48 PM in response to GeorgeH19

Glad to hear you're all sorted now. 🙂

I've taken your suggestions for the script on board. All done. 🙂

The easiest way to transfer the library to a new PC is to backup with the process described in Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy and use the same tool to restore it to the new computer. Make a split library portable describes how to rearrange the library into a portable structure when it isn't.

I have several other scripts for exporting and importing metadata however they shouldn't be needed if the library is backed up and restored properly.

tt2

GeorgeH19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 2, 2015 7:30 PM in response to turingtest2

The split library thing looks appealing to me. My folder structure is a little different than either example identified on the page. I have the iTunes 12.1.1.4 program installed on a solid state drive (C:\) and the media installed on a hard disc (F:\) . Windows boots from the C drive. The Library files:

sentinel

iTunes Library Extras.itdb

iTunes Library Genius.itdb

iTunes Library.itl

iTunes Music Library.xml

are installed in the folder C:\Users\[user name]\Music\iTunes\

All the media is installed on F:\iTunes\ with the following folders:

Album Artwork

Audiobooks

Automatically Add to iTunes

Downloads

Home Videos

iPod Games

iTunes Media

iTunes U

Movies

Music

Podcasts

Previous iTunes Libraries

Scripts

Voice Memos

The "iTunes Media" folder above has almost nothing in it. I have added all the cover art to the music files and could probably delete the "Album Artwork" folder but I haven't found the nerve yet. When I open the option in iTunes Library > Organize Library >, the option for "Reorganize files in the folder iTunes" is grayed out and the message "Your iTunes media files are already organized into subfolders (Music, Movies, TV Shows and so on).

By the way, my sister has an iPod and she wants to change the name that is displayed on it; the thing that says "so and so's iPod". I changed the "library name" in "general preferences" but that didn't fix it. If you want the directions for saving lyrics, I can post them for you.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 3, 2015 2:33 AM in response to GeorgeH19

Eek, something went wrong with those links I posted. One is a much older post on the topic and the other is just wrong. Try Make a split library portable and Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy instead.

So in context your library folder is C:\Users\<User>\Musc\iTunes and your media folder is F:\iTunes. This can be manipulated into a portable shape by first moving the library files into F:\ and opening them there (step e), then renaming F:\iTunes as F:\iTunes Media (step g), and finally moving the library files and iTunes Media folder down into a freshly made F:\iTunes folder (step h).

When that is all done you can turn Keep organized off, and then back on again to make sure everything is where it should be. This would rearrange anything that is connected to the existing F:\iTunes\iTunes Media which is going to end up as F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\iTunes Media. After that these folders should all be redundant:

F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\Album Artwork

F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\iTunes Media

F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\Previous iTunes Libraries

Double check for any content you might want to preserve, then discard.

Not sure what you have in Scripts.

You should be able to click the iPod's name where it appears near the top left of the main iTunes window to be able to rename it.

tt2

GeorgeH19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 4, 2015 1:21 AM in response to turingtest2

Everything was fine when I performed your second step and renamed F:\iTunes as F:\iTunes Media and reopened iTunes using the "Choose Library" option. All the music played and functioned properly at this point. Unfortunately, when I closed iTunes and moved the library files and iTunes Media folder into a freshly made F:\iTunes folder, all the links to everything were dead when I opened iTunes using the "Choose Library" option. So I moved all the library files back to F:\ and moved iTunes Media folder back up to F:\. When opened iTunes again, everything functioned again except some of the cover art won't display even though I verified that the cover art is still embeded in the music file. Any ideas what went wrong?

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 4, 2015 3:56 AM in response to GeorgeH19

Nope. 😕

You should be able to rebuild the artwork cache by deleting the ..Album Artwork\Cache folder and then scrolling through the library in the Albums view.

Double check the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced is currently listed as F:\iTunes Media.

You might want to clean out the redundant folders and turn Keep organized off and then back on again before trying to move the library back down into F:\iTunes. After you make such a move check the media folder is listed as F:\iTunes\iTunes Media then close and reopen iTunes if it wasn't.

tt2

GeorgeH19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 4, 2015 12:04 PM in response to turingtest2

I turned Keep organized off and back on again. Then moved the library files and iTunes Media folder into the F:\iTunes folder. This made all the links go dead again so I opened the location of the media folder and it did not say "F:\iTunes\iTunes Media" so I changed it to it.

I got all the links back. I then deleted the Album Artwork\Cache folder and most of the of the cover art appears after doing the scroll through. I have about 50 albums that still don't show the cover art but otherwise everything else appears to be working again.

I deleted the following folders:

F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\Album Artwork

F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\iTunes Media

F:\iTunes\iTunes Media\Previous iTunes Libraries

C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes

I turned Keep organized off and back on again. Everything works except I never got the cover art back for the 50 albums.

So I take it if I move iTunes to a new computer all I have to do now is to copy the F:\iTunes folder to the new PC and then hold the shift key down when opening iTunes select Choose Library, then find the location where I copied iTunes, open the iTunes Library.itl and everything should be good to go.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 4, 2015 12:13 PM in response to GeorgeH19

GeorgeH19 wrote:

<Snip>

So I take it if I move iTunes to a new computer all I have to do now is to copy the F:\iTunes folder to the new PC and then hold the shift key down when opening iTunes select Choose Library, then find the location where I copied iTunes, open the iTunes Library.itl and everything should be good to go.

Yes. 🙂

Although I would actually use the same tool I recommend in Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy to make the inital copy of the library on the new machine so that backing it up in future is straightforward.

tt2

GeorgeH19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 4, 2015 1:25 PM in response to turingtest2

SyncBack works in the same manner as SyncToy. You create profiles with a source and destination folder though I will probably have to change the profile a bit. I will probably keep using SyncBack because I have used it for years. It seems like iTunes should create a folder structure that is portable by default. Thanks for your help! Do you work for Apple?

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 4, 2015 1:35 PM in response to GeorgeH19

As long as you have a method that works for you that is great. 🙂

Yes, the default library is portable. Unfortunatly Apple give instructions on how to reloate the media folder alone, thereby splitting up the library and making future moves difficult, rather than telling people how to move the entire library as a unit.

You're welcome, and no, I don't work for Apple.

tt2

GeorgeH19 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 5, 2015 5:43 AM in response to turingtest2

You didn't say you wanted my method for getting lyrics so I decided to share with you my method for naming destination folders of my backups.

I copy the path of the source file to the clip board and paste it somewhere I can edit it. Say I am going to backup my data in Quicken. The source folder is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Quicken\Data

I then replace the :\ and the \ with dashes because they are illegal to use in a folder name (dashes are legal). So the folder name becomes:

C-Program Files (x86)-Quicken-Data

So the folder becomes:

G:\Backup\C-Program Files (x86)-Quicken-Data

This way I can easily identify the path of where the source file came from. When I have several destination folders in my backup folder, all the folders sort logically so I can easily navigate them.

George

hhgttg27

Level 5

5,591 points

Apr 5, 2015 5:57 AM in response to GeorgeH19

I assume, then, that the SyncBack solution is actually creating backup files (much as Microsoft's own backup/restore tool does) ... and presumably you need SyncBack to recover anything from a backup. SyncToy is different in that it replicates the Windows folder structure and files from a source to a target (with available options for both two- and one-way synchronization). For use with iTunes this is - for me - a big plus, as I can replicate my "master" library to an external drive and then use the latter to keep two other systems' iTunes content up to date.

How Do You Backup Music on iTunes?