Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
Just moved from PC to iMac Yosemite. Unfortunately, the iMac is not equipped with a built-in CD/DVD player and the music currently on my PC in iMac was downloaded from my own CDs/DVDs not bought in the Tune store. How can I transfer these from my PCs to my iMac.
iPad 2, iOS 6
Moving a library: Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive. Hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) and open iTunes. At the prompt to create or choose a library choose the copied iTunes folder.
When this is to a new computer put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4095896?answerId=18879381022#18879381022
Consider moving everything from your Windows PC to your Mac in a single move, including your iTunes library: About Windows Migration Assistant - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4796 - Learn about how to use Windows Migration Assistant to migrate your files from a Windows PC to a Mac. Additional tip by ChrisCA 05/2014 - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7022914?answerId=28178940022#28178940022
You can buy external optical drives for newer computers. Apple sells the Superdrive and there are cheaper third party alternatives.
Moving a library: Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive. Hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) and open iTunes. At the prompt to create or choose a library choose the copied iTunes folder.
When this is to a new computer put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4095896?answerId=18879381022#18879381022
Consider moving everything from your Windows PC to your Mac in a single move, including your iTunes library: About Windows Migration Assistant - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4796 - Learn about how to use Windows Migration Assistant to migrate your files from a Windows PC to a Mac. Additional tip by ChrisCA 05/2014 - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7022914?answerId=28178940022#28178940022
You can buy external optical drives for newer computers. Apple sells the Superdrive and there are cheaper third party alternatives.
Great. Thanks for the in-depth and very helpful response. This solves my problem.
How can I transfer my Cds to iMac Yosemite. There is no slot.
