I want to transfer my entire iTunes to a new PC including my music, movies and apps (a lot of which has been bought through iTunes). I have tried to backup to an external drive to make the transfer but it doesn't seem to be backing everything up. Any help would be appreciated. Please don't be too technical though :-) .
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 shift key and open iTunes. At the prompt to create or choose a library choose the iTunes Library.itl file in the copied iTunes folder.
Migrate an iTunes library from one computer to another
These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
Method 1
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one, with ratings, play counts, playlists etc. preserved. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd normally recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library and unlike copying with Windows Explorer the process can be resumed if it is interrupted and it will continue to the next item if there are any read/access errors.
Note if you have iOS devices and haven't moved your contacts and calendar items across then you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should merge the existing data from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See Make a split library portable.
If you've already copied over your media folder you may be able to copy over the bits that you left behind the first time and put everything together the way it should be, it depends in part on whether or not you let iTunes manage the files, and have made the same choice on both machines.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup of it then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2
How do I transfer my iTunes (inclduing music, movies and apps) to a new PC?
