iTunes is on a secondary drive. I am replacing my primary drive. Can I simply create a new desktop icon when windows is re-installed?

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iTunes is on a secondary drive. I am replacing my primary drive. Can I simply create a new desktop icon when windows is re-installed?

iTunes is installed on my secondary hard drive on a PC. I am replacing my primary hard drive.

Once Windows is reinstalled, can I simply create a new desktop icon to run iTunes from it's current and same location? Will the updates etc all work the same way as they do now?

I seem to recall some issue years ago when I did this same thing about iTunes thinking I had installed on a new computer and I didn't have enough licences?

Thanks for any suggestions.

null-OTHER, Windows 7, PC Hard Drive Change

Posted on Jul 9, 2015 11:49 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 9, 2015 12:09 PM in response to Slyder73

Terminology is critical, as is knowing exactly what you are trying to accomplish in this.

iTunes is the application itself. Is it this that you have on the other drive and nothing else to do with iTunes?

Is it the iTunes Library = everything in the iTunes folder including all the library, artwork, media files and folder?

Is it only media (as some do)?

A fully working version of iTunes needs an application to open the library file which then ties to media files and other support files in specific locations known to that library file which then generates the window you see. Too many people move the wrong things the wrong way and unless you are an iTunes expect (and failed to declare such 🙂 ) it is easy to make a mess.

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Answer 2

Slyder73 Author

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Jul 9, 2015 12:56 PM in response to Limnos

Thanks for the reply.

I have iTunes as well as all libraries and associated backups etc all on the same secondary drive (D).

There is an iTunes folder on the primary drive however (C), in the program files folder.

What I am trying to do is the least amount of hassle to simply install new C drive and windows and get iTunes up and running again.

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Answer 3

Jul 9, 2015 2:01 PM in response to Slyder73

Since you apparently have the entire library on the external drive, if there are any problems when starting iTunes next time restart it while holding down the shift key and select the iTunes Library.itl file in the iTunes folder on the external drive.

About iTunes library files - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201610 - Does not mention that a complete working library also includes other files and folders also in the iTunes folder.

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/thread/6477809?answerId=26404702022#26404702022

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. <-- important when changing drives to have 'portable' library.

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