I moved my Library to an external hd. via the preferences and the library location. All the songs are listed but wont play, instead I get the error message, "song cant be played because the original file cannot be found" So Itunes see's the library, playlists, songs etc. but wont play them. uhm?
MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)
Something else you are not telling us in involved here. Things to note:
- If you did this with preferences you didn't move your "library" to the external, you only moved your media files (that's what is says it is changing). The rest of your library (everything else in the iTunes folder) is still on your internal drive. It is best to move the entire library which is done with a completely different process*.
- iTunes works in connection with the iTunes Library.itl file. When you add a file to iTunes it makes a note of that file's exact location and name and adds a line to this database which is what you see in your iTunes library display. If something happens to change that location information (you rename a file, folder, or drive), or if the drive it is on is not attached before you start iTunes, then that information is no longer valid and you get your error message. This is where we are missing that extra something and now you know what is wrong you should be able to figure out why. 🙂
* 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 select prompt choose the iTunes Library.itl file in the copied iTunes folder.
Ok, I did copy the entire itunes folder over, and changed the path in pref. to that new location. I did not start with the option key, however. I just tried and did not get an option to chose library. i'll fiddle with this a while, any other suggestions?
Put one finger on option key and hold down.
Click the iTunes icon to get iTunes to start.
Keep holding down on that key for a few seconds.
Once you get your select/create window you can relax your finger.
You are holding down on the option key aren't you? Not to be confused with or ⌘ key
smile. I wasn't holding down the key long enough. It seems to work fine now.
thank you.
Here is the easiest solution of all, of which nobody is saying anything about. Move your itunes library to where ever you want it, make an alias and paste the alias to music folder on the main hd, walaa.
thanks again.
not reading the library on ex. hd
