Help with Re-installing iTunes, Restoring User Related Files & Importing Music

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Level 1

47 points

Help with Re-installing iTunes, Restoring User Related Files & Importing Music

"Siri, Please reinstall iTunes, delete and/or restore all related user files, and import my music. Thank you"

If only...

Now that I finally have a new iMac with enough storage capacity for my music library I wanted to move it back to the Mac HD. The idea was to migrate only my user account (no Applications) so that the new iMac/OS X would be as clean as possible. Unfortunately, I've messed up iTunes trying to move my music back, along with other errors trying to follow Apple Support docs and other member suggestions/links, but also User account files brought over with migration. So it's time to clean house [Tunes] and remove all that garbage that's built up over the years through use, updates/upgrades, and migration.

My weekend project. Where to begin...

Here is my current set up and how I got here;

Music was ripped from CD's in AIFF through iTunes/XLD 6+ years ago (album artwork + metadata associated with file)
Music was not copied to iTunes Media folder - stored on external drive in a folder; Music Library.
It's since been moved from external drive to; ~/Music

This is what I was thinking to do:

Drag iTunes app to Trash.
Delete the following folders;
1. ~/Music/iTunes
2. ~/Library/iTunes
Reinstall iTunes.
Restore only necessary iTunes User related folders/files (see below).
Go to iTunes>Preferences>Advanced Preferences and check "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library"
Import music: File>Add to library.
1. Do I have to select each Artist/Album folder individually or can I just select the music folder?
2. As an alternative to that, could I move my music folder to the iTunes Music folder and use File>Add to Library w/o "Copy to iTunes Media folder..." but still consolidate/copy iTunes library with music? It won't duplicate that music if I check "Copy to iTunes Media folder...' later on for something else? The reason for this being, I don't like the way iTunes stores music (Artist/Album folders) along with other folders "Automatically Add to iTunes...", "Downloads", "TV Shows", and "Voice Memos". They should all have their respective folders; i.e, "Music" "TV Shows" in it's own,..etc. Unfortunately, iTunes is in ~/Music but is not just a music app.
Delete original music folder/files after each confirmed copy to iTunes Media library, or when finished.

So I did a pre-run of #6 and it looked fine. Album was added to library, copied to iTunes Media folder, and displayed in iTunes with album artwork and all metadata intact. That was easy enough. But now to the difficult part...

To restore, or not to restore?

I have some idea looking over all the folder/files, but I don't want to restore unnecessary files that are not used/pertinent to anything current, or mistakenly forget an important one.

Here are my main concerns;

Playlists - Restore from TM backup or use File>Library>Export/Import Playlists?
Album/Song ratings or 'Heart" - If it can be restored, fine, if not, ok.
iTunes Store Account Info - I assume this will be recreated once I open iTunes and sign in or it's kept on iTunes server?
Device Apps & Backups - Import from device during next sync/backup?
Purchases: TV Shows & Music - There's only two TV shows and a couple music downloads. I assume I can download again, only problem is that it was with a different Apple ID (using same for iCloud & iTunes now).

Here is a list of folder/files I'm unsure whether or not need to be restored;

Library Folders:

~/Library/iTunes
1. http_ax.search.itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
2. http_ax.sidebar.itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
3. http_itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
4. https_buy.itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
5. https_itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
6. https_p16-buy.itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
7. https_p22-buy.itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
8. https_se.itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
9. https_userpub.itunes.apple.com_0.localstorage
10. StorageTracker.db
.../iPhone Carrier Support - Restore or recreated with iPhone sync?
1. ATT_US_iPhone.ipcc
2. ATT_US.ipcc
.../iPod Software Updates - Multiple files but no iPod in years. Delete/DNR
.../iTunes Plug-ins - Empty. Folder created with installation?
.../Mobile Backups - Device backups? No files (hidden due to encryption?). Create new backups?
.../PlayData - Empty. Restore or created with installation?

iTunes Folders:

~/Music/iTunes/
1. iTunes Music Library.xlm
2. iTunes Library Extras.itdb
3. iTunes Library Genius.itdb
4. iTunes Library.itl
5. Temp File.tmp
.../Album Artwork
1. /Cache - Lots of subfolders and single file in last one (screen grab - see below)
2. /Cloud - Empty
3. /Cloud Purchases - Lots of subfolders again with file in last one
4. /Custom - Empty
5. /Download - Lots of subfolders again with file in last one
6. /Editorial - Empty
7. /Generated - 4 subfolders with one file.
8. /Remote - Empty
9. /Store - Empty
.../iPod Games - Delete/DNR
.../Mobile Applications - Either restore or import from next device sync?
.../Playlists
1. infobrowser.opml
2. infobrowser.opml.backup
.../Previous iTunes Libraries - there are 20 files from 2009-2015 like this;
1. iTunes Library 2009-03-12
2. iTunes Library 2015-07-14.itI

That's it - I hope.

Probably tmi but I wanted to be thorough since I'm starting fresh.

If there's something I've missed, please let me know.

2/1 .../Album Artwork/Cache - Screen Grab:

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1), 24 GB Memory

Posted on Oct 30, 2015 9:14 PM

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Answer 1

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Oct 31, 2015 9:28 AM in response to Sapote

" iTunes can't be modified or deleted because it's required by OS X"? Why is it available for OS X downloaded then? How am I suppose to perform a clean install - delete those User/Lib folders only? Can someone please help. I need to complete this weekend.

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Answer 2

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Oct 31, 2015 9:59 AM in response to Sapote

Addendum:

I found more iTunes files. Delete then reinstall iTunes? As mentioned above, I want to remove everything User related to iTunes and start fresh. I'm deleting all these files and going to reinstall iTunes, then try to rebuild iTunes User by restoring specific files with TM backup. Please confirm.

Mac HD/Library/Frameworks/iTunesLibrary.framework

/Header
1. ITLibAlbum.h
2. ITLibArtist.h
3. ITLibArtwork.h
4. ITLibDefines.h
5. ITLibMediaEntity.h
6. ITLibMediaItem.h
7. ITLibMediaItemVideoInfo.h
8. ITLibPlaylist.h
9. ITLibrary.h
10. iTunesLibrary.h
/Modules
1. module.modulemap
/Resources
1. /en.lproj
  1. InfoPlist.strings
2. Info.plist
3. version.plist
/Versions
1. /A.../_CodeSignature.../Headers.../Modules.../Resources.../XPCServices + iTunesLibrary (developer)
2. /Current... Same as above
/XPCServices
1. com.apple.iTunesLibraryService.xpc
/iTunesLibrary

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Answer 3

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Oct 31, 2015 10:33 AM in response to Sapote

Update:

Figured out how to delete iTunes;

Right-Click iTunes app>Get Info>Unlock (bottom right corner)>Permissions (change Everyone and System to Read&Write)

or

Open Terminal:

cd /Applications/

sudo rm -rf iTunes.app/

Now... which folder/files to restore before I open iTunes (or should I open first, quit, and then restore)?

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Answer 4

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Nov 1, 2015 10:49 AM in response to Sapote

Update:

Here's where I'm at so far;

Moved all the above referenced folders/files to Trash (NOT emptied).
Deleted iTunes.
Downloaded and installed iTunes 12.3.1

Now what? Is there anyone who can help with what files to restore/leave in trash without bringing back unnecessary files/settings,..?

Can I custom organize my music in iTunes Media file as mentioned (copied from above);

Import music: File>Add to library.
1. Do I have to select each Artist/Album folder individually or can I just select the music folder?
2. As an alternative to that, could I move my music folder to the iTunes Music folder and use File>Add to Library w/o "Copy to iTunes Media folder..." but still consolidate/copy iTunes Media/Library with that music folder? It won't duplicate that music if I check "Copy to iTunes Media folder...' later on for something else? The reason for this being, I don't like the way iTunes stores music (Artist/Album folders) along with other folders "Automatically Add to iTunes...", "Downloads", "TV Shows", and "Voice Memos". They should all have their respective folders; i.e, "Music" "TV Shows" in it's own,..etc. Unfortunately, iTunes is in ~/Music but is not just a music app.
Delete original music folder/files after each confirmed copy to iTunes Media library, or when finished.

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Answer 5

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Nov 5, 2015 9:01 AM in response to Sapote

So much for Apple "Support" Communities. Guess I'm on my own... or contact Apple Support/Genius Bar.

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Answer 6

Sapote Author

Level 1

47 points

Nov 11, 2015 12:05 PM in response to Sapote

Update:

I figured it out on my own... Not exactly what I hoped to achieve but close enough.

I can't recall everything that happened, but it did not go well after restarting iTunes following the above steps. It did not rebuild the iTunes folder as I expected it would (still had me logged in which was strange and had my devices backups, although apps would not transfer over to iMac). details like that. So I decided to restore the Music/iTunes folder from TM backup and then selectively delete stuff I did not want/wanted to change; i.e, Music, Playlist,... and then import/copy my music folder into iTunes Media library (no more issues with that). It went as expected. It's difficult to know the result when unfamiliar and not knowing whether or not it will achieve the desired result, and then having to start over. But importing the music to the library was straight forward. Now that I've done that I guess I could have moved/copied my music into iTunes media folder and then imported without copying it so that way I can keep the music organized as it was (iTunes placed a number of them in a "Compilation" folder when they were not compilations). I'm sure there was more but that's all I can recall at this moment. I lost Playlist, Ratings,..etc but it's up and running and with the music where it should be.

Looking at iTunes, I just remembered that I did Export Playlist and then try to Import Playlist, but it did not work - error.

I also tried File>Library>Organize Library>Consolidate Files... I thought it copied the iTunes Media folder for you to wherever you wanted it. But you manually copy it there. Learned something new.

iTunes still needs tweaking/refinement.

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Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Nov 11, 2015 12:30 PM in response to Sapote

A bit late to help you I'm afraid, but Make a split library portable explains the ideal layout for an iTunes library folder. As long as everything is in this layout you can move the library to a new path, volume or computer, and a clone of the folder is a valid backup for the library complete with ratings, play counts, etc.

tt2

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