HT201610: About iTunes library files

Learn about About iTunes library files
Russell Blake

Q: I would like some help and advice as to the wisdom of moving my library to an external harddrive.  My external harddrive is an MyCloud that is hardwired to my router.  I have my library now in a PC desktop.  I have a macbook pro as an auxillary computer

My main computer is a desktop PC with itunes library in its internal harddrive.

Also have macbook pro laptop to my side on my desk hardwired into my router.

Using laptop as main music source for my home.

I can see items that I have purchased from Itunes store in laptop IF DESKTOP IS NOT RUNNING, but I cannot see items that were imported from CD into the desktop library unless the desktop is running.  Am wondering if I can move my library into my external hardrvie (a MyCloud from Western Digital - this harddrive is also hardwired to my router.)  so that both machines can see the complete library, even if the opposite machine is not running.

 

Advice?  None of the help items that I find, specifically address moving your complete library except moving it (whole) to a new computer.

 

Thanks...

Macbook Pro on OS X El Capitan,, Windows Vista, HP Desktop

Posted on Jan 30, 2016 3:36 AM

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Q: I would like some help and advice as to the wisdom of moving my library to an external harddrive.  My external harddrive is a ... more

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  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 5, 2016 8:50 PM in response to Russell Blake
    Level 5 (7,480 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 5, 2016 8:50 PM in response to Russell Blake

    That strikes me as a bad idea…

     

    WD MyCloud are little Linux servers that only offer the files via the network connection. It is not terribly fast in my limited experience.

    The MyCloud uses a Linux format for the disk (ext3 or ext4 IIRC), which may cause issues with files that OS X expects to be stored on a HFS+ file system.

     

    Many users have had issues when trying to store iPhoto libraries on similar networked linux based devices, I suspect iTunes on a Mac could have similar issues. Windows may also have trouble, but I don't have any experience of using linux based file shares with iTunes on a PC.

     

    The PC version of iTunes does not use the exact same library format & structure as the Mac version of iTunes either, so the library cannot be shared to both machines. You also have issues when both machines are running if you ever try to do this with compatible machines (they both need to write to the same database).

     

    Sorry you need to rethink this setup. It may be more appropriate to use a service like iTunes match or Apple music that allows you to upload your library, stream and download it. Google & Amazon have similar services too.

     

    Another option is to simply use 'Home Sharing' to allow each library to import files from the other library, that way you can manually move the files you need onto each device & then shutdown the other machine.

    https://www.apple.com/support/homesharing/getstarted/