HT204318: How to move your iTunes library to a new computer

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GranBob

Q: Transfer iTunes from a Windows 7 computer to a windows 10 computer

I have a very large iTunes library on a Windows 7 computer with the library on an external hard drive.   I need specific instructions on the way to move this to a new laptop running Windows 10.

iPad Air, Windows 10, Transferring iTunes

Posted on Apr 13, 2016 7:09 AM

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Q: Transfer iTunes from a Windows 7 computer to a windows 10 computer

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  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 16, 2016 12:18 PM in response to GranBob
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Apr 16, 2016 12:18 PM in response to GranBob

    See Make a split library portable. As long as both the media and database are in a portable layout on the external drive you can connect it, or a cloned backup, to any computer running the same or later build of iTunes and it will function properly. Deauthorze the old computer if/when you no longer want to access protected content on it.

     

    tt2

  • by GranBob,

    GranBob GranBob Apr 13, 2016 9:48 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 13, 2016 9:48 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thank you for your prompt reply.

    How do I  know if "both the media and database are in a portable layout."    All I did when my iTunes data became much to much to store on my laptop, was to change the location of the iTunes library within iTunes to  large external drive (4Tb).   My older Lenovo W510 cannot be updated to Window 10 (a problem that Lenovo acknowledges, but will not address), so I purchased a new system with Windows 10. 

  • by hhgttg27,

    hhgttg27 hhgttg27 Apr 13, 2016 9:52 AM in response to GranBob
    Level 5 (5,407 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 13, 2016 9:52 AM in response to GranBob

    The "portable" layout is one in which the iTunes database (the iTunes Library.itl file) and the iTunes Media folder are in a common parent folder, typically like this:

    Well Formed Library.jpg

    If your media is on the external drive but the database on your system drive then your layout is "split".

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 13, 2016 9:56 AM in response to GranBob
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Apr 13, 2016 9:56 AM in response to GranBob

    The blue text is a link. It describes how to manipulate a library into a portable shape and what that shape looks like. Chances are that you followed advice to change the path to the media folder and consolidated to the new location, meaning your media is all inside one folder on the external drive, but the library files are on the system drive. If you follow the appropriate steps (typically e. g. and h.) then you'll end up with the library files in X:\iTunes and the media in X:\iTunes\iTunes Media where X: is your drive letter.

     

    If you want me to go into detail please let me know the current locations of the media folder and your library files.

     

    tt2

  • by GranBob,

    GranBob GranBob Apr 15, 2016 7:35 PM in response to GranBob
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 15, 2016 7:35 PM in response to GranBob

    Thank you for your prompt reply.

    As suggested, I note the current locations of the media folders (on an external Drive I), and the library files (On my system drive in my primary User File under MyMusic (default location for iTunes install I assume).

     

    On my old system (Lenovo W510, Windows 7, up to date iTunes), I have the following structure; obviously a "split" structure

    A.  External Drive with the following structure (some of which obviously left over from much earlier i-Device links:

     

    iDriveStructure.JPG

    B:  C: Drive with iTunes as follows:

        iTunesStructure.JPG

    Thanks for your specific help in creating the true portable set up for iTunes.

    Questions:

    - Do I install iTunes on my new Windows 10 system prior to linking it to the newly made "Portable" iTunes structure?

    - With a portable structure, does the iTunes program run from the C: drive on the new system, or from the external iDrive?

     

    /Bob Bourge

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 15, 2016 8:12 PM in response to GranBob
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Apr 15, 2016 8:12 PM in response to GranBob

    It doesn't really matter which order you install iTunes or prepare the library. Both need to be done before you can use it on the new computer. The application should be installed on the system drive. The aim is to get the library in a self-contained folder on the external so that it can be connected to any computer, won't break with a change of drive letter, and a clone of the folder will also be a working library.

     

    It is a silly hour of the morning here so I'm not going to attempt detailed instructions now, but from the look of the library on the C: drive you should start with steps b. & c. from the user tip. If the option in b. isn't active then we're just seeing the left-overs from the earlier structure that have never been cleaned up.

     

    tt2

  • by GranBob,

    GranBob GranBob Apr 16, 2016 5:26 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 16, 2016 5:26 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thanks... You are correct... "B" is not active and most of the folders on the C drive are empty or have items left over from very old iTunes versions that did move.   I seems that my next step would be to move the iTunes libraries to the I;\iTunes external drive.  I need to know specifically into what folder they should be moved, and then next steps.  

    Thank you again for your help.

  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 16, 2016 12:19 PM in response to GranBob
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Apr 16, 2016 12:19 PM in response to GranBob

    From the images it appears that your media folder is currently set to I:\iTunes. Make a folder at I:\Temp and move the folders I:\iTunes\Album Artwork and I:\iTunes\Ringtones inside it. These should both be redundant. Ringtones should now be in the Tones folder. I don't recognize that Uploads folder as part of an iTunes library so that might be something connected to various efforts you have made to organize Photo Stream. You should probably move that into the Temp folder too. The only file that ought to be directly inside the main media folder is a hidden file called .iTunes Preferences.plist. If you can see any other files inside I:\iTunes these can probably get moved into the Temp folder as well.

     

    Copy the following items from the iTunes folder on your C: drive into I:\

    • Album Artwork (folder)
    • iTunes Library.itl
    • iTunes Library Extras.itdb
    • iTunes Library Genius.itdb
    • sentinel (hidden)

    We'll leave the xml (if iTunes is even set to make it) as it will a new name on when the library not on the default path.

    Shift-start iTunes and connect to the library file at I:\iTunes Library.itl. This completes step e.


    Check that the library is behaving correctly and the the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced still shows as I:\iTunes. Close iTunes, rename the folder I:\iTunes as I:\iTunes Media and start iTunes. Check that media folder has been automatically updated to I:\iTunes\iTunes Media. If it hasn't make that change manually, close iTunes and reopen. Check that media still plays. This completes step g.


    Close iTunes. Make a new folder at I:\iTunes. Move the following items into it

    • Album Artwork (folder)
    • iTunes Media (folder)
    • iTunes Library.itl
    • iTunes Library.xml (if it exists)
    • iTunes Library Extras.itdb
    • iTunes Library Genius.itdb
    • sentinel (hidden)

    Shift-start iTunes and connect to the library file at I:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl. Check that your media plays and that the media folder has been corrected to i:\iTunes\iTunes Media. This completes step h.

     

    Once you're happy everything is working properly back it up, throw away I:\Temp and the old iTunes folder on your C: drive.

     

    tt2

  • by GranBob,

    GranBob GranBob Apr 16, 2016 10:27 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 16, 2016 10:27 AM in response to turingtest2


    I've tried very hard to follow your instructions to the letter..... without success.  It appears that some of your instructions are no internally consistent and are conflicting...as noted below:

     

    I followed all steps through your statement "This completes step g"   Just before that statement, you instructed to "rename the folder I:\iTunes as I:\iTunes Media and start iTunes."    This appeared to be an error as this removed the folder tree on the I: Drive within the primary folder I:\iTunes and caused the creation of a new folder I:\iTunes Media\ with all of the prior folders in that folder within that folder.   When I then opened iTunes, and linked to the iTunes Library in the newly renamed "I:\iTunes Media\ folder, a new folder  named "I:\iTunes Media\iTunes Media was formed.    

     

    You then state "Make a new folder at I:\iTunes......"   After following your instructions, there is no longer a folder called "I:\iTunes as you had me rename it as noted above. 

     

    Please re-advise and make any corrections to your instructions that are needed.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 16, 2016 10:41 AM in response to GranBob
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Apr 16, 2016 10:41 AM in response to GranBob

    Apologies. The correction is with this section.

     

    Check that the library is behaving correctly and the the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced still shows as I:\iTunes. Close iTunes, rename the folder I:\iTunes as I:\iTunes Media and start iTunes. Check that media folder has been automatically updated to I:\iTunes Media. If it hasn't make that change manually, close iTunes and reopen. Check that media still plays. This completes step g.


    tt2

  • by GranBob,

    GranBob GranBob Apr 16, 2016 10:56 AM in response to GranBob
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 16, 2016 10:56 AM in response to GranBob

    Thank you, but your correction did not correct further references to a non-existent folder (as you had me rename it).

     

    After the section that you corrected above.... you state the following.   Please note my questions in CAPS:

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Close iTunes. Make a new folder at I:\iTunes. Move the following items into it       AS STATED BEFORE, THERE IS NO LONGER AN I:iTunes folder.....SHOULD THIS FOLDER BE IN THE RENAMED "I:iTunes Meda" FOLDER AND WHAT SHOULD I NAME THIS FOLDER. 

    • Album Artwork (folder)
    • iTunes Media (folder)
    • iTunes Library.itl
    • iTunes Library.xml (if it exists)
    • iTunes Library Extras.itdb
    • iTunes Library Genius.itdb
    • sentinel (hidden)

    Shift-start iTunes and connect to the library file at I:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl. Check that your media plays and that the media folder has been corrected to i:\iTunes\iTunes Media. This completes step h.     AGAIN, DUE TO THE RENAMING OF THE "I:/iTunes", THE FILE PATH THAT YOU REFERENCE IS NO LONGER THERE !!

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------

    YOU ALSO DID NOT ADRESS THE REDUNDANT FOLDER THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY CREATED FOLDER NAMED "iTunes Media" IN THE SAME DIRETORY AS THE CHOSEN "iTunes library.itl" FILE WHEN iTunes IS OPENED AND THAT PARTICULAR LIBRARY FILE IS CHOSEN.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 16, 2016 11:25 AM in response to GranBob
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Apr 16, 2016 11:25 AM in response to GranBob
    When I then opened iTunes, and linked to the iTunes Library in the newly renamed "I:\iTunes Media\ folder, a new folder  named "I:\iTunes Media\iTunes Media was formed.

     

    Now I'm confused. The first time you connected to the copied library files they should have been in the root folder I:\ with the media folder still called iTunes. iTunes should have remembered the previous name of the media folder but if it was going to create a new empty library folder it would have done so at I:\iTunes Media not I:\iTunes Media\iTunes Media.

     

    Did you copy the library files into I:\iTunes instead of I:\ in the first stage?

     

    Where exactly is the iTunes Library.itl file now?

    What is the current name of the media folder?

     

     

    It may be easiest to rename the media folder back to I:\iTunes and the start again with the original unaltered copy of the library that is on C: with the following steps:

    1. Copy library files into root of I:\
    2. Access library in root of I:\
    3. Close iTunes
    4. Rename I:\iTunes as I:\iTunes Media
    5. Open iTunes
    6. Close iTunes
    7. Make new folder I:\iTunes
    8. Move library files and media folder into I:\iTunes
    9. Access library inside I:\iTunes

     

    tt2

  • by GranBob,

    GranBob GranBob Apr 16, 2016 12:11 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 16, 2016 12:11 PM in response to turingtest2

    Thanks.

    I figured it out (similar changes as in your last message) and successfully created the external "portable" directory structure.  It is now installed on my Windows 10 system.  Thanks again for your advice.

    I think part of the problem was the legacy iTunes installation, which was added onto over the last 8 or 9 years.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 16, 2016 12:12 PM in response to GranBob
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Apr 16, 2016 12:12 PM in response to GranBob

    Great, glad you got there.

     

    tt2