coop42

Q: Moving iTunes, but leaving some files behind.

I'm switching from one laptop to another, and have to move my iTunes instance.

 

I have a lot of older podcasts I've saved, and I want to keep them. Unfortunately I don't have as much hard drive space on the new machine as I had on the old, so I'll have to prune them on the new machine.

 

What's the best way of accomplishing this?

 

Do I more the iTunes files, and then delete the individual podcasts I don't want to keep on the new machine?

 

Is it possible to load iTunes, signin, and NOT have it automatically download those historical files from the iTunes server?

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Aug 29, 2016 5:33 PM

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Q: Moving iTunes, but leaving some files behind.

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  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Aug 30, 2016 6:47 PM in response to coop42
    Level 10 (85,071 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 30, 2016 6:47 PM in response to coop42

    See Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy. You could keep a full copy of the library on the external drive, but delete some content (and exclude from syncing) certain files in order to cut down the size of the live library. Alternatively you can run the full library from the external, and use another for backup.

     

    tt2

  • by coop42,

    coop42 coop42 Aug 30, 2016 6:55 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (129 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 30, 2016 6:55 PM in response to turingtest2

    Thanks for the reply.

     

    I keep a backup on another drive so that part is taken care of.

     

    So the process would be:

    1. Make Backup (for safety)
    2. Open current iTunes on current machine
    3. Prune files
    4. Shut down iTunes
    5. Copy pruned iTunes fileset to new computer
    6. Install iTunes on new computer
    7. Point iTunes at new pruned iTunes fileset on new computer
    8. Sync with iPhone

     

    Does that make sense? I can just copy the iTunes fileset from one location to the other?

  • by Limnos,Apple recommended

    Limnos Limnos Aug 30, 2016 7:12 PM in response to coop42
    Level 9 (53,622 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 7:12 PM in response to coop42

    An iTunes library is normally the entire iTunes folder and its contents. If you have sufficient room on the old computer you could duplicate the entire iTunes folder so you have a copy of the library. Start iTunes while holding down the shift key and select the other library to open that library. Now prune.  Quit iTunes and restart with shift key held down to select original library. Copy edited library to other computer.  When you're happy with the result you can deleted the edited copy on your main computer.