Replace new iTunes library with old backup from external HD?

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Replace new iTunes library with old backup from external HD?

My iMac was damaged a few weeks ago, and had to have a new internal hard drive (amongst other things). I had everything backed up except music and photos, or so I thought. When I got my Mac back, I set up a new iTunes library and started re-ripping all my CDs. Then, last night, I found an external hard drive lying around, plugged it in to see what was on it - and I found my old iTunes library, with all the music files in it!

I'd like to migrate this old library back onto my internal drive, and overwrite the new library (all that time wasted, but we live and learn). What's the most efficient and effective way of doing this? I don't want to preserve any of the new library, as the backup was at the end of November and my library has not significantly altered since that date.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[System: late 2014 5K retina iMac, 32GB RAM, running OS 10.13.3, 3TB internal hard drive.]

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), macOS High Sierra (10.13.3)

Posted on Feb 20, 2018 2:50 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

428,189 points

Feb 20, 2018 6:39 AM in response to Stephen Coltrane

If you have always used iTunes's default preferences settings (and if you do not you need to state that at the start) simply quit iTunes and drag the old iTunes folder onto the new drive and let it replace the copy there. Start iTunes.

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

428,189 points

Feb 20, 2018 7:00 AM in response to Stephen Coltrane

The normal location for a "library" is in the iTunes folder but a library folder can be named pretty much anything (I have 3 libraries). The key item is inside that folder will be a file called iTunes Library.itl plus various other files and folders which are used to generate the library you see in iTunes. For more details:

About iTunes library files - https://support.apple.com/HT201610

turingtest2 article: Make a split library portable - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392

Your Edit - Correct.

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Answer 3

Feb 20, 2018 6:44 AM in response to Limnos

I don't think I've changed any preferences, no. So I'd just copy the "iTunes" folder (as opposed to the folder named "iTunes music") over? That would make sense, but I just wanted to check it wouldn't leave me with duplicates.

(I just noticed that the "iTunes music" folder has been renamed 'iTunes media", which I assume is a change that occurred in a recent update, presumably 12.7.3. When I got my iMac back, it asked me to update iTunes when I restored from Time Machine.)

[EDIT: I just started the operation and it asked if I wanted to replace or merge. I chose "replace", as I suspected "merge" would leave me with duplicates and a lot of work to undo.]

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Replace new iTunes library with old backup from external HD?

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