Moving itunes library

spot618 · Apr 21, 2009

I recently had to install a new hard drive on my pre-intel iMac G5 because the original one died. Fortunately for me, I stored my itunes music on an external drive because my main drive was too small. I now have a clean install of Leopard on my new main hard drive which is considerably larger now. My question is how do I re-establish my itunes library (link it to my music on the external drive) and keep my original playlists intact? I also am looking down the road to move my music library from the external drive back to my new main one (that contains the operating system). Would it be more feasible to do this at this time?

louishen · Apr 21, 2009

Its like the method you use for storing iTunes on an external, but in your case in reverse

Keeping your iTunes collection on an external

The following assumes you want to keep all your iTunes music and movies on an external disk and ensure new music is always stored on the external drive.

First, you need to consolidate your iTunes Library to a folder you have chosen on the external drive.

Set the new iTunes folder location to the external in iTunes preferences > Advanced

Select the command consolidate library from the Advanced Menu (or from the File Menu > Library > Consolidate library _ in Itunes 8). This will copy all your iTunes media to the external folder and link the iTunes library file to it

The files will now be on the external while the library.xml file (the index as it were) will still be in the Users > Me > Music folder of your mac.

If you want this file on the external as well as well, copy it to external iTunes folder, start itunes with the alt key pressed and you will have the option to select the library file now on the external

Select the library file you just copied and now both your music and the library are on the external

You can now delete the old iTunes folder off your mac

You can also use the choose library dialogue to switch between a large music collection on the external and a smaller music folder on the mac if you wish

spot618 · Apr 21, 2009

Thank you

One more follow-up question. Since the .xml file "died" along with my original hard drive, does that mean I lost all my playlist organization for the music? Or can they still be restored?

VanessaPM · Aug 30, 2010

Thanks Guys!

Wrestling with reconfiguring my music management and storage after a HD crash. This was really helpful!

joyseeker · Oct 22, 2010

My MacBook is running OSx 10.6.4 and I want to move my iTunes 10 Library to my external drive which I have been using for my Time Machine.

Firstly, can I use the 120GB drive for both?

Secondly, what is the method?

Thanks in advance.

Buzzard2010 · Oct 22, 2010

Your Time machine hdd can only be used for that i'm afraid, although I think you can partition it so you could theoretically use it for both. Whatever you decide the best method I have found is to open iTunes go to File>Library>Export Library then direct it to your hdd

joyseeker · Oct 24, 2010

Buzzard2010 said:
Whatever you decide the best method I have found is to open iTunes go to File>Library>Export Library then direct it to your hdd

I have done this and nothing happened.

Erased the Time Machine disk before hand too!

Any ideas?