03-22-2009, 02:42 AM

How do I transfer all of my iTunes songs from my desktop PC to my Macbook without paying money at the Genius Bar at the Apple store?

03-22-2009, 02:58 AM

There are many ways. Via Network file transfer, Optical Media, Flash Drive, External Hard Drive. If you use an external drive or flash drive, just copy the itunes folder if it will fit to the external drive and drop them into iTunes on your Macbook and have it set to make a copy to the iTunes folder.

If some of your music is the older Apple ITMS store songs with DRM, you can activate up to 5 computers to play the songs. Be sure to do that with the Macbook. The new DRM free songs and any you ripped off your own CD's won't have that issue.

If you need more of an explanation and where the music is, let us know.

03-22-2009, 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by dtravis7

There are many ways. Via Network file transfer, Optical Media, Flash Drive, External Hard Drive. If you use an external drive or flash drive, just copy the itunes folder if it will fit to the external drive and drop them into iTunes on your Macbook and have it set to make a copy to the iTunes folder.

If some of your music is the older Apple ITMS store songs with DRM, you can activate up to 5 computers to play the songs. Be sure to do that with the Macbook. The new DRM free songs and any you ripped off your own CD's won't have that issue.

If you need more of an explanation and where the music is, let us know.

What do you suggest is the best and fastest way of doing it? And especially the safest for both computers?

03-22-2009, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by fvsurfer

What do you suggest is the best and fastest way of doing it? And especially the safest for both computers?

Any of the options outlined above would be safe and fast. The option that's best suited for you would depend on your situation. For instance, how many music files do you have? How much hard drive space does your music collection consume? Do you have a home network set up and if so, have you set up both computers to transfer files with each other?

Likewise, do you have an external hard drive or flash drive you can use? Would you be able to burn your collection onto CD- or DVD-ROMs without using an outrageous number of discs?

A little more information about your situation might help us point you in the correct direction better.

03-22-2009, 06:40 AM

There is a simple method in iTunes to transfer your music using only a couple dvd-r's.

In iTunes, File -> Library -> Back Up To Disk.

Once you create this, you'll simply be able to open iTunes, insert your back up disk(s) and import your library.

03-22-2009, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by carleymarie

There is a simple method in iTunes to transfer your music using only a couple dvd-r's.

In iTunes, File -> Library -> Back Up To Disk.

Once you create this, you'll simply be able to open iTunes, insert your back up disk(s) and import your library.

Probably the simplest and best way.

03-22-2009, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by J.Fo

Any of the options outlined above would be safe and fast. The option that's best suited for you would depend on your situation. For instance, how many music files do you have? How much hard drive space does your music collection consume? Do you have a home network set up and if so, have you set up both computers to transfer files with each other?

Likewise, do you have an external hard drive or flash drive you can use? Would you be able to burn your collection onto CD- or DVD-ROMs without using an outrageous number of discs?

A little more information about your situation might help us point you in the correct direction better.

In terms of music files, I have over 3,000 songs. Hard drive space...over 15? Home network setup = no. What is that and how would i do that?

I do have a flash drive which holds up to 1 gb.

03-22-2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by carleymarie

There is a simple method in iTunes to transfer your music using only a couple dvd-r's.

In iTunes, File -> Library -> Back Up To Disk.

Once you create this, you'll simply be able to open iTunes, insert your back up disk(s) and import your library.

How high can dvd-r's go in terms of gb? Since I have over 3,000 songs.

03-22-2009, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by bad.heron

Probably the simplest and best way.

I might have to do this then.

03-23-2009, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by fvsurfer

How high can dvd-r's go in terms of gb? Since I have over 3,000 songs.

When I did mine I only had about 1,000 songs, but I did have somewhere close to 50 episodes of television shows which take up a lot more space.

Mine only took 2 or 3 disks to transfer over the whole lot using basic 4.7 GB dvd-r's.

I hope that helps.

03-23-2009, 04:01 AM

There's nothing more simple then dragging your collection to a external drive then dragging them to your mac.

03-23-2009, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by carleymarie

When I did mine I only had about 1,000 songs, but I did have somewhere close to 50 episodes of television shows which take up a lot more space.

Mine only took 2 or 3 disks to transfer over the whole lot using basic 4.7 GB dvd-r's.

I hope that helps.

Will a dvd-r be able to be used by my CD-Rom drive on my desktop PC. Or do I need another drive for the dvd-r to transfer my songs?

03-23-2009, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by fvsurfer

Will a dvd-r be able to be used by my CD-Rom drive on my desktop PC. Or do I need another drive for the dvd-r to transfer my songs?

You can't use a dvd in a cd-rom drive. You need a DVD+/-RW drive to burn the dvd's. Then you need one that at least reads dvd's to import.

03-23-2009, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by carleymarie

You can't use a dvd in a cd-rom drive. You need a DVD+/-RW drive to burn the dvd's. Then you need one that at least reads dvd's to import.

Shoot. Thanks.

03-24-2009, 06:15 AM

I actually just noticed that you can use cd's in the iTunes 'Back Up to Disk.' I'd imagine that it is a similar process. You should check it out.