12-27-2009, 09:34 PM

I originally posted this at the Apple Discussion Forums at Apple.com, but, since I have had no responses to the inquiry, I am re-posting here. I have a MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard 10.6.2 and a Dell Studio 15 with Windows 7. Each has the very latest version of iTunes 9 on it and a 500 GB HD. The library I want to share is slightly more than 200 GB in size.

My home sharing problem seems to differ from others' issues and I have not seen a discussion of the problem anywhere on the Web. Basically, both computers see the other's library as a home share and, when I try to access each, I get the appropriate screen with the "settings" and "import" buttons on the bottom. However, only the Mac actually gets access to the other computer's library. (On the Mac, I can both see and import from the Dell library.) The Dell, however, will just display the message "Loading library name" and does not complete that task. Eventually, it appears to time out, since the "loading" message stops displaying and I get dumped back to the main library listing. This happens whether the McAfee firewall is running or not. (When it is running, I've enabled the two ports referenced in the Apple Home Sharing Troubleshooting Guide found at Apple.com. but that has made no difference.)

I thought the issue might be a memory one, since the library is so large. However, the Mac is running with 2 gigs of RAM and the Dell has 4 gigs. I understand that the OS X and Windows 7 overhead requirements are about the same, so, if anything, there probably is more memory actually available to iTunes on the Dell. The other thought I've had is that the Mac may have a better wireless receiver than does the Dell, so it is better able to pick up the Dell over the network than vice versa. However, both machines' network strength indicators suggest they see excellent signals.

Any thoughts from the experts here? Thanks for any help you can offer.

12-27-2009, 10:01 PM

The only thing I can suggest you haven't mentioned is to turn on file sharing on the Mac. Don't know if that will help or not since I had it turned on prior to iTunes 9.

Have not personally experienced any issues with the homesharing between my MBP (10.6.2) and my HTPC (Win 7).

I also have not run a software firewall for over 5 years on my home network.

The boss insists on that piece of McAfee crud at the office and has caused nothing but a whole bunch of headaches for me to fight with off and on.

My MBP is wireless, while the HTPC is wired.

Would not think the memory (or lack) would be at the center of the issue at all.

12-27-2009, 11:02 PM

Thank you, Bob. File sharing is on, and it does not seem to make a difference. Also, FWIW, I just authorized an older Dell desktop for iTunes use, and both the Mac and the Windows 7 machine will load its library just fine using Home Sharing. HOWEVER, the older machine won't load either of the other two machines' libraries. It's all quite peculiar to me.

03-18-2012, 09:57 PM

Sorry to bump this up - this is mainly for google results.

Not sure if the OP found his solution back in 2009 but for whoever ends up coming back here for the answer:

It's not enough just to enable home sharing using the same account, you actually have to log into iTunes Store with the same account (probably just once) for them to work.

03-18-2012, 10:07 PM

Thank you for reaching out. I never found log-in status to make a difference and, in fact, the home sharing function long ago stopped working entirety. I gave up on it quite awhile ago, but will revisit this in light of your message.