[Some Random Bloke]

Nothing too drastic. I moved my music to an external HDD and now my iTunes library can't find the songs. Is there a way of getting iTunes to automatically find the songs or do I need to delete and rebuild my library?

Thanks.

[Genshin]

Launch iTunes with the Option key held down; a dialog will ask if you want to create a new library or use an existing library -- click the "Choose Library" button, and navigate to the Library on your external drive. Done.

[4bears]

Can this option be done with a PC?

[Genshin]

Can this option be done with a PC?

Not sure about that one. Try it with the ALT key. Lets us know if it works so others may know if they have that problem with a PC.

[4bears]

The best way to move your iTunes library (from my experience... and stuff ups) is to create a folder in your ext HD eg 'my crap music'. Then from iTunes => 'Preferences' , 'Advanced', 'iTunes Media folder location' => 'Change' and point to that folder. Check the 'Keep iTunes Media folder organised' box and the 'Copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library' box. Now go to 'File'>'Library'>'Orginise Library'... => 'Consolidate Files'. This should copy everything under 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' to your ext HD. Once it has copied all your music over and you have checked that iTunes can find and play your music from new folder, you can safely delete the contents of 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' folder. Don't delete what's in 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes' folder as this folder holds your apps, games, artwork and iTunes database etc.
I'm guessing that Xeno has his library there but no music where it should be? You could go 'File'>'Add to library' then point to the new 'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' folder (once you've set it as default folder) but I have found that a lot of music gets doubled up this way. I'd recommend deleting the whole library (from within iTunes) then adding the new folder. I think you'll lose the album artwork if you delete your library unless you download>copy>paste (embed)the artwork into all song files of an album then it's always there.
If there's an easier way?....... please let me know ;-)

4bears

[clinton1550]

Not sure about that one. Try it with the ALT key. Lets us know if it works so others may know if they have that problem with a PC.

I tried to do that the other day, I can confirm that it doesn't work.

[Some Random Bloke]

The best way to move your iTunes library (from my experience... and stuff ups) is to create a folder in your ext HD eg 'my crap music'. Then from iTunes => 'Preferences' , 'Advanced', 'iTunes Media folder location' => 'Change' and point to that folder. Check the 'Keep iTunes Media folder organised' box and the 'Copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library' box. Now go to 'File'>'Library'>'Orginise Library'... => 'Consolidate Files'. This should copy everything under 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' to your ext HD. Once it has copied all your music over and you have checked that iTunes can find and play your music from new folder, you can safely delete the contents of 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' folder. Don't delete what's in 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes' folder as this folder holds your apps, games, artwork and iTunes database etc.

Thanks for that, I undid the move and then did it this way, worked a treat.

BTW, anyone got tips for managing an iTunes library on a single computer for multiple accounts? ATM I've put all the iTunes music in a shared folder and am switching off the option for iTunes to keep things organised as, I assume, that will create problems. Wondering if there's an easy way to import new music one of the other account holders adds? (Family Macbook).

[Bungs]

Thanks for that, I undid the move and then did it this way, worked a treat.

BTW, anyone got tips for managing an iTunes library on a single computer for multiple accounts? ATM I've put all the iTunes music in a shared folder and am switching off the option for iTunes to keep things organised as, I assume, that will create problems. Wondering if there's an easy way to import new music one of the other account holders adds? (Family Macbook).

does the new home sharing feature provide any help with this? Haven't got a network of any form at home (nor more than one Mac) so can't experiment, but I thought that was just that the new feature was about?

[Roman]

The best way to move your iTunes library (from my experience... and stuff ups) is to create a folder in your ext HD eg 'my crap music'. Then from iTunes => 'Preferences' , 'Advanced', 'iTunes Media folder location' => 'Change' and point to that folder. Check the 'Keep iTunes Media folder organised' box and the 'Copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library' box. Now go to 'File'>'Library'>'Orginise Library'... => 'Consolidate Files'. This should copy everything under 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' to your ext HD. Once it has copied all your music over and you have checked that iTunes can find and play your music from new folder, you can safely delete the contents of 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' folder. Don't delete what's in 'yourname'>'Music'>'iTunes' folder as this folder holds your apps, games, artwork and iTunes database etc.
I'm guessing that Xeno has his library there but no music where it should be? You could go 'File'>'Add to library' then point to the new 'iTunes'>'iTunes Music' folder (once you've set it as default folder) but I have found that a lot of music gets doubled up this way. I'd recommend deleting the whole library (from within iTunes) then adding the new folder. I think you'll lose the album artwork if you delete your library unless you download>copy>paste (embed)the artwork into all song files of an album then it's always there.
If there's an easier way?....... please let me know ;-)

4bears

Have tried this method and the transfer is complete except that my Itunes Library and on my Ipod is greyed out. What have got wrong here?
Regards, Roman

[golfer]

Here is a link to the definitive tutorial courtesy of iLounge.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/...new-hard-drive/

[Roman]

Here is a link to the definitive tutorial courtesy of iLounge.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/...new-hard-drive/

Thanks for that. Have printed and will study and apply
R