Moving iTunes library - I don't get it!!

Suze1972

Forgive me for not being very technical, but trying to move two iTunes libraries has got me tearing my hair out. I clearly do not understand the process at all.

What I really need is a step by step guide, for complete idiots?

Hubby and I have an ageing home PC with individual settings, and hence our own individual iTunes libraries on the same computer. We have now bought a new laptop, and I am trying to copy each library onto an external hard drive, before adding them into our respective default iTunes Music folders on the new laptop (I've downloaded version 8 of iTunes, where they sit empty on each user account, waiting expectantly for an imported library).

I've got something wrong somewhere - I've copied one library into the correct directory, but it iTunes doesn't pick it up. I seem to have folders within folders. I know I could actually upload my husbands library from his iPod, but that won't work for mine, as my library is 3 times bigger than the capacity of my Nano (so not all of it is on the iPod at any one time).

What am I doing wrong, how do I fix it? Please help, in a language a non-techie can understand!!!

Thanks
Suze

PS my lovely brother is an expert and could tell me how to do this in seconds - but I want to learn how to do it myself!

isofa

This might be a good walk through, although it's for a Mac, the principle is the same, just a different path / location.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to-a-new-hard-drive

Suze1972

Thanks....its making my brain hurt and goes against everything I ever learnt about moving files, but I'm going through it slowly!

totalsolutions

Your are not alone Suze I just don't get on with iTunes either, always goes t*ts up for me too

isofa

I've never had a problem, I have a main library on a Mac, which syncs to several iPods, and I mirror this onto a PC on a large external drive (via a network) all with no problems. The library can play from either location. If you learn how iTunes manages the library with the directories and database you'll be fine.

Also search and read through the support at https://www.apple.com it's excellent and can guide you through moving, consolidating and even recovering tracks from an iPod if you'r lost your library.

Suze1972

Well I'm glad its not just me! It seems so wildly complicated, I just can't grasp it. I'm following the walk through, but I'm not convinced. None of the folders appear as they are supposed to....all this weird stuff about pathnames and databases and xml files and new locations.....none of it seems to explain how to move the library into a a "new" iTunes on a different machine. I mean, I'll delete the software from the old machine and then junk it, why does it make any difference that version is "pointing to"?

Anyway, if I succeed, it will be more by luck than judgement.

A bit like how I set up up my wireless network actually, haha

Suze1972

iSofa, sorry posted over you....you're right, if I could just get a handle on the slightly different way it works, I'll be fine. In fact that walkthrough is starting to slowly make sesne. I've re-directed iTunes on the old PC to the external hard drive, and now re-consolidating the first library (its taking an age, as the old PC is so slow).

Then I guess I connect drive to new laptop, point new iTunes to drive, and consolidate again? Or is that wrong?

Do I have to go through the process again if I want the library on the laptop hard drive rather than the external one?

silvercar

I used this help sheet from apple. Took an age but it worked.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329

Then I realised that, as I had a wireless network between the 2 computers, I could just have done this:

1. Make the folders on the old computer that contain the music "visible" for sharing. (right click the folder name and choose the sharing option).
2. On the new computer, in itunes, choose the add music option and browse to find the folder on the old computer.
3. bring the music straight into itunes.