Transferring iTunes music to memory stick

Figment

Copy the itunes folder and all contents to your backup device.

Loobeylou

To be honest I really need much more guidance than this last post, although I am thankful for any input. I am not technically inclined and of a "certain age" so these things do not come easily!!

Can anyone give their opinion and clarify in detail please?

jayme1

I would only copy the actual media files in their respective folders, therefore you would go to your My Music folder, then iTunes, then iTunes Media, and in that folder there will be several folders, eg. Music, TV Shows, Movies, ect.
copy all files in that folder apart from the 'Automatically Add to iTunes' and the 'Downloads' folder.

then in the future say you get a new computer (or your computer is wiped) on that clean computer you would reinstall iTunes, copy those folders from the memory stick back into the iTunes Media folder. then you would open iTunes click File and select 'Add folder to library' you would then select the iTunes Media folder and it would add all your files back into iTunes.

don't bother about the 'Artwork' or other folders, the iTunes Media folder is the important one.

ps this assumes you have all your media files actually inside the iTunes Media folder, ie if you bought all your music from iTunes or imported it from CD using iTunes.

Figment

Sorry, I thought you already knew the location of the itunes folder....

1. Open itunes
2. Click Edit > Preferences
3. Click Advanced
4. Make a note of the itunes media folder (in my case it's Z:\iTunes\iTunes Media)
5. Close itunes
6. Open Explorer (click on Computer/My Computer)
7. Go to the location of the iTunes media folder (in my case z:\iTunes)
8. Next step depends on exactly how yours is organised. If you have an itunes folder with itunes media (and others) inside, then copy the itunes folder and paste it to your memory stick. If your itunes media folder is elsewhere (in My Music for example) you copy the My Music folder to your memory stick (you might also get some files that aren't connected to itunes, but that doesn't really matter)

Obviously your memory stick has to have enough free space to hold your entire music collection.

Chickabiddybex

We can't really help you without more information.

How much music do you have? (approximately 20 songs, 200 songs, 1000 songs, etc)
How did you obtain it? (download from iTunes, download from elsewhere, from a USB stick, from CDs, etc)
Please be as detailed as possible.

I will then walk you through how to back up everything you need.

Loobeylou

Hi there - I have approximately 1000 tunes which consist of my music CD's which I have put into my iTunes Library plus individual songs downloaded from the iTunes Store.

Appreciate your help!

Chickabiddybex

Well, the ones from your CDs are already backed up! (on the CD you took them from)
Did you take them from the CDs with iTunes?

Loobeylou

Yes you are correct in stating that the CD's are already backed up, but it was a huge job - for me - transferring them in the first place. Hence it would be good if I could sort this so that I don't have to do all of that again.

The others I have downloaded as individual tunes - not entire CD's - from iTunes.

jayme1

if you follow what Figment and I said you that's how you will back them up, so you will be safe and not loose them if your computer goes wrong.

Dave_C_2

First off I don't have iTunes [1] on my PC.
Secondly I am amazed that there is not a built-in option to backup to disk. However a quick google found this guide.
Thirdly, it's a bad idea to backup just to a memory stick. Take the extra time and backup to DVD as well. See the backup sticky.
Fourthly if you have an iPod [2] then there is already a "backup" of the tunes on there!

Footnotes:
[1] iTunes is a horrible piece of software and a swine to uninstall. Bloatware and slows down your computer.
[2] If you don't have an iPod (iphone, ipad etc) then it's utterly pointless having iTunes
[3] Just my opinion of course.

Dave