I Tunes File transfer Computer to computer

[robstar63]

Dear all

How do I transfer my I tunes Files from my old desktop to my new laptop to save reimporting all of my CDs ? any help would be much appreciated

 

[Anonymous]

You'd be best setting up a network so you can transfer files easily whenever you want. Otherwise you'll need a crossover cable, an external hard drive or an optical drive and a lot of patience to transfer the files.

Could you tell us if you own a router / what OS you are using on you're desktop / laptop?ÿ

 

[robstar63]

Thanks. My laptop is Vista HP, my desktop is XP, I have a router running wired, I have an external hard drive but I Tunes only seems to give a back up option for CD/DVD - I have copied my library to these but when I put them into the tray on the laptop I tunes does not seem to recognise or copy - I assume that back up is computer specific ?. I havent a clue how to use my hard drive to transfer the Library

 

[John Duncan]

On your desktop, find the directory - usually in "My Music" - called I think "iTunes". Copy the whole of that directory onto your external hard drive. Then attach the drive to the Vista machine and copy it into the Documents/Music (off the top of my head) directory on your Vista laptop. That should be all you need to do - if there is an "iTunes" directory on your Vista machine already (probably), rename it to "iTunes Old" or somesuch.

 

[robstar63]

Success

After a little trial and error I have now managed to transfer my existing library saving me much time.

The first time I tried it the computer asked if I wanted to create some additional files rather than replace them.

This created duplicate files and I Tunes did not pick up the transferred library.

Second time around I deleted the original I Tunes file within Music on my laptop so that when I then imported the desktop library (ITunes file) from the external hard drive it was the only one within the laptop files and no duplicates to confuse matters - hey presto I have now populated my laptop with my lossless library from my old desktop.

I Tunes Help does not give any advice on this so advice here much appreciated. Regards

 

[Naxos]

I am about to do this, but my i-Tunes library is located on a Freecom HDD as my old laptop HDD was too small. I now have a new laptop, have downloaded i-Tunes onto it and now want to add all my tracks as well, also leaving them on the external drive as a backup. Am I right in thinking that I just need to press "Consolidate Library" for i-Tunes to import all the tracks, etc to the right destination? I'd really appreciate any help as I'm terrified of getting in a mess!

 

[Anonymous]

An iTunes library is simply files on your harddrive. Locate them and copy them to the new computer, via a network, external harddrive, etc.

Then open iTunes, specify this new folder as the source, and then add the folder of music.

 

[Naxos]

Thanks for the quick reply Eddie! understand. On my old laptop, the pathing is specified as drive E: (the external HDD) - I assume this is irrelevant for the new computer or the library as a whole?

Does "consolidate" effectively do the same thing, then?