Transferring iTunes to an External Hard drive

[Blade73]

Just bought an ipod and am just getting used to using iTunes. I would like to keep all the music off my laptop (as I have a huge collection) and kept separate.

 

So is it easy to transfer the music I've imported from CDs into iTunes already onto a new external hard drive and keep all the locations/connections so iTunes can find everything without having to relink?

 

(If you could keep it in fairly laymans terms as I'm a bit of a pleb with anything too techy)

 

Cheers

[NerdArmy]

Here's a guide to doing it

 

http://www.zdnet.com/photos/move-your-itunes-library-to-an-external-hard-drive/302476

 

Click through the pictures to view each step

[Blade73]

Cheers for that mate, it makes the transferring part very clear to me now! The reason I asked was I'd heard it could be a nightmare moving itunes to a new drive. I'm assuming when you've done as shown in that guide when you hook the ipod up to synch it will also look for the external hard drive and synching isn't a problem?

 

Now to find a 500GB hard drive I guess.

 

Again many thanks

[NerdArmy]

To be honest - I prefer to do it 'manually'

 

I just copy the iTunes Library folder to the External HD > Delete the 'old copy' > Change the itunes folder to the external location and import all of the songs again.

 

The disadvantage of this is that you will lose playlists, play counts and artwork.

[Blade73]

To be honest - I prefer to do it 'manually'

 

I just copy the iTunes Library folder to the External HD > Delete the 'old copy' > Change the itunes folder to the external location and import all of the songs again.

 

The disadvantage of this is that you will lose playlists, play counts and artwork.

 

Jesus! But if I do it the tutorial will I have to relink all the artwork again?

[HarryBustard]

 

Now to find a 500GB hard drive I guess.

 

Get two if you have no backup.

[Blade73]

Get two if you have no backup.

 

This could end up being a dear do, any suggestions for the best prices out there?

[VideoPro]

To be honest - I prefer to do it 'manually'

 

I just copy the iTunes Library folder to the External HD > Delete the 'old copy' > Change the itunes folder to the external location and import all of the songs again.

 

The disadvantage of this is that you will lose playlists, play counts and artwork.

 

Leave the iTunes main folder in your user name/Music directory. Just move the iTunes Music sub folder and you can keep your playlists. Now you just need to tell iTunes where to find the iTunes Music folder in its Preferences dialogue.

[Blade73]

Leave the iTunes main folder in your user name/Music directory. Just move the iTunes Music sub folder and you can keep your playlists. Now you just need to tell iTunes where to find the iTunes Music folder in its Preferences dialogue.

 

So basically doing that you will leave all the info and setup but you are moving the actually music files off your comp? Would itunes still find the album covers?

[rich951]

This could end up being a dear do, any suggestions for the best prices out there?

 

From about £50 for a 1TB external drive from somewhere like ebuyer. Don't buy two though, get one and sign up to our online backup service (see sig) - much less wires, electricity and hassle

 

(on a serious note, external drives as backup are great until someone nicks your computer/laptop and the drive sat next to it as well!)