Any iTunes gurus out there?

[boxofrocks]

I have my iTunes library on a laptop that needs to be reformatted (PC). I've heard that it can be really tricky trying to backup this stuff, since they make it difficult to share music (understandably).

What is the best way to back up all the stuff from my iPod to an external drive without losing anything? I'm not even sure where all of the song files are located on the drive (I assume they're mp4's?). And if I do just copy the files, I've heard nightmares about trying to get them in a new innstallation of iTunes.

Can anyone give me any tips so I don't screw this up and wind up losing all of my purchased music?

Thanks!

[srwatters]

It's actually quite easy. Just remember to de-authorize the PC via iTunes before you re-format.

The library is located in My Documents\My Music\iTunes. You should turn on 'show hidden files & folders' under Folder Options to be able to see all the structure. Simply back up all the sub folders onto an external drive, then restore them back after the reformat AND after you have installed iTunes. The key is the iTunes Library xml file. That is the file that points to where all the music is stored.

Once you've restored you can re-authorize the PC via iTunes and all should be good.

I even did this from a Mac to a PC and it worked just fine.

Good luck!

[Abel]

that info is great to know... thanks scott

[boxofrocks]

Thanks, Scott. I saw that folder, but it was much smaller than the total of my music. I assume it just stores the "purchased" music there (didn't note the titles).

good tip on the De-authorization. I would have forgotten that, and been hosed.

[L Stegall]

My husband bought a program called "Music Liberator" which allowed him to put all the music on his iPod back onto his PC (he hadn't saved it originally). It was about $30 and worked great. He needed a new pod and this was a lifesaver.

[brad]

Anybody have an easy way to move an entire library to a new drive? I know I could just copy them, but I don't want to lose play lists.

[brad]

Oh.. and if that drive is a network drive, can it be shared by multiple iTunes installations?

[JRW]

Under the file menu there are options to export the library or to back up iTunes to disk. The export should maintain your playlists, but the export should get everything.

I believe you can get the programs to pull the files off the iPod for free, and they can get playlists as well.

[brad]

No, I think you misunderstood my question.. I don't want to export it or back it up... I want to move it... easily.

I suppose I could back it up... delete it from my local drive... then restore it after changing the location of the library in iTunes.. but that seems like a lot of work (and a long process).

[Dobick]

Brad -- I think that if you go into the properties on I tunes, and to the advanced page, you can a) find out where the music is currently stored b) hit the change button that is there c) specify a new location d) share that location on the network

I know that a b and c will work, but I am not 100 percent sure that d will, but I think that is the way that it is designed. If my memory serves me correct, I changed the location from my c drive to a second hard drive that I bought, and when I specified a new location, it did all the work of moving everything to the new location.

[brad]

That's almost it, Dobick... to move it to another location, you can follow the steps here:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/art...ew-hard-drive/

[Digital Prophet]

See all this iTunes voodoo you have to do is precisely why I gave Apple the finger and switched to YamiPod. Managing my music is as simple and close as plugging into the nearest USB port of ANY pc.

Prophet out.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Digital Prophet

See all this iTunes voodoo you have to do is precisely why I gave Apple the finger and switched to YamiPod. Managing my music is as simple and close as plugging into the nearest USB port of ANY pc.

Prophet out.

Cool, Curt. Does it install on the iPod itself?

[NoLight]

A little off topic but why doesn't iPod have a subscription service like the Zune..... I like my iPod but love the Zune so much easier to deal with than the iPod!!!!

[Digital Prophet]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

Cool, Curt. Does it install on the iPod itself?

Yeah it is a tiny little app that sits on the iPod. I plug in, open the drive, double click and I am in business!

I love it!

Prophet out.