Switching iTunes library to different hard drive

[Proud Liberal Dem]

I'm wanting to switch my iTunes library over to another drive due to space limitations with the current drive. I understand the general process of switching it over but complicating matters is that I have iTunes library backup on my other drive containing some iTunes media that I don't have on my current drive and I am unable to copy it over to my main drive before switching it. Am I somehow able to merge my current iTunes library with the iTunes library backup on my other drive. Any suggestions on how to handle the transition smoothly- and so that I am able to get all of my iTunes media into my library? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[sir pball]

1. Open the folder containing your backup in Finder..

..and drag-and-drop the backup library folder onto the iTunes window. Tell it to not add duplicate songs, then grab a drink and wait a while.

[VoyagerI]

2. Drag-and-drop not what I would recommend

Last edited Wed Sep 5, 2012, 01:17 PM - Edit history (1)

This is fine as long as you don't have iTunes playlists. Playlists unfortunately cannot be reinstated during a drag-drop procedure. Here is a bit more details about migrating one's iTunes library from one drive to the next or to a new computer entirely:

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

I believe the above troubleshooting article could be of help.

If you are on a PC you can use something like copytrans tuneswift to migrate your iTunes library from one hard drive on your PC to another.

[sir pball]

3. Oh, I wasn't talking about actually copying the library

Just merging the current one with the backup that included the missing tracks. The transfer was left as an exercise to the reader