HELP! relocating iTunes (v8.2) library to external and keeping playlists??

[drummerboy03]

I've read multiple threads on here about exclamation points in itunes library, but cannot find any solution that works. I am running the most recent version of MAC OS X (10.5.7) and most recent version of itunes (8.2)

I just relocated my MUSIC folder to an external drive. I went to preferences>advanced> and pointed to the new location.

My entire library is returning exclamation points. When I restart itunes (and my computer) it still gets the errors. Is there a way for itunes to refresh and actually follow the new location path i just stated under the advanced setting?!

i even tried to consolidate the library to the external (where the files were already) and it went through a quick check process and saw the files were there, but it still returns cannot locate file and exclamation points.. so frustrating..

I also tried to move the .itl file from the default Mac OS X internal HD location to the external drive folder "MUSIC". Then I launched itunes and held down alt/option key and located the .itl on the external and opened it from there. still no luck

I know that it will work if i delete all songs from my itunes and go through the add process again for the entire library on the new external drive, but i will loose my very important playlist and play counts!! There has to be a way to make this work, otherwise why would itunes have a setting to change the location of the music folder under advanced settings?!

please help, i'm desperate at this point and don't want to resort to loosing all my playlists/playcounts.

thanks

 

[isaaclimdc]

Copying the ENTIRE "iTunes" folder in ~/Music from one Mac to another ports my iTunes library perfectly well for me. Does that not work for you?

 

[drummerboy03]

I had my MUSIC folder on an external HD (western digital), then i build a new 3TB external to house all my data plus backup with time machine(1.5TB for general storage, 1.5TB to backup that storage drive). I moved my music folder from my old WD external to the new HD. I changed the file path under itunes preferences>advanced to point to the new location and I am still getting nothing but exclamation marks..

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Put your entire library back where it was then do the following:

1. Change the library's location in Preferences.

2. Do File -> Library -> Consolidate Library.

3. Delete the iTunes Music folder that is in your Home folder.

Or look at this.

 

[m3coolpix]

Put your entire library back where it was then do the following:
1. Change the library's location in Preferences.
2. Do File -> Library -> Consolidate Library.
3. Delete the iTunes Music folder that is in your Home folder.
Or look at this.

I'm also going through migrating my iTunes from a small drive to a larger drive. Done it before a year ago, as described above, no problems.

However, today when I did this, the old location is showing that the iTunes music folder is 45.xx gigabytes, and the new location is only showing 38.xx gigabytes. I'm a little hesitant to just delete it (the old/original location).

Any ideas on this? If that was duplicates (which I doubt), that's ~7 gigs of duplicates?

 

[m3coolpix]

Found my problem. Was a bunch of old video podcasts that I no longer subscribe to. Interesting in that they were still there, but not copied (consolidated) over to the new drive. I guess I didn't delete them, but just unsubscribed.

Here is a really good explanation (at least for my thick skull):

Moving-your-itunes-library-to-a-new-hard-drive