iTunes backup question IOS X Mav.

[DenniiZ]

Hey all !

I'm going to format my 2011 iMac for the first time. I know how to do this thanx to this forum, but there is one thing I'm really scared of, and that's to loose my iTunes library.

I know how to backup my files to an external HD, but I'm afraid that when I put the files back, my iTunes won't find them or something.. I had this problem when using Windows...

I have my music in the Music directory, sorted out. In that dir is also the iTunes dir, and in there is the library, right? And also my purchased music and apps from my iPhone..

Now, my question is, how can I make sure that if I'm going to format my iMac, and after that, putting back my backup'd files, that iTunes will be exactly like it was before?

Hope someone gets my problem, and appreciate the help !!

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Hey all !

I'm going to format my 2011 iMac for the first time. I know how to do this thanx to this forum, but there is one thing I'm really scared of, and that's to loose my iTunes library.

I know how to backup my files to an external HD, but I'm afraid that when I put the files back, my iTunes won't find them or something.. I had this problem when using Windows...

I have my music in the Music directory, sorted out. In that dir is also the iTunes dir, and in there is the library, right? And also my purchased music and apps from my iPhone..

Now, my question is, how can I make sure that if I'm going to format my iMac, and after that, putting back my backup'd files, that iTunes will be exactly like it was before?

Hope someone gets my problem, and appreciate the help !!

As long as you put the whole folder structure back where it was, AND you've consolidated your library (just to be sure), everything will come back as it was before. Unlike on Windows, the defaults for OS X are for keeping everything in the iTunes Library folder and organizing it in there.

 

[DenniiZ]

As long as you put the whole folder structure back where it was, AND you've consolidated your library (just to be sure), everything will come back as it was before. Unlike on Windows, the defaults for OS X are for keeping everything in the iTunes Library folder and organizing it in there.

Hey, thx for your answer.
I know that I'm supposed to put all my music files in the iTunes folder, but do I HAVE to do that? I have a lot of folders, sorted by artist, but I don't have all the artist-folders in iTunes. So I wonder, if I consolidate my lib, than iTunes will copy all of my imported music to the iTunes folder, or is that wrong?
iTunes will just copy everything, and that will decrease my free disc space?

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Hey, thx for your answer.
I know that I'm supposed to put all my music files in the iTunes folder, but do I HAVE to do that? I have a lot of folders, sorted by artist, but I don't have all the artist-folders in iTunes. So I wonder, if I consolidate my lib, than iTunes will copy all of my imported music to the iTunes folder, or is that wrong?
iTunes will just copy everything, and that will decrease my free disc space?

iTunes is designed to manage your music for you, so you don't have to. You do not HAVE to do things the way it prefers, but doing it your own way makes you responsible for re-linking everything if you format / reinstall.

Yes, it will indeed copy everything (and decrease your free space) if you follow my advice.

 

[DenniiZ]

iTunes is designed to manage your music for you, so you don't have to. You do not HAVE to do things the way it prefers, but doing it your own way makes you responsible for re-linking everything if you format / reinstall.

Yes, it will indeed copy everything (and decrease your free space) if you follow my advice.

So, I followed your advise, and consolidated my lib. Now if I may ask another question: I had a folder 'Artists' and in there the artists name and then again folders with the name of the albums. If I had imported the album in iTunes, I used the Blue tag in finder to mark it, so I'd know which folder is in iTunes, and which are not.

Now, after copying all that was imported to the iTunes folder, would you recommend that I just delete the original files? Are they just exact copies?

Thanks again for your help !!

 

[wrldwzrd89]

So, I followed your advise, and consolidated my lib. Now if I may ask another question: I had a folder 'Artists' and in there the artists name and then again folders with the name of the albums. If I had imported the album in iTunes, I used the Blue tag in finder to mark it, so I'd know which folder is in iTunes, and which are not.

Now, after copying all that was imported to the iTunes folder, would you recommend that I just delete the original files? Are they just exact copies?

Thanks again for your help !!

Yes, they're exact copies.