iTunes library on an external hdd

[IrishSwitcher]

After (too) many years as a PC user I've finally made the switch to Mac, in fact I'm typing this on my new 13" MacBook Pro.

I've literrally only started using this so need some quick advice.

I currently have my iTunes library, music, apps, movies, etc. on an external HDD that I just plug into whatever PC I'm using at the time and sync my iPod/iPhone off it whilst there. I want to transfer all this onto the HDD of this MacBook, and use the external drive as my Time Machine drive.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hellhammer]

Well, you just add them to iTunes (check that "Copy song to iTunes library when added" is checked from iTunes -> Preferences -> Advanced), then check that they really are there from user/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music

Then delete them from the external HD and open Time Machine and select it as TM backup drive

 

[IrishSwitcher]

But wont just copying the songs across save them under a brand new library file?

I want to avoid this as obviously my iPhone is set to work with the library file on the external hdd.

Apologies if I have misunderstood this and just added an extra layer of complexity to your solution!

 

[Hellhammer]

But wont just copying the songs across save them under a brand new library file?

I want to avoid this as obviously my iPhone is set to work with the library file on the external hdd.

Apologies if I have misunderstood this and just added an extra layer of complexity to your solution!

It doesn't matter where the songs are located but it's easier if you just do what I said.

What iPhone library file is in the ext HD? All music will be the same but they are just in different folder, all music will be synced to iPhone normally.

 

[IrishSwitcher]

What iPhone library file is in the ext HD?

The entire library is on the external, including the .itl file.

When I connect the external to a PC, I hold shift/alt as I click the iTunes icon and then point it to the external drive instead of it looking for an iTunes library locally.

 

[Hellhammer]

The entire library is on the external, including the .itl file.

When I connect the external to a PC, I hold shift/alt as I click the iTunes icon and then point it to the external drive instead of it looking for an iTunes library locally.

I don't really get what you are aiming for...

Do you something else than music in there too? If you do as I said in my first post, all music will be copied into iTunes Music folder where they are still easily accessible.

 

[IrishSwitcher]

I have my iPhone apps, movies and music on the external drive.

The external isn't a back up, the external is my entire iTunes life!

I want to switch from using the external constantly to having everything locally on this MacBook

 

[Hellhammer]

I have my iPhone apps, movies and music on the external drive.

The external isn't a back up, the external is my entire iTunes life!

I want to switch from using the external constantly to having everything locally on this MacBook

So it's a copy of your iTunes library? Just add them to iTunes and it'll make the folders as I have said many times. Or copy the whole iTunes library from your external to user/Music/iTunes