Keep iTunes data (play counts, ratings, etc) when transferring to a new computer?

[oregon2]

Right now I have my iTunes library on my MBP. I want to do a clean install but keep the data, and I also want to copy my library onto my PC along with its data. How do you do this?

 

[Jolly Giant]

Right now I have my iTunes library on my MBP. I want to do a clean install but keep the data

connect the two Macs with a firewire cable, boot the source Mac in
Target Disk Mode and drag the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the source to <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the target, replacing the iTunes folder in place there.

and I also want to copy my library onto my PC along with its data. How do you do this?

these reads will be helpful: one and two.

another, more recent, article here.

 

[oregon2]

connect the two Macs with a firewire cable, boot the source Mac in
Target Disk Mode and drag the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the source to <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the target, replacing the iTunes folder in place there.


these reads will be helpful: one and two.

another, more recent, article here.

The "source" Mac would be the MBP which my library is on. I want to do a clean install but keep the play counts when I restore my library.

I think in order to accomplish the above, I would need to successfully do the transfer to my PC, do a clean install on my MBP, then transfer from the PC to the clean install.

 

[Matthew Yohe]

Buy an external hard drive and back it all up?

 

[Jolly Giant]

I want to do a clean install but keep the play counts when I restore my library.

right, copy the entire iTunes folder to a temporary location (external HD), then copy it back once the clean install is done.

or, you could leave the library on the external. if you choose to, connect the drive and launch iTunes while holding the option key. when prompted, click on choose library and select the iTunes folder on the external.

 

[oregon2]

right, copy the entire iTunes folder to a temporary location (external HD), then copy it back once the clean install is done.

or, you could leave the library on the external. if you choose to, connect the drive and launch iTunes while holding the option key. when prompted, click on choose library and select the iTunes folder on the external.

okay so basically as long as I copy around the whole folder it will keep the data? this sounds much simpler than I thought it would be. I don't have an external but if I hook it up to the router I can copy from one to another very quickly via ethernet.

 

[Jolly Giant]

okay so basically as long as I copy around the whole folder it will keep the data?

yes.

playcounts, ratings, date added, etc., all this info is stored in the iTunes library file which is inside the iTunes folder. think of it as the heart and soul of your iTunes library.

more information here.

 

[fortunecookie]

Wow this is a nice share! I've been looking for how to do this in a while.

 

[LAPTOPODO]

Mp3 files should keep its ratings inside de Id3 tag.

And if I shared them with others, they can simply select all the files and erase the "stars".

 

[Nabooly]

I just did this yesterday. All I had to do was copy my old iTunes folder to replace the existing one on the new machine. Then while holding down the option key open iTunes. it will ask you to select library. From here you just navigate to your iTunes folder and select the "iTunes library.it" file. And voila everything should be there, including play counts, date added, etc..