Opening an alternate iTunes

[Primejimbo]

So my Mac mini is old, but still runs great. I have my iTunes on a 2TB external hard drive and I was thinking ahead into the future. Now when I replace my Mac mini with a new one, I heard I can just plug my 2TB hard drive, hold option and open iTunes to then pick my external hard drive.

So today for fun I logged under another user on the computer that doesn't have any iTunes on it. So I clicked option then opened iTunes. It asked me to chose a library, but when I clicked the iTunes library on the external hard drive it just said "iTunes files can't be found". Am I doing something wrong? I just want to be ready for when I do get a new Mac mini.

This is what I did
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589

Thank you

 

[Boyd01]

I don't think that will work because the data that associates the files on your external drive with iTunes is actually stored in *your* user account. So iTunes just looks at the drive and sees as bunch of files, but doesn't know what to do with them.

See this article, I found it very helpful when I moved my library to a network drive so I could access it wirelessly.

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

 

[matrix07]

So my Mac mini is old, but still runs great. I have my iTunes on a 2TB external hard drive and I was thinking ahead into the future. Now when I replace my Mac mini with a new one, I heard I can just plug my 2TB hard drive, hold option and open iTunes to then pick my external hard drive.

So today for fun I logged under another user on the computer that doesn't have any iTunes on it. So I clicked option then opened iTunes. It asked me to chose a library, but when I clicked the iTunes library on the external hard drive it just said "iTunes files can't be found". Am I doing something wrong? I just want to be ready for when I do get a new Mac mini.

This is what I did
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589

Thank you

So you store your iTunes library (.itl file) on the external? I find that unlikely.

 

[marzer]

So you store your iTunes library (.itl file) on the external? I find that unlikely.

Not unlikely at all. My entire iTunes library is stored on an external hard drive connected to a Mac mini. I can open it as another user or even from another computer.

So today for fun I logged under another user on the computer that doesn't have any iTunes on it. So I clicked option then opened iTunes. It asked me to chose a library, but when I clicked the iTunes library on the external hard drive it just said "iTunes files can't be found". Am I doing something wrong? I just want to be ready for when I do get a new Mac mini.

This is what I did
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589

Thank you

Without knowing more about your setup, I would guess your media files are stored on the external but the iTunes database files may still be under the user home directory on the boot drive.

 

[Primejimbo]

So you store your iTunes library (.itl file) on the external? I find that unlikely.

This is why I asked am I doing something wrong, because I am sure I am. So are those the files I need then? I think I did see these type of fines inter user/music/iTunes (I think, not at my computer right now but I can check when I get home).

Not unlikely at all. My entire iTunes library is stored on an external hard drive connected to a Mac mini. I can open it as another user or even from another computer.



Without knowing more about your setup, I would guess your media files are stored on the external but the iTunes database files may still be under the user home directory on the boot drive.

I have all my iTunes media stored on an external hard drive. So under advance I changed the route where to put all my iTunes stuff to the external hard drive.

 

[matrix07]

Not unlikely at all. My entire iTunes library is stored on an external hard drive connected to a Mac mini. I can open it as another user or even from another computer.

True, but the default is still in the Music folder and I suspect OP will change that. If he did he wouldn't say "I clicked the iTunes library", which sound like he just clicked the folder contain his musics.

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This is why I asked am I doing something wrong, because I am sure I am. So are those the files I need then? I think I did see these type of fines inter user/music/iTunes (I think, not at my computer right now but I can check when I get home).

Usually it's in Music/iTunes. Looking for the file with .itl extension when you're asked to Choose Library...

 

[Primejimbo]

True, but the default is still in the Music folder and I suspect OP will change that. If he did he wouldn't say "I clicked the iTunes library", which sound like he just clicked the folder contain his musics.

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Usually it's in Music/iTunes. Looking for the file with .itl extension when you're asked to Choose Library...

I see it, so what would happen if I moved this? I'm sorry, I just figured all this stuff should be in the area where the actual music is.

 

[matrix07]

I see it, so what would happen if I moved this? I'm sorry, I just figured all this stuff should be in the area where the actual music is.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US