Want a Mac: can I transfer my iTunes collection on an IBM external drive to a new Mac

[OsageCowboy]

My music collection is entirely on a 500 GB MyBook running through my current desktop PC. I am interested in a new Mac, but I am wondering, how will I be able to transfer all of my music files to the new Mac?

Can the new iMacs read MyBook external hard drives? Do I have to burn all of my music files onto dvds? Must I get bootcamp and purchase Windows for the Mac?

Please advise, and your assistance is most appreciated.

 

[spinnerlys]

Mac OS X can read Windows file systems which are used for internal and external HDDs in Windows.
http://guides.macrumors.com/Drives_and_Filesystems

So just connect the HDD and se if it shows up. When it does, which it most probably will, you might be able to write to it (FAT32) or not (NTFS).
If it is NTFS, use the free NTFS-3G drivers downloadable here.
http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/

Also MRoogle is a good tool to search these fora, and would answer you that question several times.
http://mroogle.*************/


Also have a look at the following links, as the information presented there might be helpful in your future endeavours into Mac OS X and could clear up initial confusion and may even prevent harm to your system or your files.

 

[OsageCowboy]

Awesome stuff. Thanks!!!

 

[cderalow]

easiest solution is to use itunes to do the moving for you.

plug the external drive into the mac, wait for it to be recognized.

open iTunes, use command , to open the preferences dialog.

Under advanced, check the boxes for keep media organized, and copy to music folder.

ok.

use command O to open the dialog for adding items to iTunes.

select the appropriate folder on your external drive and hit ok.



itunes will now add all items, and copy them to the user/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music folder on your mac's hard drive.