How to Transfer an Entire iTunes Library to Another Computer

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Do you have more than one computer in your home network? Do you use more than one computer outside of your home network? Well, if you do and want to have your music readily available to you no matter what computer you're on, follow the step below.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate
Step1
There are 2 ways to do this. You can tranfer your library to back-up discs or to your iPod using your USB cable. To use back-up discs, you'll need iTunes 7 or higher and follow steps 2 through 7. To use your iPod, follow steps 8 through 13. Back-up discs are recommended if you have a large library because your iPod may not hold the entire library.
Step2
Open up iTunes.
Step3
Click FILE.
Step4
Click BACK UP TO DISC.
Step5
Select "Back up entire iTunes library and playlists".
Step6
Click BACK UP. If your library is quite large, then you may need to insert subsequent discs to transfer your entire library. You will be prompted to insert the disc(s).
Step7
Once the transfer is complete, open up iTunes 7 or higher on the new computer and insert the back-up discs one-by-one when instructed.
Step8
Connect your iPod to your PC via the USB cable.
Step9
Be sure to "enable disk use" on your iPod. To do this, open iTunes, select your iPod in the source pane under the devices section, click the SUMMARY tab, click the MANUALLY MANAGE MUSIC button, click OK, click APPLY.
Step10
Make sure that "copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library" is selected by clicking EDIT, PREFERENCES, ADVANCED, GENERAL. If not, check it and click OK.
Step11
Choose CONSOLIDATE LIBRARY from the ADVANCED menu and click CONSOLIDATE.
Step12
Quit iTunes, locate your iPod and drag the iTunes folder to the iPod.
Step13
On your new computer (make sure iTunes 7 is already installed), connect your iPod, locate your iPod, drag your iTunes folder from the iPod to the MY MUSIC folder.

Tips & Warnings

  • To free up space, make sure you delete all your media from your iPod before doing this.
  • Do not remove discs during back-up and do not remove USB cable during transfer.

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eHow Article: How to Transfer an Entire iTunes Library to Another Computer

eHow Electronics Editor

eHow Electronics Editor

Category: Electronics

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