How to Backup an iTunes Library to an External Hard Drive

With Apple's iTunes software, people's music libraries are growing rapidly. Next to important documents and data, music files are among the most requested files to restore or transfer to a new computer, or when recovering from a system crash. It could be as simple as clearing space on a hard drive. No matter the situation, knowing how to back up your iTunes Library can save you grief, time, and money. These instructions will show you how to copy your entire iTunes Library to an external hard drive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

How to Backup iTunes Library in Windows XP or Vista

1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer.

2. Click on "Start" and then "My Computer." Navigate to your iTunes Library. In Windows Vista, these are located in C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes\. In Windows XP, these are located in C:\Documents and Settings\username\.

3. Right-click on the "iTunes" folder and select "Copy."

4. Click on "Start" and then "My Computer." Double-click on the "External Hard Drive."

5. Click on "Edit" and select "Paste." Depending on how many files have to be transferred, this could take from several minutes to over 1 hour.