What is the easiest way to move itunes to new computer

**CyCloned** · 02-05-2010, 11:33 AM

My daughter got her own computer for her birthday and I would like to get all her tunes off of two other computers. The Itune sight has very little help to do this. Lots of great help to get more money out of you. I do have an external drive. There were a couple things online but one looked very complicated and the other looked way too easy, so I was sure it would fail. I know a couple people that did something wrong when transfering and lost all the songs, so I am concerned.

**Cymon** · 02-05-2010, 11:39 AM

I'm not sure there is.

**isucy1234** · 02-05-2010, 11:42 AM

Highlight all songs in your library, click and drag them into a new folder. Then save that folder to a flash drive, plug it into your new computer, and drag the songs back into your new itunes. Depending on how large your flash drive is, this could take multiple trips to and from computers.

**mapnerd** · 02-05-2010, 11:43 AM

I'm pretty sure you can just do a simple file copy and paste (using the external drive). There is a way on the new machine's iTunes to find the folder where you put the music. It should be pretty simple.

**dmclone** · 02-05-2010, 11:44 AM

It sucks. You can copy all the songs to a new drive but then you lose all the things like ratings, play count, etc. Big failure by apple.

**CycloneSupt6** · 02-05-2010, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by isucy1234

Highlight all songs in your library, click and drag them into a new folder. Then save that folder to a flash drive, plug it into your new computer, and drag the songs back into your new itunes. Depending on how large your flash drive is, this could take multiple trips to and from computers.

This is definitely the easiest way to go. Make sure that you consolidate the library before unplugging whatever you have used to move the files. If you don't, the only way the songs will play is if you have the drive plugged in.

**CRCy17** · 02-05-2010, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by CycloneSupt6

This is definitely the easiest way to go. Make sure that you consolidate the library before unplugging whatever you have used to move the files. If you don't, the only way the songs will play is if you have the drive plugged in.

Or just be sure to move the song files off the flash drive and into a permanent folder on the new computer before importing them into itunes

**BillBaxter** · 02-05-2010, 12:19 PM

I found a way to save rating, dates, etc. I believe it was something along these lines:

1-Copy itunes music and the "one or two itunes files" under the itunes directory to your choice of memory hardware;

2-Install itunes on new computer. Exit Itunes. Delete these "one or two itunes files" under the itunes directory on your new computer and then delete these from deleted items.

3-Before starting itunes on the new computer; copy music and the "one or two itunes files" under the itunes directory from your memory hardware to your new computer under the itunes directory

4-Start itunes

5- authorize computer

This may not be exactly correct because I am stating from memory. Hope this helps.

**BillBaxter** · 02-05-2010, 12:27 PM

One additional way to move music. You must have the most recent Itunes on both computers. If they are on the same network, you do the following:

Copying songs over a network to use with iTunes for Windows

However, you will lose ratings, times played, etc.

**Angie** · 02-05-2010, 12:44 PM

If she purchased her songs through iTunes, you can also use the Home Sharing feature.

**CycloneCPA** · 02-05-2010, 12:50 PM

Backup iPod to PC,copy songs from iPod to computer,iPod to iTunes

This software allows you to move the content of your i-pod to the new computer (reverse synching). As you are aware, if you try to synch with itunes on a new computer, your ipod will be wiped.

The other program that I use from this software family is the Ilibs. This allows you to have a separate library for multiple ipods. (ie My wife and I have different music taste and she didn't want my gansta rap from my younger years on her ipod!). So you select your user and library and those are the only songs showing up in iTunes library and those are the only songs that are synched with your ipod. So you could have a Library for each music preference if your space is limited

Great software investment, and a complete timesaver.

**marothisu** · 02-05-2010, 01:23 PM

Are you talking about songs you guys bought from the iTunes store or are you talking about just MP3s/MP4s/AACs you happen to have from however you got them (download, rip from a cd, free download, etc) and want to move those to a new computer?

**CyCloned** · 02-05-2010, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by marothisu

Are you talking about songs you guys bought from the iTunes store or are you talking about just MP3s/MP4s/AACs you happen to have from however you got them (download, rip from a cd, free download, etc) and want to move those to a new computer?

The Itune ones. I have an MP3 player because I don't want to go through all this mess to get access or move my music.