Moving your iPod/iTunes folder to a larger hdd or partition

[Panama Red]

Ok, I'm the iPod dunce - I admit it. Here's the situation with a friend's computer and iPod(s).

edit: The solution is in post #8

2 kids, 2 iPods. iPod software and iTunes have been on their computer for about a year. Each kid has her own User Profile. The C: drive is nearly full. I created a new folder for each child on a different partition and moved each child's iTunes folder to their respective Music folder. Problem now is the iPods won't find their music folders. I haven't worked with the iPods but I'm wondering if I can redirect the iPod to the new music location. If not, I'm thinking of uninstalling the iTunes and iPod software and reinstalling it to the more vacant partition and then copy/move all the existing songs to the new default location.

Anyone know an easy way to correct this issue?

[thefultonhow]

Well, one thing you can do is use TweakUI to move the location of the My Music folder to the folder on the new partition, and then move the iTunes folder (which contains the music library) there. If that doesn't work, though, what I generally do is remove all the songs in iTunes and then reimport them.

[pam123]

OOppss...
itunes has an automatic export function that will move the itunes library to the new partition and leave one of the older files on the old partition so that the iPods and other stuff, the library may not be able to play either, can find where you moved it to.
If you did it manually you very likely lost the redirect.
This is one thread about fixing 'moved' folder trouble : http://discussions.apple.com/thread....41828&#1341828
I'll see if I can't find some others.

edit: This will take longer since I'm now getting this at the Apple support site : We're sorry, Apple Discussions are temporarily unavailable. The system should be back on-line soon.

[Panama Red]

Thanx, Pam. Some good info in that thread. I really don't want to use Tweak UI but this gives me some ideas.

[pam123]

Okay Apple support is having one of those days ( this uo for 10 minutes down for the next 20 has happened before).
I did just manage to grab this : http://discussions.apple.com/thread....802584&#802584

This one doesn't use tweakUI and it spells out how to transfer Apple's music files and everything manually so you may be able to get the files you need to where you want them.

If you think it's you I can tell you the Apple support forum has had far more than it's fair share of iPod owners who want to know why transfering their iTunes to another drive or another partition is such a hassle.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by pam123 If you think it's you I can tell you the Apple support forum has had far more than it's fair share of iPod owners who want to know why transfering their iTunes to another drive or another partition is such a hassle.

So my self-proclaimed-pointed-hat may be undeserved?! That's good to know!!

[RevCLB]

Hey PR, you folks don't let me get away w/calling myself dummy. Always uplift messages & real good advice. Maybe a small chunk of aluminum foil at the very tip of the pointed hat!!! Thanks all of you, RevCLB

[Panama Red]

Maybe the Apple support forum should check over here. The solution to this problem is much easier than they've made it out to be. I can see where lotsa folks are going to want to move their iTunes folder when they start running out of space on their C: drive (or partition) or when they just want to move their music to a recently added, large capacity hard drive. Here's the secret.

iTunes installs to the C: drive by default and specifically to the My Music folder. If you simply move the iTunes folder (like I did), the iPod can't find the music data base when you plug it in. The secret is to MOVE the entire My Music file with the iTunes folder inside. Now some folks (inlcuding the Apple support folks) seem to think you need to use Tweak UI to move master folders like My Documents, My Music or My Pictures. Tweak UI isn't necessary however. You can do this move quite efficiently with Windows Explorer. Right click the start button and select Explore to open Windows Explorer. First locate the My Music folder that you wish to move. Don't do anything with it yet, just make sure it is accessible. Now locate the partition or drive you want to move the folder to. Go back to the My Music folder, RIGHT click on it and hold the button down while you drag the folder to the destination location. Drop it on the destination drive, folder or partition and an option list will appear. Select Move Here. You're done!

There's a couple extra steps if you have multiple users and multiple iPods (like I did). Before you attempt the folder move, go to the destination drive or partition and create a new folder for each user. Name the folders "Alison's Music" and "Joe's Music" (obviously use the names of your users!) Now when you do the Right click and drag/drop, these will be the destination folders.

Windows automatically changes the target for these folders so the short cuts on your start menu will still work and when you plug in the iPod it will immediately find the new location. Hopefully this will help someone else in the future. I'm even going to change the title of the thread so they can find it. Enjoy! PR

[pam123]

Nice one Panama Red.