Backing up library to external hard drive

[GregM1873]

Hi all,

I think it's about time that I backed up my iTunes library as my laptop is now getting on a bit and my library would take forever to restore if my current HD crashed.

My questions are:

Is using an external hard drive to backup/restore an iTunes library a straightforward process? Is it 'approved' by Apple, as they seem to favour using CDs/DVDs to backup libraries? Furthermore, can anyone recommend a quality external hard drive, 100GB plus?

Thanks for any advice.

[Astro_Digital]

Good question because I noticed the same thing iTunes says backup to CD/DVD.

I was thinking about just doing it and trying to select my removable USB Harddrive as a target for my backup.

Should work.

[Astro_Digital]

Well one more thing to hate about iTunes.

I tried to backup to an external harddrive and it does not work !!!!

WHY !!! I have a older laptop CD burner only to backup 60 Gigs it will take dozens of CDs and many hour.

I guess I have to search the forums and figure out how to do a manual backup to an external harddrive.

[Essin]

It's not rocket science, just copy your iTunes Music folder and the iTunes Library.itl file to another disc.

[Astro_Digital]

Thanks so I need to find and copy Library.itl

Maybe there is no button that says backup to external harddrive because it is easy?

[Essin]

Unless you changed the default location from within iTunes Preferences, both items are in My Documents/My Music/iTunes.

[Vapour Trail]

My iTunes directrory on my Win XP machine is in the 'My Music' directory ... D:\My Music\iTunes\ This directory contains 2 files ('iTunes Music Library.xml' and 'iTunes Library.itl') and 2 folders ('iTunes Music' and 'Album Artwork'). I presume that if I copy the 'iTunes' folder (including all of its contents) to a separate hard disc then this can be used as a complete backup in the event of a system crash or system rebuild.

I'm contemplating installing a new hard disk into my machine just for media but don't really want to spend several days in the future reloading all of my CDs.

If I install a new hard disc for media then load the iTunes backup created as stated above, will iTunes have any problems recognising and using the data, assuming that I set my PC to use a new drive for the 'My Music' directory?

[Astro_Digital]

My main concern would be purchased content.

I think I will as you say backup \My Music\iTunes\ ... \My Videos\ ... \My Pictures\ and where are audio books stored?

So on the new harddrive restore the folders.
I hope all I need to do is go to apple download the latest iTunes and authorize iTunes to play my purchased content.

I which somebody would do a step by step FAQ to backup to an external harddrive and restore on a new machine?

Like I said the Apple backup would require dozens of CDs and who has time?