moving a library from PC to Mac

[mitchgo]

sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but...

if i want to move my itunes library from a PC to a Mac can I just copy the library to an external hard drive and then plug the hard drive into a Mac with Itunes loaded on it and then just import the entire libary into the new Mac itunes app? (assuming i import the library and xml files as well)?

Will this work or is the difference between the OS's more complex than this when it comes to itunes?

MG

[S2_Mac]

It's no prob to do...but you gotta do it right ;-)

If you're using the iTunes defaults (everything stored in \My Docs\My Music\iTunes\), it's simple. (If not, post back with your setup.) First, copy the "iTunes" folder onto the external -- not just the "iTunes Music" folder, but the whole folder named "iTunes". Then, download and install iTunes app on the Mac; fire it up once just to let it get settled in; quit iTunes. Lastly, replace the newly-created "iTunes" folder on the Mac with the copy on the external drive (~/Music/iTunes/).

Fire up the Mac's iTunes again, and let it whir and click...everything should be showing up. For iTMS purchases you'll need to "authorize" the Mac with your account info; when you're ready to be done with the PC, deauthorize it.

[mitchgo]

Thanks. Sounds about as simple as i thought. I don't use playcounts or ratings so i'm not worried if they don't get carried over...but other meta data that i've tweaked (like changing artist names/genres etc) hopefully moves with the files. (I guess by deleting the Mac Itunes folder you're automatically copying the .itl and xml files from the old PC Itunes folder).

Thanks again!

MG