[rnh7372]

I'm sure this question has been asked many times, but I could not find an answer to my satisfaction. I want to backup my iTunes collection to a removable hard drive. The catch is that I want to retain ratings, playlists, song counts etc. The use of this would be migrating my iTunes library from my work Mac to my home Mac and having everything mirrored exactly on my home Mac.

[MountainMac]

Copy the whole "iTunes" folder from Home/Music to the external drive. The ratings, play counts, and so forth are contained in the "iTunes 4 Music Library" data file (or maybe in the xml file, but if you copy the entire folder you can't go wrong).

MM

[Truepop]

the data file is used by itunes. the xml is used by the other apps. both have the same info. when iTunes loads the data file it will create a new xml file.

[Truepop]

Wait that didn't answer your question.

as you may know, you can move your music files to an external hard drive in the iTunes preferences by changing the location and then going to the advance menu and pick consolidate library.

however your data file is always in your home folder and as far as I know you can tell iTunes to view a different data file. so you would have to manually move that file back and forth.

[rnh7372]

It sounds like the easiest way is to just copy the entire iTunes folder to the external hard drive and then copy that to the other Mac. In other forums it just sounded like you would lose the ratings, play counts etc. if you did it that way. Thanks for the advise!

[misc]

If you copy the Library file you should be fine.

I make it a point to back up the Library file once every few weeks. One time it corrupted and I was left remaking playlists and putting albums back in the correct order (it left each album in alphabetical order.) 'Twas a royal PITA.