Reloading an iTunes Library

Ok, it happened: you had to reformat or replace your computer's hard drive, and now, you've gotten your new hard drive, someone supposedly restored your data, but when you install and run iTunes, you don't see any songs there. Where'd they go? Can't you just re-load them by syncing your iPod?

Not quite. Thing is, Apple set up iTunes to be a one-way street -- from your computer's iTunes library to your iPod, and not the other way. If you try syncing, you might just over-write the music files on the iPod with the blank Library in your iTunes program! Don't sync unless the iTunes program knows where your music is!

To show it, follow the procedure below, and import (re-catalog) your songs back into the "Library" that iTunes uses to keep track of them:

• For Windows:
• Start by finding the folder on your hard drive that contains your music. This will usually be inside your "My Documents" folder, or a "Music" folder inside your user folder. If you have difficulty, you could try running a search for files with names that end in ".mp3" or ".aac"
• Next, open iTunes, and under the File menu, select "Add Folder to Library" and navigate to the folder you want.
• For Mac:
• Find the folder on your hard drive that contains the music. Within your hard drive, it will most likely be inside your "Users" folder.
• Under the File Menu, select "Add to Library" and navigate to the folder with your music, and click "Open".
• All of the songs in that folder should get imported into the library. Note that the actual files aren't being moved -- only pointers to the files are being created in the library, so you're not taking up extra space on your hard drive. Also, you need to remember not to delete that folder with the actual music files.

Rock On,

2/15/08 - dab406