Migrate from Win to MAC

Alexander Daniker shared this question 11 years ago
Answered

I bought my self a MBA with 256 GB SSD.


My itunes library was originally on a WIN7 computer and I already saved it on an external harddisk.


The problem now is that the library is more than 300 GB and I cannot put it in a whole on the MBA and then span parts of it to an external disk.


So I started Tunespan and was looking how do do this, but I don't know what to do.


What I wanna have in the end:


My itunes library with the apps, books, a few music files on the MBA and all the rest on an external drive.


I know, I could generate a new library on my MBA and the start from the scratch - but - as far as I know - then I have to install my iphone and ipad completey new with all the applications.


So what do I have to do?


Thanks in advance


Best regards


Alexander

Replies (1)

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Well, firstly, have you loaded this iTunes library in iTunes on your Mac from the external drive? I am not 100% sure if iTunes for Mac and for Windows write the library in the same format. I guess they should, but I haven't investigated that personally.


I know that Windows handles file paths very differently, so your library may load, but it may not know where any of your media is. That would be an issue. I would look up some info on migrating iTunes Libraries from Windows to Mac first, that is not something I have much knowledge about. But, if that is the case, it may not be easily possible to use this library on your mac at all.


Theoretically, if you had your library on your external drive (and iTunes knew where everything was), you could use TuneSpan to span media onto your internal drive, but this would not be ideal because it's best to have the actual library files be on your internal drive, so they are always accessible. If you library files are on the external, and some of your media is on the internal, it doesn't really help when the drive isn't plugged in because you can't load the library.


ALSO, TuneSpan CANNOT span Apps! I really wish it could, but iTunes does not include them in the readable XML iTunes Library file that TuneSpan and all other 3rd party apps use to load the library. Here is the list of stuff TuneSpan can't span "Mobile Apps, Rented Movies, Ring Tones, Text-Based Books, iTunes LPs, and iTunes Extras


Also, for SD and HD versions of a video, only one at a time can be spanned (the one that's currently selected in iTunes)."


So, I guess what I'm getting to is... I don't know. I don't know the best way to handle this. It sure seems like setting up a new library would be the cleanest way to set it up exactly how you want from the start. But, then you would have to deal with the iPhone and iPad and also your playlists, etc. But I would look into that more. With iCloud backups, it may not be hard at all to connect your iPhone to the new library and also get it back to how it was before. But again, don't take my word for that, that needs some research.


Anyway, I'm sorry I can't help more. Those are my thoughts, I know it is more pointing out issues and ideas other than actually being able to help deal with your situation directly... but, it's the best I can offer.


Please let me know how you plan to solve this problem and I can try to offer advice along the way. Once you get a new library started, or your current library setup, TuneSpan could help you pick and choose what media you want on your internal and external, and I am here to help with any questions you may have about that.


Thanks for getting in touch!

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