Transferring itunes library from winXP to 10.4, WITH ratings, playcounts etc?

[phrozenpenguin]

Hi,
Hopdefully you can help me out here!

I have switched (finally) from an ibm powerbook to a 12" powerbook....nice so far.

I have just tried to transfer my itunes library from windows over to the powerbook, and got a bit confused...

On my xp box my music was scattered around (i organised it) and some was in the itunes folder e.g. itms stuff. In itunes it all worked, and i had my smart playlists, play counts, ratings etc all sorted.

I transferred all my music files to the powerbook, and if i import them, everything is fine but i guess it makes a new libabry database, so i loose playcounts, playlists etc.....

If i put the itunes libabry file from the pc ontothe powerbook, everything shows up fine in itunes, except the files don't play....and if you import them, it just duplicates it all!

I have also lost the 'compilations' i had marked out..

Should i just live with it and start my play counts again, or is there a simple way to align my new itunes setup with the old?

Thanks

[xlax999999]

Since you posted this in the iPod lounge should I assume that you have an iPod?

[styrafome]

I've done some moving from machine to machine. What I would do is:
1. Don't re-import them.
2. Drag over the entire iTunes folder from Windows to the Mac. The library files should be in that folder. Make sure that they come along to the new machine in the same location. They contain playlists etc.
3. Start iTunes and tell it where that folder is (in iTunes prefs, Advanced), if you didn't put it in the default location on the Mac. Double-check that iTunes is actually looking for the folder where it is located, and if not, point it there.
4. Finally, if iTunes still doesn't seem to "see" everything, drag the iTunes folder onto the iTunes icon. This seems to make iTunes re-read everything and re-link everything.

I hope that works for ya. It works a lot better if all the music is stored in one folder.

[phrozenpenguin]

Since you posted this in the iPod lounge should I assume that you have an iPod?

Yes you can assume i have an ipod 60gb photo. Maybe this wasnt the best place to post with hindsight but itunes and the ipod are failry well linked and apples documentation uses the ipod as a drive to transfer between pc and mac.
Thanks for the useful help.

[phrozenpenguin]

I've done some moving from machine to machine. What I would do is:
1. Don't re-import them.
2. Drag over the entire iTunes folder from Windows to the Mac. The library files should be in that folder. Make sure that they come along to the new machine in the same location. They contain playlists etc.
3. Start iTunes and tell it where that folder is (in iTunes prefs, Advanced), if you didn't put it in the default location on the Mac. Double-check that iTunes is actually looking for the folder where it is located, and if not, point it there.
4. Finally, if iTunes still doesn't seem to "see" everything, drag the iTunes folder onto the iTunes icon. This seems to make iTunes re-read everything and re-link everything.

I hope that works for ya. It works a lot better if all the music is stored in one folder.

Thanks :-)

I think it would be a bit much hassle to do it all again, so im jsut going to go with the flow and redo my playlists and playcounts. Leave behind all the windows legacy!!

[xlax999999]

Wait Wait! Now that you tell me that you have an iPod it can be easily done.

1) Transfer EVERYTHING onto your iPod. Do an Automatic update in iTunes (prefs>ipod> check auto sync)
2) Plug your iPod into your Mac (don't have iTunes initialize it or whatever)
3) Download iPodRip (http://www.thelittleappfactory.com/application.php?app=iPodRip)
4) Fire iPodRip up and click Recover Songs or something to that effect

That will copy all the metadata and there is also an option to do playlists as well.

Have Fun and welcome to the world of Mac. It's a beautiful thing

[phrozenpenguin]

Thanks for that tip. I am trying it now :-)

[wizzkidder]

I've done some moving from machine to machine. What I would do is:
1. Don't re-import them.
2. Drag over the entire iTunes folder from Windows to the Mac. The library files should be in that folder. Make sure that they come along to the new machine in the same location. They contain playlists etc.
3. Start iTunes and tell it where that folder is (in iTunes prefs, Advanced), if you didn't put it in the default location on the Mac. Double-check that iTunes is actually looking for the folder where it is located, and if not, point it there.
4. Finally, if iTunes still doesn't seem to "see" everything, drag the iTunes folder onto the iTunes icon. This seems to make iTunes re-read everything and re-link everything.

I hope that works for ya. It works a lot better if all the music is stored in one folder.

How would this work (or not) in a scenario where my iTunes folder (songs, library, playlists, etc.) were on an external USB drive? For me, this drive is NTFS formatted and I'm using iTunes for Windoze right now. I want to connect my USB drive to my MacBook and have the ability to access all my music and playlists via my MacBook. Needless to say, I'm making the move to ditch Windoze. :p