iTunes question

[MarieBoyer]

I have my new iMac up and running. I migrated my music into iTunes and now i have duplicates of every song. I see an exclamation point to the left of each "duplicate" but as soon as I "get info" to find out where that duplicate resides, the exclamation point vanishes!

I see a button to "show duplicates." I found out that from the "help" menu.

Is there a quick way to delete all duplicate songs?

(I figured out how the duplicates happened, but it is a long story.)

Thanks guys!

[Carbone]

Command Click them (one by one I'm afraid) then, click on one, then press on the delete key on your keyboard. iTunes will ask for a confirmation, requesting that you decide between keeping the file on your hard disk or deleting the file as well.

Ray

[MarieBoyer]

Thanks Ray. I am about 1/3 of the way. Time for bed.

Seems I also imported my photos into Aperture the wrong way (en masse) and might have to re-do that. Oh well. I am still loving this computer. Bound to be some snags along the way.

[Carbone]

Aperture is a project workflow manager. As with anything else, you don't work on everything at the same time.. (well, your boss might see things differently.. hahaha!)

;)

Ray

[mom to 4]

Ray:

My itunes library disappeared from my computer. Actually I should say my kids library disappeared. Is there a way I can tell itunes to pull what is on their itunes back into itunes? the songs are all sitting happily on the external, but when my 17 year old opened itunes today.....it was completely blank. I went and found the library and figured I could reimport it, but next to it it says "(Damaged)". I just think there has to be a way to take what is on each ipod and pull them back over rather than going to File>import and importing each song individually. Does that make sense???

[Carbone]

I have never encountered a damaged library before so what I'll say here is only theory.

There are applications (free) to rip music from iPods to your hard drives. For example, http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/21390

However, these software will only import songs onto your hard drive, not in your library. So you'll be left with re-importing the songs again. So, if the songs are already on your hard drive, you might as well import from there, skip the ripping from the iPod step.

Can you tell a few details about what happened? I've had glitches with my iPhoto library (requiring thumbnails regeneration, for example), but never anything with iTunes. How do you manage your various libraries ?

Ray

[Chuck S.]

I've had success importing the entire contents of my iPod from one computer to another simply by treating the iPod as an external hard drive - no additional software required. Of course, I'm working in a PC/Windows XP environment, which is much more flexible than Mac....:D

Chuck

(ducking for cover.....!)

[mom to 4]

Ray:

Wish I could tell you what happened, but maryellen opened itunes today and it was just blank. Nothing there. The music is still just fine and happy on the external. But there is nothing in itunes. I went out and looked and the itrunes library just says Damaged in (). This wouldn't be so bad if I could just shift/click on all the songs in a particular folder, but I can't do that. I am left importing them one at a time from what I can see.


As for the libraries: The guy at apple told me to create a Smart Playlist for each of the kids. Then in "get info" I put their name in the comment. Then I give each of them a star rating of their own and add that. That way the song is imported directly to their smart play list and everyones songs show in my music, but because they each have their own star rating, it is really easy to see which song belongs to which child. If they only want to see their music, they just click on their smart playlist. Really cool, except......it's all gone now!
Chuck:

THIS IS ON A Windows XP unit!!! :twisted: That's why my imac is on its way!!!:eek: :D I saw that I could move them from the ipod to ANOTHER COMPUTER, but this would be putting them back on the SAME computer. Not sure that that will work.

My palm pilot allows you to sync either way.....palm to computer orcomputer to palm. I don't know why an ipod isn't the same way. I am actually afraid to hook the ipod up to the computer for fear it will overwrite what is on there with NOTHING!!!!

Thanks Guys!!! I will worry about this more tomorrow. Better get off to bed, losing an hour and it is already 11:30...way passed my bedtime!

[Chuck S.]

Colleen: If the songs are still on the computer, I'd gather them up into a new folder, then tell iTunes where to find them. I had a tech at work who knocked my iTunes for a loop but all the songs were still there; took only a minute or two to re-link them.

Oh....and good luck with your new Mac!

:D

Chuck

[mom to 4]

Chuck: They are all in a folder called Maryellens itunes on my external. In that folder are tons of other folders for various albums.

What you are saying sounds really easy, but can you explain to me how I do it???? Sorry, I am just a bit slow.:o The music is there. I do know that much!

[Chuck S.]

As I understand iTunes, it's looking at a folder or set of folders to build the Music Library. In my case, after the tech did his thing, it was pointing at the wrong folder (the default iTunes folder on my C drive). However, I had set up a separate folder, and all I had to do was:


Open iTunes
Go to File>Add Folder to Library
Browse to Folder containing music
Click OKiTunes did the rest, and the songs were added to the library.

Is that what you've been trying when you get the messsage about damaged files or folders?

Chuck

[mom to 4]

I keep thinking that I can reconnect them, but then I realize, itunes itself doesn't have them, so there is nothing to "reconnect". Wouldn't I have to reimport all of them.

Well, now I do have to hit the sack. I have to be at 7:30 a.m. mass!:eek:

[mom to 4]

Oh, just saw your post. I did see Add folder to library! Ok, I will try to try that tomorrow. Then all THE KIDS will have to do is retag what is theirs! Let them fight over it!!!!

Thanks Chuck...I will sleep better now!!!! I'll let you know how it goes!;)

[Chuck S.]

iTunes doesn't have to "have" them; it just needs to know where they're stashed. Assuming they're the right format, iTunes should take the cue and link 'em up. Or so it would seem...

[MarieBoyer]

Colleen:
Chuck is correct. This is how I fixed my duplicates problem (I had duplicates of evey single tune). I deleted my entire ibrary from iTunes. Then I pointed iTunes to the Library on my hard drive. Other than waiting, there is no downside (as far as I can tell).

[Carbone]

Side note : reason why an iPod isn't like a Palm is to prevent piracy. Imagine you fill your iPod with music, then go to a friend's house, connect the iPod, and transfer the music back to this new computer.

Ray

[Chuck S.]

Ray, the way Apple addresses the piracy issue is to make it difficult to transfer music purchased from iTunes to another computer - you're only allowed to have it on a small number of computers simultaneously and the password protection passes from machine to machine.

However, music that you've ripped from your own CD's onto the iPod can be easily transferred from the iPod to another computer with no limit - just as if you had lent your CD's to a friend. That still doesn't make those who make and sell music very happy, but attempts to make CD's copy-proof were a disaster a few years back.

Chuck

[mom to 4]

I think I read that you can copy your music to 5 different computers (Other than the one that I want to copy it BACK onto!) . Although, I have to say, my 16 year old daughter sat at the computer very dutifully this morning transferring all the music back into everyones ipods. Too bad her sister and brother don't appreciate her more!!!!:rolleyes:

[Carbone]

5 machines is the total, including the first host machine. For my own needs, 5 is a very sufficient number... (desktop and laptop, that makes 2). Surely, with any limits, someone will stand up and claims it's not enough. Make that 10 and some guy will claim he has 11 computers at home, including the one running his pacemaker on which he'd like to transfer Bach's Mid Summer Sonata, to quiet his heartbeat when he sleeps.. ;)

Chuck, you're probably right about transferring the music back from the iPod, only the protected can't be copied. I wouldn't know personally, I have never tried this at home.

Ray

[Chuck S.]

Ray, the critical step in going from iPod to computer is making sure that iTunes on the second computer doesn't overwrite the contents of the iPod! For safety sake, I removed iTunes before uploading the music. When I then plugged in the iPod, it appeared as a disk drive. In Windows Explorer, it's necessary to have it display hidden files. The music is in a series of folders that all can be copied to an appropriate place on the new computer. Then I reloaded iTunes and told it where to find the music. Voila!

All this was done to legally transfer owned music from one home PC to another.

Chuck

[Shari]

Since you guys are talking about this. My husband has an Ipod he uses all the time and in the car. I saw a book called IPod - The missing manual - latest edition and I was thinking of ordering it for him. Is there tons of stuff he could do that he might not know about?? Would this book be worth getting? I just saw it when I was looking for books for myself for photoshop and saw that if you ordered two books you got one free - thought that might be a nice plan on my part!!!
Shari

[Chuck S.]

Shari, the Missing Manual series books are generally first-rate, especially the one for Photoshop Elements. And if you can get it for free, well....how can it be any better than that!?

:D

Chuck

[Carbone]

There are some good chapters, and some really "geeky" stuff (installing Linux, open source games, etc.) To be honest, I had it, but I gave it. Installing Linux was fun, for about 15 days... :)

You can sync your contacts and calendar with the iPod, use it as a drive to store documents, offload pictures from you camera, etc. If you know all these things already, this book won't help.

Ray

[Chuck S.]

To be honest, I had it, but I gave it.

Ray, that's what we have begun to call "re-gifting"....!!:D

Chuck

[Shari]

Thanks again Chuck and Ray. I have the PSE5 book and yes it is good. My husband does not have a clue about photos and what I do so I guess I will pass on the book. I thought it might give him some ideas on other things he could do with his Ipod and notebook. Might as well fill the bookcase with my books:D
Shari

[MarieBoyer]

Hi guys. New question. Hope you do not mind.

I have had only one computer that my iPod has been connected to over the past year (but that one had a reinstall of windows twice and I never deauthorized the computer before the fresh installs.). I forgot to deauthorize my computer when I made the switch to Mac. So, now my ITunes says I have "used 3 of the 5" that I have. Not sure what that means exactly. Is there a way to let them know that only one computer is authorized? Does it matter?

[Chuck S.]

Marie, you have to go on iTunes on the computer you want to de-authorize and go to Store>Deauthorize Computer; you have to be connected to the Internet also.

If you've already sold or trashed the computer and can't get on iTunes from it, you may be stuck with 3 out of 5....just remember in the future to deauthorize before switching...

Chuck

[MarieBoyer]

Whooops! Thanks Chuck. That's worth knowing before you get rid of a computer! Bummer if your computer dies. I guess your out of luck!

Thanks. Hopefully this one will be with me for quite awhile!

[Chuck S.]

Marie, there might be an 'appeals process' via direct contact with Apple....but I wouldn't bet the ranch on it! Somehow I also got up to 3 out of 5, so I'm very sensitive to the need to conserve the count!

Chuck

[mom to 4]

Is that just for PURCHASED music???? So, if I buy my music, burn it to a disk and reimport it I am fine?

[Chuck S.]

Yes, only for music purchased on iTunes. No limits on music from your own CD's.

[mom to 4]

Oh, that's good, :D , I make a habit of buring anything I purchase online to a cd!:D

Marie: Start burning....you need to learn how to do it on a mac anyway!

[Carbone]

Ray, that's what we have begun to call "re-gifting"....!!:D

Chuck

I much prefer this verb.. !!! It's makes for something more joyful than simply getting rid of something which is not good.. ;)

Ray

[Carbone]

Actually, if you go to your iTunes account, via iTunes main window (the apps on your computer), you can deauthorize all your computer at the same time. You can do this once a year, though. But it will work for all your currently authorized computer, even the one you're performing the procedure on.

Ray

[MarieBoyer]

Ray:
Sorry for being thick. But I go into iTunes and tell it to deauthorize all computers. Then I assume I go in and re-authorize this computer?

Thanks in advance.

[Chuck S.]

I make a habit of buring anything I purchase online to a cd!

Colleen, if you buy the music from iTunes and burn it to a CD, I believe it still carries its copy-protection scheme with it if you load it back into iTunes. If you purchase from another source and burn to CD, it may load into iTunes okay. I didn't want to mislead you regarding iTUnes music...

Chuck

[mom to 4]

Well that just really stinks!!!!!

[Chuck S.]

Colleen, you might give it a try to see what happens. That's just my understanding and I'm no expert....

Chuck

[mom to 4]

Oh, Chuck, I certainly don't doubt what you are saying, but if I have 6 computers in my house and it is for my use, I just think I should be able to use it on all six. I understand that there are people who screw things up for those of us with 6 computers though!!!!:D

[Chuck S.]

Colleen, maybe you ought to put the music on one computer and provide access to the music via a wireless network of all the other computers!

:D

Chuck

(p.s., I don't know whether that can be done or not, but it seems reasonable to me....)

[mom to 4]

Are you kidding???? That would me I would have to know what I was doing!!!!!:eek: :D

[Chuck S.]

Hmmm....looks like it can be done:

iTunes on a wireless network (http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.asp?p=454793&seqNum=13&rl=1)

Chuck

[mom to 4]

See, if I just act like a helpless woman, someone else figures it out for me!!!:D :D :D :D

Chuck you are right, looks like it can be done!

[Carbone]

Colleen, if you buy the music from iTunes and burn it to a CD, I believe it still carries its copy-protection scheme with it if you load it back into iTunes. If you purchase from another source and burn to CD, it may load into iTunes okay. I didn't want to mislead you regarding iTUnes music...

Chuck

No, it becomes a regular Audio CD, as far as I can tell. I was able to burn a CD this way, then import it as an MP3 for an apps which required MP3.

Ray

[Carbone]

That is how I share music over all the computers at home. In iTunes, you share your library (you might even give it a password for protection). Then, in the other computers, you fire up iTunes, change the preferences so that it looks for shared libraries. Wait a few seconds and your library(ies) will be there.

Side note for Mac users : this is also valid for iPhoto. You can share your entire collection of pictures with a second computer (another Mac in this case).

Ray