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dreamsharkSuppose for some reason you need to restore, move or otherwise reinstall your iTunes library on your computer. Do you think you could do it from the files you have backed up? I'll bet you're wrong. Oh, you can get the actual music files back (assuming you had the sense to back them up somewhere) but good luck recovering the contents of your custom playlists, not to mention all those ratings you so lovingly compiled.
The first step is realizing that you have to backup the entire file structure from \iTunes on down, not just the \iTunes Music directory. That is because all the information about your songs is kept in a file called "iTunes Music Library.xml." Okay, that seems easy enough. But what you probably don't realize is that some of the info (like playlists and ratings) is NOT stored in this file unless you explicitly export it!!
So, here's today's tip for people with an unfortunate codependant relationship on iTunes. Every time you create a playlist or update your song ratings, do the following:
____ coming soon: "Where's my application data?"
The first step is realizing that you have to backup the entire file structure from \iTunes on down, not just the \iTunes Music directory. That is because all the information about your songs is kept in a file called "iTunes Music Library.xml." Okay, that seems easy enough. But what you probably don't realize is that some of the info (like playlists and ratings) is NOT stored in this file unless you explicitly export it!!
So, here's today's tip for people with an unfortunate codependant relationship on iTunes. Every time you create a playlist or update your song ratings, do the following:
- From the iTunes menu, select File->Library->Export Library
- Navigate to your active iTunes folder (the Windows default location is C:\Documenst and Settings\
\My Documents\My Music\iTunes Overwrite the existing file in this directory: iTunes Music Libray.xml It's a good idea to then save it again wherever you back up your iTunes music folders. I keep the backup on an external hard disk, and occasionally copy the entire iTunes folder from there to a 32G thumb drive.
____ coming soon: "Where's my application data?"
