how to backup my mac to a external hard drive

#How to backup my mac to a external hard drive windows#

ITunes will now launch, using the new library you just restored from backup.Click Choose on a Mac or Open on Windows to select that iTunes library. itl file (on Windows) you just restored from backup. Do so and locate the iTunes folder (on a Mac) or. A window will pop up allowing you to navigate through your computer.When you do this, a window will pop up asking you to Quit, Create Library, or Choose Library.While holding down the Option key on a Mac, or the Shift key on Windows, launch iTunes.If it doesn’t, drag the folder to a different location. This will delete the old one, so make sure that the one you’re restoring from backup has all the latest content in it. If there’s already an iTunes library in this location, you’ll be asked whether you want the new one to replace it. When you’ve found that location, drag the backup iTunes folder from your external hard drive to the open window on your computer, making sure to drag the backup to the exact location you want the folder to reside (usually the two locations noted in the last step).On a Mac, the default is in your Music folder, accessible through the sidebar of the Finder window or by clicking on your hard drive, selecting Users, and clicking on your username.

#How to backup my mac to a external hard drive windows#

On Windows, the default is in your My Music folder, which you can reach through the My Documents folder or, on Windows Vista/7, by double clicking on your hard drive. When you’ve done this, navigate through your computer to find the location to which you want to restore your iTunes library. Do this by opening the Finder/My Computer. Open a new window on the computer to which you plan to restore iTunes from backup.Navigate through the hard drive to find the iTunes folder you backed up to it. Double click on the external hard drive icon to open it (you’ll find it on your desktop or in the Finder on a Mac or in My Computer on Windows). Attach the external hard drive that contains the iTunes backup.If it is running, quit iTunes on the computer that you will restore the iTunes library to.

Time Required: Depends on the size of your iTunes library Restoring your iTunes library from backup will let you overcome a data loss or make moving the library much easier. If you had the good sense and foresight to backup your iTunes library on an external hard drive, life is good for you if you have a hard drive failure or need to transfer your iTunes library to a new computer.