Filed under: Software, How-tos, Tips and tricks, iTunes
How-to backup your media from iTunes 5 or 6
Apple has updated their Knowledge Base article covering how to backup your media (including videos and podcasts) from iTunes 5 and 6. They explain how to backup your entire library, and mention the fact that iTunes can get smart if your collection is too large for one CD or DVD - it'll automatically burn across multiple discs. They also explain how to use Smart Playlists to only backup portions of your library, such as music purchased from the iTMS, although you can simply click on the "Purchased Music" section of your library that's already in iTunes to burn up that music. I also dig that they link to another handy article that explains how to use a Smart Playlist to make incremental backups of your library. That way you're not wasting time and discs re-burning all of your media every time you make a backup. Smart.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jk said 1:03PM on 11-11-2005
.Mac users can use Backup 3.0 to do incremental backups, too.
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djones said 12:51PM on 11-11-2005
Excellent find! Via a link in that KB article, there is a way to smart-i-fy incremental backups, too. So if you're like me and have 4 DVDs with the "bulk backup", you can use this method (here's the key) with a CD-RW and regularly refresh this backup of songs acquired since your original bulk backup. Keeps your backups current without wasting discs until you're ready to fill another DVD master backup!
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RobS said 1:08PM on 11-11-2005
I love the backup across CD/DVDs for iTunes! I will do that. What about iPhoto or the Home folder in general? Anyone know of a way (preferably free or cheap)? I would back to a HD but my backup HD died.
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djones said 1:09PM on 11-11-2005
Heh, I guess I should increase the amount of text my RSS reader shows before commenting; didn't notice the link to the incremental backup solution. The main point of my comment still holds true, though-using this with a CD-RW is a snappy way to keep it current externally without wasting media. ;)
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cpryce said 1:36PM on 11-11-2005
It's important to remember that the Purchased list under the Music Store is only shows songs you've bought with that particular instance of iTunes. If you transfer purchased music to another computer or restore from backup, that list will not show what you just transferred. It's not a dynamically updated smart list. So for example, only 20 of my iTunes Muisc Store purchases show up in that list, even though I've got over 200 in my library, because I've re-installed iTunes. A smart playlist is the way to go to find your iTumes Music Store protected AAC files.
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narco said 2:31PM on 11-11-2005
I am in the process of backing up my 70+GB of music, and I was just going to drag my entire music folder into Toast, then let if backup everything for me on DVD. Then I'll keep note of a certain date, then backup from that point from then on in. That seems pretty simple to me.
Fishes,
narco.
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djones said 3:35PM on 11-11-2005
narco, seems easier to me to handle everything inside of iTunes, but there's certainly a great opportunity to involve Automator in your workflow :)
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Nate MC said 12:54AM on 11-12-2005
Whoa.. really... I was getting my plans all made for the 30+ dvd backup of generating my own playlists. If this is true and works in Windows with iTunes, I'll be so happy.
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Chuck said 1:19PM on 11-15-2005
Can anyone confirm that iTunes 6 verifies the data on the discs as they burn?
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