Minor iTunes help.
 

I've got my iTunes all synched up with my iPod just the way I want, but I'm going to be reformatting my HD soon. I don't want to lose all the settings, playlists and such, and I'm wondering exactly how that info is stored. I guess I could copy all the stuff from the folder, but I want to make sure that will actually work (Especially considering Apple's BS anal retentive licensing).

Secondly I'm wondering if there's a way to change what root folders it looks at for a large group of files. In other words right now I've got most of my music in F: CDrivedump/Artists , but let's say I want to move all of my music to F: Artists, can the playlist where I keep all of that music look there?


Thanks in advance

the settings are saved in
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Apple\iTunes
back up this whole iTunes directory

Also backup the files below that are in your music folder (for you it might be F:\CDrivedump/Artists??)

iTunes Music Library.xml
iTunes Library

Here is my suggestion, reconsolidate your library to one location and then back that up and your itunes library.

So what I would do is this exactly. But before you do this PLEASE make sure you understand the concept of what I'm talking about so that you don't lose any playlists, etc. Ask questions first.

1. Make a new folder on desktop called iTunes.
2. Go to your iTunes preferences and then advanced and then change the iTunes Music Folder Location to the iTunes folder on your desktop. Check both "Keep iTunes Music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library."
3. Go to File -> Library -> Consolidate Library... and choose the iTunes folder on the desktop.
4. Once this all copies over, copy all your iTunes library files as described in MuppetFucker's post into the iTunes folder on your desktop. This should include iTunes Music Library.xml, iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, and iTunes Library Genius.itdb.
5. Now, you will copy the iTunes folder on your desktop to a backup drive, reformat the current drive, and then copy that folder back to your desktop.
6. Now when you install iTunes after that is all finished hold shift when opening iTunes and it will ask you to choose a library. Choose the one in the iTunes folder on your desktop.
7. Done, and from here you can put all of your music in a different directory if you don't want it sitting on your desktop by repeating steps 2 and 3 with any folder that you would like. Once you have done that you will want to put your iTunes library in a safe place to and repeat step 6 with wherever the library is located.