iPod Mac Book Duplicating Media Files

[macsfevrrrr]

I am new to Macs so please can someone tell me why my laptop is duplicating the media files, from my external hard drive and placing them on my internal hard drive when I am associating new media files to my itunes library.

I don't want to take up space on my hard drive so I use my external hard drive for the media files.

I have a work around but it's taking Forever!!!!!!!!!!
I have to delete the files from the music folder and the trash bin and reassociate itunes to look at the file on my hard drive. It works but I am going through 30+/- GB of music so I am losing patience

Thanks for Suggestions

 

[rhett7660]

Where is your iTunes library pointing to? The external or internal hard drive?

 

[miles01110]

I am new to Macs so please can someone tell me why my laptop is duplicating the media files, from my external hard drive and placing them on my internal hard drive when I am associating new media files to my itunes library.

What's probably happening is that iTunes thinks you are importing new music into its library (which, in fact, you are). You want to go to Preferences -> Advanced and then uncheck the box that says "Copy files to iTunes Music Folder."

Keep in mind if you base your library off of an external hard drive you will have to have that drive on whenever you want to listen.

 

[Consultant]

You need to have the drive on before opening iTunes or updating library. Otherwise, iTunes would have no place to put/ point the files except for your internal drive.