Transferring audiobooks from laptop to Mac using Migration Assistant

[steve021985]

Hi there,

I've managed to transfer most of my iTunes stuff from laptop to Mac using the Migration Assistant. However, it hasn't transferred my audiobooks. Any idea as to why and how I can do it? Or if I actually have and they're hidden away somewhere

Thanks

 

[Weaselboy]

Migration Assistant should have brought them over. They should be in the Books folder below.

Macintosh HD:Users:<your account>:Music:iTunes:iTunes Music:Books

 

[steve021985]

Thanks for reply!

Just tried that and when I go into iTunes it just lists the music by artist name - there's no folder of books at all.

 

[Weaselboy]

Thanks for reply!

Just tried that and when I go into iTunes it just lists the music by artist name - there's no folder of books at all.

Then they were no it iTunes to start with, because MA brings it all over.

Look in your iTunes preferences in the advanced tab and see if you have this box UNchecked. If that is unchecked, things you drag into iTunes do not go into the iTunes library, but rather stay in their original locations.

Where did you get the audio books if you remember and how did you get them in iTunes? If you bought them in iTunes you should be able redownload them.

 

[steve021985]

That box is checked as per your image.

I definitely bought them in iTunes - I've only ever used that as my "store" for buying such items.

I can see them on my old laptop in folder for iTunes. Would it work if I stuck them on external hard drive and added them to the Mac like that?

Only reason I say that is that when I go to iTunes on my new Mac it is trying to charge me for it rather than let me redownload

Thanks again!

 

[Weaselboy]

That box is checked as per your image.

I definitely bought them in iTunes - I've only ever used that as my "store" for buying such items.

I can see them on my old laptop in folder for iTunes. Would it work if I stuck them on external hard drive and added them to the Mac like that?

Only reason I say that is that when I go to iTunes on my new Mac it is trying to charge me for it rather than let me redownload

Thanks again!

Hmmm... that is odd. I wonder if there is some sort of DRM on those that blocks copying over in MA?

You can for sure move them over, but you will likely need to use the same AppleID in iTunes for them to be read because of the same DRM issues.

Can you see them for redownload in your iTunes download history?

 

[steve021985]

That's fine because I'm using same Apple ID on both computers - I've just transferred everything over as getting rid of laptop.

When I look in download history on Mac it has nothing! Everything I've ever downloaded on iTunes isn't listed there. I have managed to transfer them over to the Mac, they just aren't listed as "downloads" now for some reason.

I wonder if it's anything to do with me unauthorizing one computer and authorising the Mac do you think?

 

[Weaselboy]

I wonder if it's anything to do with me unauthorizing one computer and authorising the Mac do you think?

I have never bought any iTunes audiobooks, so I am not sure... but I know before Apple went to DRM free music, the music files would stay after you deauthorized. You may be onto something there though.

 

[steve021985]

Hmmm...all I know is that Apple seem to go to great lengths to complicate some things whilst being geniuses at others!

Appreciate your input up until now. Going to give the external hard drive thing a whirl and hope for the best. I spent a small fortune on the various audio books (Ricky Gervais) and would be annoyed if I had to do it again!

One last question - when I transfer on to Mac - would I just drop folder with audiobooks into iTunes folder on the Mac HD which in turn should see them appear in my library?

 

[Weaselboy]

One last question - when I transfer on to Mac - would I just drop folder with audiobooks into iTunes folder on the Mac HD which in turn should see them appear in my library?

I would try drag and drop directly into iTunes app first. I know with music you are not supposed to muck around in the library files directly and import should be done through the app.

Please let me know how it goes. I am curious now.

 

[steve021985]

I will indeed! Will give it a go! Fingers crossed!

 

[steve021985]

It worked! Thank God!

No idea why I had to go through this ball ache!

Thank you again for your help!