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[okvaal]

I'm beginning to think of a new storage/set-up for my audio (and perhaps video) files, and I will most likely end up with an external hard disk (2 Tb) or a NAS. Whatever I end up with, how/where do I set MC15 to go to that disk to display my library, whenever I turn MC on? So far, I haven't succeeded in finding it in a set-up description, though I'm pretty sure it must be in there somewhere.

[badger]

It sound like you just need to import your files from the new location(s) into your library (database).  I believe its Tools + Import + Auto Import.  Then just add the new location(s) of your tracks / videos.

[rossp]

Badger is correct. You don't set a 'File location' in MC. You import the files from many different locations and MC will display them. So for you get your music / files onto the new hard disk and then import them into MC. All good....

Ross

[okvaal]

Badger is correct. You don't set a 'File location' in MC. You import the files from many different locations and MC will display them. So for you get your music / files onto the new hard disk and then import them into MC. All good....

OK, seems to make sense. But to be sure:
1) I copy my files from my current desktop to the new HD (after which I may delete the files from the original location)
2) I use the Tools/Import/Auto-Import function
3) Whenever I want to playback my files, MC will automatically get the files from my EHD, right? And
4) When recording/copying from now on, I will follow the same procedures as I do now, only directing the files to the "new" location, which will be my EHD, and which also will be automatically synchronized with MC.

If I got this right, thanks a lot to the both of you, if I haven't (I sometimes get things wrong), please correct me.

[Alex B]

If you value your playlists and the statistic (Number Plays, Date Imported, etc) you may not want to import the files as new entries to the library.

You can use MC for copying or moving the files (this preserves library data), or you can move the files outside MC and just fix the paths in the library.

If you have a considerable amount of data (hundreds of gigabytes or more) and possibly files that are not in the MC library it might be better to move the base folder (or folders) outside MC and simply fix the paths quickly on the database level. Here is a link to my reply in which I list my past instructions: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=57922

1) I copy my files from my current desktop to the new HD (after which I may delete the files from the original location)

Actually you should copy the files to at least two separate external HDs before deleting the original files (assuming you don't already have backup copies of them).

In addition, it would be good to fully format the new drives before starting to use them and after that use them a couple of weeks before trusting them at all (you can never fully trust a HD, it is likely to break sooner or later). For instance, some time ago I bought two identical external 1 TB drives. One of the drives started to produce bad sectors just after I had filled it with backup data from various old external drives and old PCs. I got a new drive that has worked fine, but I lost many hours of painstaking work.

[okvaal]

Thanks a lot. Most likely I will get my new HD(s) early next week, and then I'll follow your instructions closely. The let-them-run-for-some-time-advice seems like a good one. I may be back if I feel I get stuck somewhere. Again, thanks.

[Blue Boy]

Another option I have used is to install MC as an portable install and run from the external drive togheter with your files. There will be as far as I know no sound loss, you will have the whole kit on the same drive and you can use it on all your computers. It is worth a try.....

Blue Boy

[glynor]

If you use MC to rip files from CD, you'll also want to change the setting at Tools -> Options -> File Location.  These settings apply not to existing files in the database, but to new Rips and similar circumstances.