Settings (This will help iTunes run more quickly, stably, and more smoothly.)

• Main iTunes window > Store drop-down menu
  • Click “Turn off Genius” is you do not use Genius playlists
• Main iTunes window > Preferences menu
  • Sharing menu
    • Disable all
  • Parental menu
    • Enable “Ping”
    • Enable “Shared Libraries” if you do not use this feature.
  • Devices menu
  • Enable “Allow iTunes control from remote speakers”
• Advanced menu

• Enable “Keep iTunes media folder organized”
• Enable “Copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to library”
• Get all your music files consolidated into one location!
  • Go to File > Library > Organize Files
  • Enable “Consolidate Library” and “Reorganize files”, then click Ok.
  • Depending on how large and disorganized your music library is, this may take between 1-60 minutes.

Improve iTunes performance by un-indexing XML files

• Windows Start Menu > Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advanced button > File Types tab
• Scroll all the way down to “XML”
• In the “How should this file be indexed?” section below the list of file types, select “Index Properties Only” and click ok.
• In the prompt that asks you whether you should rebuild the index, click Ok.

Backing up your iTunes library to an external hard drive

• Backing up
  • Start by making sure you follow the steps above in “iTunes Settings”
  • Close iTunes, if you have it open.
  • Locate your iTunes/Music folder
    • In Windows Vista:
      • Go to Start menu
      • Look for the “Music” link/folder.  If you do not see this, click on the link/folder for your Windows username, then go into the Music folder in the subsequent window.
    • In Windows XP:
      • Go to Start Menu
      • Look for “My Music” link/folder.  If you do not see this, click on “My Documents” link/folder, then go into the My Music folder in the subsequent window.
  • You should now see a window with several files and folders with “iTunes” in their names.  Copy everything you see in this folder into your external hard drive (preferably into a new folder called “iTunes” or something).
  • This copying process could take a long time.  I recommend not using your computer while the files are being backed up.
• Restoring from an external hard drive
  • Close iTunes, if you have it open.
  • Locate your iTunes/Music folder

• In Windows Vista:
  • Go to Start menu
  • Look for the “Music” link/folder.  If you do not see this, click on the link/folder for your Windows username, then go into the Music folder in the subsequent window.
• In Windows XP:
  • Go to Start Menu
  • Look for “My Music” link/folder.  If you do not see this, click on “My Documents” link/folder, then go into the My Music folder in the subsequent window.
• Erase everything in or move everything out of your current iTunes/Music folder (NOT from your backup folder!)
• Now copy everything FROM your iTunes backup folder from your external hard drive back into the Windows iTunes/Music folder.
• This copying process may take a long time.  I recommend not using your computer while the files are being restored.
• Once the copying is complete, disconnect the external hard drive and start iTunes.  Hopefully you should be back up and running.