Prepare Files

• 1). Locate your music files on your current computer. The actual location of the files will vary based on the music-management software and operating system you use. Search for a specific file by entering the name of the song into your computer's search tool. This will reveal the folder or folders where your system stores music files.
  
  
• 2). Convert your music files to MP3 format if they are in a different format. While MP3 is a standard compression format for digital music, some online music stores provide other file types with copyright protection. It is not illegal to copy these files for personal use as long as you paid for them initially. Within your music-management program, select an option called "Convert library to MP3" or "Convert selection." Specify the location of the new folder where your MP3 music files will appear.
  
  
• 3). Organize your MP3 music files. Place music into a series of folders based on genre, artist, decade or any other system that will allow you to quickly find the files you want in the future.
  
  

Back Up Files

• 1). Plug an external storage device, such as an MP3 player or an external hard drive, into your old computer using a USB cable. The drive should appear as a volume on the desktop, or as a drive in your computer's main directory.
  
  
• 2). Locate the storage device and drag your music folder into the drive. Depending on the size of your collection, this may take some time, up to a few hours for larger collections.
  
  
• 3). Check to ensure that the size of the files on your external drive matches the size of the files on your old computer. Right-click on the folders and select the "Get into" or "Properties" option. If the file sizes match, you've successfully backed up your music collection to the external drive.
  
  

Upload Your Music

• 1). Disconnect the external drive from your old computer and connect it to the new computer. Once again, the drive should appear as a volume or disk. If it does not, use your computer's "Find new hardware" feature to locate the drive.
  
  
• 2). Open the external drive volume and select the music files. Drag them to your new computer's desktop to copy them. This will also take some time, depending on the size of the files.
  
  
• 3). Move the music files from your new computer's desktop to a music folder, or open with with your new music-management software to choose a location to store the files for playback.