How to back up song ratings in iTunes?

Question

How can I back up my song ratings (0-5 stars) in iTunes? In what file(s) are they stored?

Options Keep iTunes Media folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library are both unchecked in my case

Answer 1

Song star ratings are stored in the iTunes library database file.

Usually (for Windows vista/7):

C:\Users\Case\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl

also a good idea is to backup the xml file. This is the file iTunes reads if the database get corrupted

C:\Users\Case\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music Library.xml

note if you want to transfer songs/star ratings from one computer to another, change the drive your music is on, or reformat your computer; you probably want to read this article about how the .itl and .xml files work.

Answer 2

A trick, I used was to use a DJ program: "VirtualDJ" and the windows rating property. I made playlists in iTunes of all the 1/2/3/4/5 star songs. Then I went to the DJ program: "VirtualDJ" and opened those playlists. I selected all songs in the playlists and used right-click "Tag Editor". There I set the rating to the stars of the playlist and press the button "Write Tag". I repeat this for all the playlist. The cool thing is that VirtualDJ writes the rating in the actual Windows-Tag, so now they are stored in the files' properties themeselves!