"The folder iTunes cannot be found or created and is required"
When opening iTunes for Windows, particularly after installing the application or upgrading to a higher version of the application, you may see one of the following two messages:
The iTunes folder in question is the default location for storage of the [iTunes library files|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660] and your [content files|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2279].
The message is usually caused by the My Music folder (on Windows XP or Windows 7) or the Music folder (on Windows Vista) losing some special registry properties. When that happens iTunes for Windows can't "find" the default locations for the iTunes folder, and iTunes doesn't launch because it can't find a library to open.
The following Apple document gives information on how to fix the underlying registry problem in Windows XP:
[iTunes for Windows XP: "Disk is locked" or "iTunes folder cannot be found" when installing or opening iTunes|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1866]
However, for iTunes for Windows version 7.0.0.70 or higher there is an alternate way around the error message that will also work on Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Resolution
Begin by launching iTunes while holding down the Shift key on your keyboard. You should see a dialog similar to the following:
How you proceed from here depends on if you already have a iTunes library on the computer, or if you have never had an iTunes library on the computer.
1. If you already have an iTunes library
2. If you have never had an iTunes library
1. If you already have an iTunes library
In the dialog box, click the "Choose library" button.
If you've always had your iTunes library files in the default location, click the "Browse" button and browse to the default location for your particular Windows OS:
*Windows XP:* \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
*Windows Vista:* \Users\username\Music\iTunes\
*Windows 7:* \Users\username\My Music\iTunes\
Click on the *iTunes Library* .itl file. Your iTunes should now launch without the error message.
If you have previously moved and/or given your iTunes Library .itl file a different name, browse instead to the location you moved the .itl file to and click the iTunes Library .itl file and/or the click .itl file with the different name. Your iTunes should now launch without the error message.
Under normal circumstances, iTunes will open the library that was open the last time you had iTunes open. So for subsequent launches (after the one where you've gotten past the error message) you shouldn't have to do a "Choose library" when launching iTunes in order for your library to come up.
2. If you have never had an iTunes library
In the dialog box, click the "Create library" button. You can create this library wherever you please and name it whatever you please. But if you want to put it in the default location for your particular Windows OS, here are the default locations you should browse to:
*Windows XP:* \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
*Windows Vista:* \Users\username\Music\
*Windows 7:* \Users\username\My Music\
... and then click the "Save" button.
Under normal circumstances, iTunes will open the library that was open the last time you had iTunes open. So for subsequent launches (after the one where you've gotten past the error message) you shouldn't have to do a "Choose library" when launching iTunes in order for your library to come up.
Interesting. Apple's thoughts on this subject want an XP user to install Tweak UI.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1866
carmel's answer here sounds much better
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6614668#6614668
But the shift-start is probably the fastest. My first comment would be to highlight that they have to press *AND HOLD* the shift key, and keep pressing until they get the prompt.
Many folks think they just need to tap the shift key once.
I'd also leave off the choices for "never had" a library or "did have" a library, and just direct them to the default location.
The folder iTunes cannot be found or created and is required. The default location for this folder is inside the Music folder.
The folder iTunes cannot be found or created and is required. The default location for this folder is inside the My Music folder.
The iTunes folder in question is the default location for storage of the [iTunes library files|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660] and your [content files|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2279].
The message is usually caused by the My Music folder (on Windows XP or Windows 7) or the Music folder (on Windows Vista) losing some special registry properties. When that happens iTunes for Windows can't "find" the default locations for the iTunes folder, and iTunes doesn't launch because it can't find a library to open.
The following Apple document gives information on how to fix the underlying registry problem in Windows XP:
[iTunes for Windows XP: "Disk is locked" or "iTunes folder cannot be found" when installing or opening iTunes|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1866]
However, for iTunes for Windows version 7.0.0.70 or higher there is an alternate way around the error message that will also work on Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Resolution
Begin by launching iTunes while holding down the Shift key on your keyboard. You should see a dialog similar to the following:
How you proceed from here depends on if you already have a iTunes library on the computer, or if you have never had an iTunes library on the computer.
1. If you already have an iTunes library
2. If you have never had an iTunes library
1. If you already have an iTunes library
In the dialog box, click the "Choose library" button.
If you've always had your iTunes library files in the default location, click the "Browse" button and browse to the default location for your particular Windows OS:
*Windows XP:* \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
*Windows Vista:* \Users\username\Music\iTunes\
*Windows 7:* \Users\username\My Music\iTunes\
Click on the *iTunes Library* .itl file. Your iTunes should now launch without the error message.
If you have previously moved and/or given your iTunes Library .itl file a different name, browse instead to the location you moved the .itl file to and click the iTunes Library .itl file and/or the click .itl file with the different name. Your iTunes should now launch without the error message.
Under normal circumstances, iTunes will open the library that was open the last time you had iTunes open. So for subsequent launches (after the one where you've gotten past the error message) you shouldn't have to do a "Choose library" when launching iTunes in order for your library to come up.
2. If you have never had an iTunes library
In the dialog box, click the "Create library" button. You can create this library wherever you please and name it whatever you please. But if you want to put it in the default location for your particular Windows OS, here are the default locations you should browse to:
*Windows XP:* \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
*Windows Vista:* \Users\username\Music\
*Windows 7:* \Users\username\My Music\
... and then click the "Save" button.
Under normal circumstances, iTunes will open the library that was open the last time you had iTunes open. So for subsequent launches (after the one where you've gotten past the error message) you shouldn't have to do a "Choose library" when launching iTunes in order for your library to come up.
Interesting. Apple's thoughts on this subject want an XP user to install Tweak UI.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1866
carmel's answer here sounds much better
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6614668#6614668
But the shift-start is probably the fastest. My first comment would be to highlight that they have to press *AND HOLD* the shift key, and keep pressing until they get the prompt.
Many folks think they just need to tap the shift key once.
I'd also leave off the choices for "never had" a library or "did have" a library, and just direct them to the default location.