Q: All the content from my iTunes library has disappeared

I've been using the free AVG since 2005 and I've never had a virus, trojan or malware incident that got past it. I would highly recommend it.I use it on 5 different computers and only one of them had this issue with iTunes.

Thanks again though for the advice on restoring the librar. It worked like a charm.

Hello! I have the same problem, and tried the solution you suggested, by changing an earlier tmp file to the itl file, and renaming the corrupted itl file. However, when I reopened iTunes, it said the itl file was not valid and it re-created the corrupted one from before. Now every time I try to use the itl file I copied from the tmp file, iTunes just goes ahead and recreates the bad file!

How do I get it to use the itl file I copied from the tmp file?? Thanks for your help.

Try a different .tmp file or if you can't find one that works copy in the most recent .itl file from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder, rename that as iTunes Library.itl and bring it up-to-date by adding the media folder to the library. If you still have AVG then I suggest removing it, or at least disabling it until you have a working library file and have made a secure backup of it.

tt2

A few days ago, I opened iTunes 11.0.2.26 and nothing there but a "blank new" iTunes interface. .. Following the advice here, I managed to rebuild playlist and restore.. however, it always reverts to "new" iTunes interface (no songs or playlists).. Are there other mp3 music players that won't do this? Media Player?... I've restored 5 times and each time I think I've got it fixed, it reverts to new iTunes upon opening.  I appreciate the help on this site! .

Do you have AVG? If so remove it and switch to Microsoft Security Essentials. The restore a working copy of the database. Your library should remain stable.

Don't forget to make a backup!

tt2

copy in the most recent .itl file from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder, rename that as iTunes Library.itl and bring it up-to-date by adding the media folder to the library.

Thanks for your reply! In the end, that is what I had to do. It's working so far and I've learned how to Consolidate and make a backup so if it happens again I'm saved! Thank you!  This was much more helpful than the 90 minutes I spent on the phone with support, sending diagnostic files to the Apple engineering department! (They are sending me headphones.)

You're welcome.

tt2

I've been dealing with this several times over the last few months.  I'm thankful for this finally pointing me to the problem being with AVG. 

Maybe I've missed a step or two, but the biggest problem is that podcasts don't seem to restore in a usable format.  For most podcasts, I've deleted the one's I've listened to, but for others I have some videos and music that I've kept (yes, I should have just added to the library).  Regardless, when I add podcasts back in I have to resubcribe and mark all old episodes as listened to a delete, whether on my computer or just available.

All my music is kept in the media folder or in the cloud, so if the library is gone it isn't a big deal (just time to bring it back and merge the cloud with the harddrive again).  The podcasts is what drives me nuts.

Make manual backups of the iTunes Library.itl database and then if something goes wrong you can restore that. It will know all about your podcasts, subscriptions, play counts and everything else that doesn't get stored in tags.

tt2

Many thanks TT2 - great fix.  All sorted until it reappears, but then I've got the answer.

tt2

I'm having the same issue, including using AVG, but I have a silly question... Where do I go to find where to do this to try to recover my library?

In case I get this fixed..where can I find this patch?

AVG's update system I would guess, or their website. However it would seem the latest patch to AVG and folder exclusions still isn't helping for some. I recommend you switch to Microsoft Security Essentials, then try restoring the library again. Recovery instructions on the first page of this thread.

tt2