HT203225: If you don't see your entire library after you update iTunes on your Mac or PC

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Prof_ST
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Q: When trying to recover a lost iTunes library file, the programme moved all the normal contents of iTunes folder to the desktop. Now what must I do?

When trying to recover a lost iTunes library file, the programme moved all the normal contents of iTunes folder to the desktop. Now what must I do? There is no iTunes Library.itl file. On the desktop it is labelled iTunes Library.xml. Several others files have appeared there too including iTunes Music Library.xml

Before I can use the programme is it necessary to take another step?

Thanks for advice.

iTunes, Windows 7

Posted on Apr 8, 2013 5:18 AM

by turingtest2,Solvedanswer
turingtest2 turingtest2
Level 10 (85,885 points)
iTunes
A:

To make sure iTunes is organizing the files inside the media folder in the normal way go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced and untick Keep iTunes Media folder organized, click OK, then go back and enable that option again.

 

You can run my script Unconsolidated to see if there is and media connected to iTunes which is located outside of the iTunes Media folder. If there is you can either use File > Library > Organize Library... Consolidate files and then manually clean up the originals, or use my script ConsolidateByMoving which will tidy up as it goes.

 

If you think there may be media inside the media folder not currently connected to iTunes you can use File > Add Folder to Libray and select the media folder. This should add in any unknown content. You can then go to the Songs view, hold down Shift and click View > Show Exact Duplicate Items, then if any are shown you can sort on Date Added and delete those added today.

 

tt2

Posted on May 4, 2013 2:37 AM

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Prof_ST

Q: When trying to recover a lost iTunes library file, the programme moved all the normal contents of iTunes folder to the desktop. No ... more

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  • by Prof_ST,

    Prof_ST Prof_ST Apr 29, 2013 7:34 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2013 7:34 PM in response to turingtest2

    OK Here goes. I have run your iTunes info script and its findings are on the screen shot below:

     

    iTunes info 2013 04 30.jpg

     

     

    Although there is an iTunes Media Folder on the desktop, there is also one in the iTunes folder as your script tells us. That one in the iTunes folder contains these folders:                          >Automatically add to iTunes
    >Downloads

    >Music

    >Podcasts

     

    and one file:                iTunes Preferences.plist

     

    You didn't ask, but the only contents of the Desktop iTunes Media folder are the Automatically add to iTunes folder and the iTunes Preferences.plist

     

    The only  .itl files are in backup. None is in iTunes itself. Every time I try to start iTunes, it generates a new, empty itl file and writes all over any active Library files it can find. I have strong misgivings about opening iTunes again just to look at the preferences unless that is absolutely necessary because it will involve a lot more adjustments after and I wonder if it cannot be done without. What do you think? In other words whether the importation can be done all in one movement and then look at iTunes.itl and the preferences to see if it has done what you want.

    I have turned off AVG in its antivirus mode. Is that sufficient for the time being? Should I try stopping all AVG programmes that are running with Task Manager or do I need to rename the .exe files or even uninstall? I get nervous with nothing, though so would regard that as a last resort.

     

    I have backed up all the files that I think are important.

     

    Thanks.

     

    ST

  • by Prof_ST,

    Prof_ST Prof_ST Apr 29, 2013 8:27 PM in response to Prof_ST
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2013 8:27 PM in response to Prof_ST

    Sorry, when I ran your script I did not notice it had started up iTunes. The iTunes Libary.itl file is now on the desktop and has overwritten the file that was there.

    In Preferences\Advanced the iTunes Media folder address is shown to be Users\User\Music\iTunes.

     

    It was as expected I am glad to say.

     

    ST

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Apr 30, 2013 3:22 AM in response to Prof_ST
    Level 10 (85,885 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 30, 2013 3:22 AM in response to Prof_ST

    Every time iTunes starts up it will attempt to open the last library file that it had open unless you press and hold down shift and keep holding until asked to choose or create the library. Currently your active library file is on your desktop and any supporting files that are supposed to go with it will be recreated there if missing.

     

    1. If you haven't already done so I would apply the permissions fix outlined earlier to the folder C:\Users\User\Music\iTunes just to be on the safe side.

     

    2. Open C:\Users\User\Music\iTunes and create a folder called Old. Move any of the following that can be found into the Old folder:

    iTunes Library.itl

    iTunes Library Extras.itdb

    iTunes Library Genius.itdb

    iTunes Music Library.xml

    sentinel (hidden)

    Album Artwork (folder)

    and delete any *.tmp files.

     

    3. From the desktop move any of the following that can be found into C:\Users\User\Music\iTunes:

    iTunes Library.itl

    iTunes Library Extras.itdb

    iTunes Library Genius.itdb

    iTunes Library.xml (rename as iTunes Music Library.xml, or just delete - iTunes will rebuild)

    sentinel (hidden)

    Album Artwork (folder)

    and delete any *.tmp files.

     

    4. Click the icon to launch iTunes and immediately press and hold down the SHIFT key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Click choose and browse to C:\Users\User\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl

     

    5. Go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced and correct the media folder location to C:\Users\User\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media. If iTunes prompts to consolidate say No.

     

    6. Check under File > Library > Organize Library... that the Rearrange files... box is greyed out. If not tick the check box and click OK.

     

    7. Run the script Unconsolidated to see if there is anything that isn't where it should be. If there is you can either use File > Library > Organize Library... Consolidate files and then manually clean up the originals, or use my script ConsolidateByMoving which will tidy up as it goes.

     

    tt2


  • by Prof_ST,

    Prof_ST Prof_ST Apr 30, 2013 6:04 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 30, 2013 6:04 PM in response to turingtest2

    Thanks for all this. It is very clear.

     

    I have reached step 3. and have a couple of questions before completing.

    In your last post you were interested in my two iTunes Media folders. But in this post you don't mention what I am to do about them. Do I delete the iTunes Media folder on the Desktop? And if so, do I do that after the complete restorarion or before,  or do I just ignore it now that everything else is in the iTunes folder?

     

    Thanks

     

    ST

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 May 1, 2013 3:18 AM in response to Prof_ST
    Level 10 (85,885 points)
    iTunes
    May 1, 2013 3:18 AM in response to Prof_ST

    Once you've got through to step 7 anything still left in the iTunes Media folder on the desktop should be a redundant copy which can be deleted.

     

    tt2

  • by Prof_ST,

    Prof_ST Prof_ST May 1, 2013 7:09 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 1, 2013 7:09 PM in response to turingtest2

    I am doing well.

    I have done all you said.

    The iTunes is now back where it is supposed to be and with a restored library in the right place. The same number of tracks/songs/titles are in it. The ratings and number of plays are preserved. This is great progress.

    I have a few problems still.

    The process has generated a fair number of new or duplicate playlists. Do I just delete? Are there any I should not?

    More worryingly it has also generated some new folders, for instance it has created a folder called Music with just a few of my CDs in it. I don't understand why or what to do about it.

    I haven't yet gone through everything, but there seems to be some duplication of the music now as well. Or could that have been the problem before? I shall look this weekend and see if I can pinpoint which albums have been duplicated and when that happened.

    But I am very pleased with progress. Thanks.

    Is it now safe to update iTunes to the latest version or do we need to tweak things first?

    Thanks a lot.

    ST

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 May 2, 2013 2:36 AM in response to Prof_ST
    Level 10 (85,885 points)
    iTunes
    May 2, 2013 2:36 AM in response to Prof_ST

    Hmm, apart from step 7 which was supposed to create a playlist for you to review, none of the other steps should have created new playlists. If you've used the File > Add Folder to Library command that can import any m3u files that are in the added folders. You can delete any playlists that you don't have a need for, althjough I would keep any Purchased or Purchased on <Device> ones as they will resurect on your next purchase.

     

    The default naming scheme for music files is ..\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music\<Artist>\<Album>\## <Name>.<Ext>. If you still have artist folders at the level of iTunes Media then check that you corrected the media folder location, as per step 5, and that you did step 6. Check also under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that Keep organized... is ticked. If already ticked, and files are in the wrong place, untick it, apply the change, then go back and select the option again.

     

    tt2

  • by Prof_ST,

    Prof_ST Prof_ST May 4, 2013 2:01 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2013 2:01 AM in response to turingtest2

    Your patience with me is greatly appreciated.

     

    As I delve into the way my library is organized, with your help, I now realize it is not at all like you say it should be. I have hardly any music in the \iTunes\iTunes Media\Music folder. In fact it is at several different levels within iTunes and subfolders that have been created over the years.

     

    When I went to step 5 (above) and Go to Edit>Preferences>Advanced and corrected the media folder to the default location iTunes did not ask to consolidate. I have not repeated the step.

     

    When I go to step 6 and check under File>Library>Organize Library there are two options one is Consolidate (which I have left unchecked) and the other is Reorganize which is greyed out. There is no Keep organized option. The reason I have left Consolidate unchecked is that earlier you said that I might end up with a library double the size that it is at present because of duplication of tracks and we decided that with one as large as mine that would be quite a task to sort out manually.

     

    So if I want to move those songs that are at the level of iTunes Media into the iTunes Media\Music folder could you explain precisely how I should do that? Should I do that with each folder that contains the music files? 

     

    Thanks again

     

    ST

  • by turingtest2,Solvedanswer

    turingtest2 turingtest2 May 4, 2013 2:37 AM in response to Prof_ST
    Level 10 (85,885 points)
    iTunes
    May 4, 2013 2:37 AM in response to Prof_ST

    To make sure iTunes is organizing the files inside the media folder in the normal way go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced and untick Keep iTunes Media folder organized, click OK, then go back and enable that option again.

     

    You can run my script Unconsolidated to see if there is and media connected to iTunes which is located outside of the iTunes Media folder. If there is you can either use File > Library > Organize Library... Consolidate files and then manually clean up the originals, or use my script ConsolidateByMoving which will tidy up as it goes.

     

    If you think there may be media inside the media folder not currently connected to iTunes you can use File > Add Folder to Libray and select the media folder. This should add in any unknown content. You can then go to the Songs view, hold down Shift and click View > Show Exact Duplicate Items, then if any are shown you can sort on Date Added and delete those added today.

     

    tt2

  • by Prof_ST,

    Prof_ST Prof_ST May 5, 2013 9:06 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 5, 2013 9:06 PM in response to turingtest2

    I have just realized that I have started asking you about something rather different from my original question.

     

    The iTunes library is now restored and everything is back in its rightful position. My question is solved.

     

    I can't tell you how grateful I am to you for helping me to sort that out. Thank you very much. I greatly appreciate your care and persistence in helping me through this.

     

    Since I have started asking you a different question, I should close this particular conversation.

     

    The questions I want to ask relates to a post of yours from 2011, but which still continues to attract comments, I shall place further questions there.

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/15989017#15989017

     

    Thanks again for all your advice.

     

    ST

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 May 6, 2013 3:26 AM in response to Prof_ST
    Level 10 (85,885 points)
    iTunes
    May 6, 2013 3:26 AM in response to Prof_ST

    You're welcome.

     

    I shall keep an eye out for your follow up question. As long as you attach it to a thread I've posted in I should see it.

     

    tt2

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