Q: iTunes deleted all my songs after downloading a new version

What have you updated? iTunes? Installing or updating iTunes may occasionaly corrupt the library, but it shouldn't delete any media. See Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash and Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.

tt2

I have also experienced this very same issue.

After upgrading to the latest version 11.0.5.5, I found my entire library had vanished.

Years of uploads, tons of music, lost....

Win7.Pro using external hard drive for iTunes storage.

The folders were erased during the upgrade.  During the install/upgrade, the correct path was kept in the settings to my external hard drive for the content storage.  When checking the folders using Windows Explorer, I found all the files were gone.

Thank you to the developers for not checking to see if I had existing content.

Has the free/used space on the external drive changed?

Have youi checked the drive for errors?

Have you tried an undelete/unerase tool to recover the apparently deleted files & folders?

Do you have a backup? Drives fail all the time, and we users make our own mistakes.

You should be prepared for the inevitable, whatever the cause.

I've seen plenty of cases where the library file itself isn't updated properly during an upgrade, but that shouldn't cause iTunes to delete any files. I'm not saying it can't be iTunes' fault, but I've yet to find a mechanism that would explain how & why it could do it.

tt2

For an undelete tool I'm think of somthing like the free version of Recuva, but if the space stills seems to be in use then perhaps there is something funky with permissions going on...

Repair Permissions for the iTunes & iTunes Media folders

Right-click on your main iTunes folder (normally in <User's Music> and click Properties,  then go to the Security tab and click Advanced. Use the Change Permissions... button grant to your account (or the Users group) and SYSTEM full control of this folder, subfolders and files, then tick the option to Replace permissions entries... which will repair permissions throughout the library. When complete switch to the General tab, click in the Read-only check box to clear it, then click Apply.

If you don't have the option to change the permissions then use the Owner tab and Edit... button to take ownership from an account with administrator privileges. Tick the option to Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.

Repeat with the media folder if it isn't stored inside the main iTunes folder. Check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced if you're not sure.

...

If you need to use a recovery tool it is best to download it to a different drive to avoid any futher data loss and restore the files to a different drive as well.

tt2

Following up on earlier post.

My earlier post indicated that I had lost my entire iTunes library.  Yes, it appeared that I had lost the library, but it was due to faulty drive electronics and not the software.

Am in the process of repurposing another external hard drive and moving the libary to another drive.

The moral of this story is to test the hardware... it might just be your own system.

Apologies are in order to the developers for the mud slinging.

Dan

For details on the issue, please read the following:

The reason for updating iTunes was based on a decision because of errors being thrown when attempting to import new music.  At the time, it was not evident that there was a problem with the external hardrive.  The music files were accessible and playable, but no new content could be imported - errors would occur indicating a file could not be located and the import would stop.

After performing the update to iTunes, and not seeing the library, I went into File Explorer and could not access or see any files that were previously in the folder assigned to hold the content.  This frustration is what led to my original post.

A few days later, I noticed that the hard drive's access indicator light was red, as if it were busy or there was an error.  Rebooting the drive seemed to correct the issue, but only temporarily.  Later in the day, the red light was back.

Seeing that there might be an issue to look at, I went into the drive to look at the properties and noticed that the "Used" portion of the drive appeared to show content that was not showing up in the folders.  The drive indicated a large amount of files being stored, but File Explorer could not access them.

Virus?  Malware?  Something led me to open up the drive and that is where the problem showed up.

A sniff test indicated the drive electronics on the case were heating and making a smell as if there was a blown circuit.  The hard drive appeared to be ok.  Took the hard drive out and hooked it up to an external test harness and voila! the files were accessible.

Files are all in place an accessible from iTunes.