Loretta5ue

Q: iTunes 11.2.1 lost our library

I share my library with my husband on our MacBook Pro with OS X 10.9.3, today when I went to update iTunes using his login I wasn't able to access it. I attempted several times, until today it overwrote our library and lost all of our playlists!

 

What the heck! I mean it's been a pain in the a$$ having to navigate every time I update to /users/shared/iTunes

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on May 18, 2014 6:38 AM

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Q: iTunes 11.2.1 lost our library

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos May 18, 2014 6:58 AM in response to Loretta5ue
    Level 9 (54,543 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 18, 2014 6:58 AM in response to Loretta5ue

    I share my library with my husband on our MacBook Pro with OS X 10.9.3, today when I went to update iTunes using his login I wasn't able to access it.

    So this is a question about using OSX so you can log into his user account (presumably the administrator account) so you can update software, not a question about iTunes specifically?

     

    having to navigate every time I update to /users/shared/iTunes

    Why are you dong this?  If all your library files are in the Shared folder, start iTunes from your account with the option/alt key held down and guide it to the .itl in the shared file.  When you click the iTunes icon in your account in future it will start using that library.

  • by Loretta5ue,

    Loretta5ue Loretta5ue May 18, 2014 9:45 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2014 9:45 AM in response to Limnos

    Both of us are Administrators on the computer. He is able to read and write in the finder but when we open the library after iTunes updates he gets this:Screen Shot 2014-05-18 at 12.34.41 PM.png

    While using my account I can see the library. If we try to change the library we lose the library.

     

    Because updating iTunes always gives us this problem, I have to intall it and update the libraries. Today we can't do it.

    Screen Shot 2014-05-18 at 12.42.59 PM.png

     

    These screen shots were taken using his account.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA May 18, 2014 10:08 AM in response to Loretta5ue
    Level 9 (79,653 points)
    iTunes
    May 18, 2014 10:08 AM in response to Loretta5ue

    Note that only one person at a time can be using the same iTunes library.

    If you are logged into yoru comuter account and have iTunes open then use Fast User Switching to open your husbands account, he cannot open the same iTunes libary.

    You must quit iTunes before switching to another user and launching iTunes.

     

    Why does your photo above show only the iTunes library.itl file in the Shared folder?

  • by Loretta5ue,

    Loretta5ue Loretta5ue May 18, 2014 10:38 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2014 10:38 AM in response to Chris CA

    Yup, we know that only 1 user can be logged in at a time.

     

    I'm no longer sure which one of the 2 itl files is the correct one. Here's the screenshot using my login:Screen Shot 2014-05-18 at 1.35.27 PM.png

    I was hoping that apple would make it easier for families to share libraries but it doesn't seem like that's ever going to happen. Mike thinks that apple wants us to buy another computer, I say they want us to buy the music twice.

     

    At any rate both files are locked for him. We're probably just going to use my (computer) account from now on.

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos May 18, 2014 11:13 AM in response to Loretta5ue
    Level 9 (54,543 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 18, 2014 11:13 AM in response to Loretta5ue

    While you can have variations on the standard, here's what your iTunes folders should look like, not what you are showing (which is probably why it isn't working):

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html

     

    Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391

     

    iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847

     

    Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605

  • by Loretta5ue,

    Loretta5ue Loretta5ue May 18, 2014 11:40 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2014 11:40 AM in response to Limnos

    Thanks, I'll look at those. Apple remoted into our laptop a couple of years ago to set it up. When Mike launched iTunes after an install a couple months ago things got messy. Looks like I have some clean-up work to do now that I can see the library in iTunes using my logon.

     

    I'll report back.

  • by Loretta5ue,

    Loretta5ue Loretta5ue May 18, 2014 2:17 PM in response to Loretta5ue
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2014 2:17 PM in response to Loretta5ue

    Yup, still can't open library using 2nd admins login on computer.

    Screen Shot 2014-05-18 at 5.14.04 PM.png

    I have read and write privilages and all other users do not have iTunes open.

     

    It still says the file is Locked! As you can see it isn't.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos May 18, 2014 4:25 PM in response to Loretta5ue
    Level 9 (54,543 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 18, 2014 4:25 PM in response to Loretta5ue

    Read the part about changing permissions on the iTunes folder in: https://discussions.apple.com/message/11583914

     

    iTunes: Missing folder or incorrect permissions may prevent authorization - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1277 - Shared folder issues with Store authorization.

  • by Loretta5ue,

    Loretta5ue Loretta5ue May 18, 2014 4:40 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 18, 2014 4:40 PM in response to Limnos

    Both account have Read/Write access!!! So neither of those links work for my issue.

     

    I've found and cleanned up the files but the 2nd Admin still can't open the library even when it's closed by the 1st Admin.

     

    I went ahead and made a 2nd copy of the library and he can now see his playlists, but now we don't know how we're going to share new purchases.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA May 18, 2014 6:17 PM in response to Loretta5ue
    Level 9 (79,653 points)
    iTunes
    May 18, 2014 6:17 PM in response to Loretta5ue

    You need an iTunes library.itl file.

    You don't use an iTunes library file with a date in it. That is an old, backed up copy...

    Loretta5ue wrote:

     

    Yup, we know that only 1 user can be logged in at a time.

     

    I'm no longer sure which one of the 2 itl files is the correct one. Here's the screenshot using my login:Screen Shot 2014-05-18 at 1.35.27 PM.png

    The folders in your screen shot are all messed up.

    You need an /iTunes/ folder.

    In this folder should be some files like this...

    (the green highlighted iTunes library.itl is the one you will use)

    Screen Shot 2014-05-18 at 7.01.08 PM.jpg

     

    (looking at yours again, its not that bad).

     

    To keep things straight, try this...

    Quit iTunes.

    Go to /Users/Shared/

    Find the folder named /Previous iTunes Libraries/ and rename it /Shared iTunes/

    Now inside the /Shared/iTunes/ folder  find the file iTunes library 2014-05-18.itl and rename it iTunes library.itl.

    Also, remove 2014-05-18 from the iTunes library 2014-05-18 Extras.itdb and iTunes library 2014-05-18 Genius.itdb.

     

    Now hold Option and launch iTunes.

    Select Choose library... and select /Users/Shared/Shared iTunes/ folder then click Okay. (no need to select the specific iTunes library.itl file inside this folder)

     

    Now go to iTunes prefs > Advanced and make sure the iTunes Media folder location is set to /Users/Shared/Shared iTunes/iTunes Media/ folder.

    Post back after you do this.


    Don't freak out if everything is not showing up in iTunes as you have some other folders that need attention.

    You have some extra iTunes folders directly in /Users/Shared/ that should not be there.

  • by Loretta5ue,

    Loretta5ue Loretta5ue May 19, 2014 1:38 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 19, 2014 1:38 AM in response to Chris CA

    It still doesn't see him having permission to the library.

     

    Screen Shot 2014-05-19 at 4.24.08 AM.pngScreen Shot 2014-05-19 at 4.24.48 AM.png

     

    When I navigate to the files in iTunes the .xml file isn't fully visible.

     

    For now I have him set up with his own library under "Mike's iTunes". But this is going to get messy fast.It already gave us this message:

    Screen Shot 2014-05-18 at 8.18.58 PM.png

    So I can see having 2 libraries being a problem.

     

     

    I should note that I've had to point his iTunes to the correct library every time I've updated iTunes and this 11.2.1 version is the 1st time it's given me this much trouble. In the past everything both of you have written was able to get us back to having 1 library.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA May 19, 2014 6:45 AM in response to Loretta5ue
    Level 9 (79,653 points)
    iTunes
    May 19, 2014 6:45 AM in response to Loretta5ue

    Now you've got a Mike's iTunes folder and a Music folder inside the Shared iTunes library folder.

    Where is the iTunes Media folder?

     

    When I navigate to the files in iTunes the .xml file isn't fully visible

    Because the iTunes library.xml file is not used by iTunes. Ignore it.

    iTunes uses the iTunes library.itl.

    When opening a library, simply select the folder then click Okay.

     

    Quit iTunes.

    Select the Shared iTunes library in the Finder.

    Right click - get info.

    Uncheck Shared then recheck it.