AniSM
Level 1 (4 points)
iPod

Q: downgrading from 12.1...help?

Greetings!!

 

I accidentally hit the upgrade button and upgraded to 12.1.

Then, my videos won't play on my computer  (windows 7, 64 bit)

so I uninstalled 12.1 and reinstalled a lower version.

when trying to open itunes now I get this message:

the file "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes.

 

HELP?  is there a way to get back to pre-12.1?  or do I need to reinstall that and hope everything (but my videos) work. 

 

thanks!!

Windows 7

Posted on Feb 17, 2015 12:10 PM

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AniSM

Q: downgrading from 12.1...help?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Ethan7988,

    Ethan7988 Ethan7988 Feb 17, 2015 12:12 PM in response to AniSM
    Level 4 (1,664 points)
    iPad
    Feb 17, 2015 12:12 PM in response to AniSM

    There is no way to downgrade, unfortunately.

  • by hhgttg27,

    hhgttg27 hhgttg27 Feb 17, 2015 12:21 PM in response to AniSM
    Level 5 (5,407 points)
    iTunes
    Feb 17, 2015 12:21 PM in response to AniSM

    You can roll back to 12.0 without impact on your library (there were no database changes between 12.0 and 12.1) - see Turingtest2's notes on Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for steps needed to completely remove all installed iTunes components, and for links to the 12.0 installers.

     

    To go back to a previous release, you'll need to restore the iTunes database that was valid prior to the upgrade to 12.0.  You'll find this in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder - files will be named iTunes Library yyyy-mm-dd.itl, where yyyy-mm-dd is the date when the relevant update was installed.  You can (with iTunes not running):

     

    • rename the current database file - normally found in C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes - from iTunes Library.itl to iTunes LibraryXXX.itl or similar.
    • copy the relevant iTunes Library yyyy-mm-dd.itl file from Previous iTunes Library to the folder where your active library is located (the file you just renamed)
    • rename the iTunes Library yyyy-mm-dd.itl file you just copied to iTunes Library.itl
    • download and reinstall the correct version of iTunes

     

    As long as the library database you just copied is compatible with the legacy version just installed, you won't get the "cannot be read ..." message.

     

    Note, however, that since you're restoring a library database that is several months old (e.g., if you're rolling back to iTunes 11.4 using the previous library file created when you installed 12.0 this could be as old as mid-October) any additions to your library, changes to playlists, etc. that you've done since then won't be present in the restored library.