sbtrulz

Q: Multiple Missing Files in iTunes

I have 966 songs in my iTunes library that are missing and I don't know why; I haven't done anything to the files. When I double click on one, it gives me this message:

ugh.png

I can go find the song in my iTunes Media folder with no problem. However, I don't have the time to manually retrieve 966 songs one at a time. It does not give me the message to find the rest of the missing songs from the same location.

I've been trying to figure it out for the past few hours but I don't know what to do.

I've already tried the Preferences > Advanced > Keep iTunes Media folder organized thing, I've tried creating a new library and dragging the files in (but there were many Asian characters missing from titles). I've also tried restarting iTunes multiple times and restarting my computer.

Is there something else I can do?

iPod classic, Windows 8, null

Posted on Nov 15, 2015 11:15 AM

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Q: Multiple Missing Files in iTunes

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  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Nov 15, 2015 12:30 PM in response to sbtrulz
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 15, 2015 12:30 PM in response to sbtrulz

    The "missing file" error happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, one of its parent folders, or the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.

     

    Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to Get Info, then click No when asked to try to locate the track. (Due to a bug in iTunes 12 you currently have to say No twice!) Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, a folder renamed, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions. If the difference between the two paths is an additional Music folder in one path then this is a layout issue. I can explain further if that is the case. If everything is where it is supposed to be try Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows.

     

    In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps with Get Info but this time click Locate and browse to the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links. Although it says something like "use the same location" I think it expects to find the tracks in the same artist & album layout they were in previously, with one systematic change to the path.

     

    If another application like Windows Media Player has moved/renamed the files then the chances are that subtle differences in naming strategies will make it hard to restore the media to the precise path that iTunes is expecting. In such cases, as long as the missing files can be found somewhere, you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes. See this post for an explanation of how it works.

     

    If you want me to try to provide specific advice please post back the following details:

    1. The location of the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced
    2. The location of a sample missing track shown under Get Info > File > Location that begins file://localhost/
    3. The true path to the file whose details you gave in 2.

     

    tt2

  • by sbtrulz,

    sbtrulz sbtrulz Nov 15, 2015 12:40 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 12:40 PM in response to turingtest2

    1. The location of the media folder is C:\Users\Becky\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media

    2. The location of the missing track is file://localhost/C:/Users/Becky/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music/Mika/The Origin of Love [Disc 1]/1-05 Underwater.mp3

    3.The true path is C:\Users\Becky\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Music\Mika\The Origin of Love [Disc 1]/05 Underwater.mp3

     

    Would the difference of that 1 being in the file name be why it can't be found? I don't know why it even has a 1 in the first place.

  • by turingtest2,Solvedanswer

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Nov 15, 2015 1:00 PM in response to sbtrulz
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 15, 2015 1:00 PM in response to sbtrulz

    Yes, anything other than case changes will break iTunes connection to the file.

     

    iTunes will normally add a leading disc number and a dash before the two-digit track no. when the disc no. or no. of discs is greater than one.

     

    There isn't a simple file/folder manipulation that would fix that type of issue, but the script should do it.

     

    tt2

  • by sbtrulz,

    sbtrulz sbtrulz Nov 15, 2015 1:06 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 1:06 PM in response to turingtest2

    I tried to download the script, but Google Chrome won't let me. :/

    ehhh.png

    Edit: Nevermind, I got it working. Thank you!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Nov 15, 2015 1:21 PM in response to sbtrulz
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 15, 2015 1:21 PM in response to sbtrulz

    You're welcome.

     

    tt2