Q: Exiting iTunes, "iTunes has stopped working".

Main iTunes folder Properties, Security tab and Advanced.

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. Note also that the Administrators group should normally have full control, though iTunes should work properly either way. When the permissions have been applied switch to the General tab of the folder properties dialog, click in the Read-only check box to clear it, then click Apply.

Done.

I'll add a few tracks to see if the iTunes library file is updated. Then I will get back to you.

OK, permissions were double checked. All rights were already granted.

I added some tracks and exited. The file was not changed, still showing last night.

I checked and they are all the same date/time. I have a few that are from 2015 but this collection has had many new titles added.

Not behaving normally - does not update the iTunes library file which will continue to create an unstable environment. Can't figure that out, can you?

You sound like you can't believe this, well neither can I. There is only one directory that iTunes writes this file to and has use it since early 2016. So I'm stumped. This new re-build doesn't write to it today but did last night. Doesn't make sense. Any further thoughts?

OK, you mean this:

For Windows users, click on the Windows "Start" button, select “Control Panel” and choose “Add or Remove User Accounts.” A new window will open. Click “Create a New Account.” Name the account and set any relevant privileges by following the on-screen prompts.

Step 2

Sign in to the new user account you created.

Step 3

Open iTunes and click “Sign in.” Enter your Apple ID and password and log in.

Something odd. I just happened to exit using the exit option under file and checked the library file and it wrote the date/time correctly. I think I may have used the "x" option (upper right top) to exit the program which does not write the date and time and throws away any changes. There was no "prompt" as in other programs asking if I wanted to save changes. This should be corrected. I should have noticed the "x" is an escape key.

I will ignore the new account option for the time being and try and restore an older library.

Any chance that there is an undisclosed tracks limit in iTunes? I'm at 220,000 tracks.

You're right, it shouldn't matter and testing proves it. But as to why it now writes to the iTunes library file, I can't determine. I'm going to try to import an older file to see if I can get my library back. But I fear that this problem will return, again. Back later.

Turned off XML share

Replace earlier iTunes library file. Result: damaged file

New file produced blank library as expected.

Selected library from 30 days earlier. Brought the large library in missing, as expected, the hundreds of additions during August and lacked much of the album art.

On close, received error message: tunes has stopped working & iTunes library file not updated & reset to empty itunes.

It appears to be repeating itself.

Comments?