Q: Locating files

Using echo should mean the tracks are still there. The core of the library is the .itl database file. Depending on the exact circumstances it won't necessarily reflect the contents of the media folder. Restoring the library file alone won't copy any media files back, even if the restored database has entries for them. When you delete from iTunes files are usually moved to the recycle bin. Did you restore those files? If your hard drive is/was getting full Windows may have discarded some of them automatically.

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash for a way to revert to an older version of the database that might include the full playlists. Assuming you get those back in place, but you still have some broken links in the library because you weren't able to recover all of the deleted files you could use the steps in this post Re: exclamation mark to repair broken links in the library by pointing iTunes or my script at the backup versions of the deleted files, then consolidate the library to copy those back into the main media folder.

tt2

I have sorted out the problem. However I'm not sure what the cause was. I disconnected the hard drive and directed iTunes to the back up library on drive D and everything worked perfectly. So then reconnected hard drive and ran synctoy to replicate the library from D back onto the hard drive F. Redirected iTunes back to F and everything is as it was.

What I don't understand is I previously ran synctoy to correct the library on F and it didn't work ?

Any how now it works as it should, thankfully because you helped me set everything up correctly in the first place with a portable library and everything backed up with synctoy.

Many thanks, Alex

Great news.

tt2

Hi There. Unfortunately I've got another problem. Yesterday everything was working fine and uploaded some more music in my library. Finally ran synctoy to update the backup and ran out of space in the back up location. Not a problem I thought as I have another external hard drive I can use for the back up location when I get round to it. However in the meantime now when I try to start up iTunes nothing happens. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes with on success. Also tried opening iTunes in safe mode but once I click on "continue" or "restore library" the little window disappears and nothing happens. Hoping you can help as I've ran out of ideas.

Alex.

Try shift-starting iTunes to make sure that it is opening the library file that you want to use. It should start by showing the location for the currently active library. If that is on the drive that has filled up that might explain the problem.

tt2

That appears to be the case. It is trying to open the library in the back up location on drive D which won't open. What should I do ?

Free up some space by moving or deleting any unnecessary data. Perhaps you have multiple copies of some files that could be deleted, or you could move a couple of large files such as movies to a new location temporarily.

tt2

I have tried opening the library on F drive but that wont open either and that has plenty of space ?

Have you rebooted the computer yet? If not do so.

Will iTunes open a new empty library if you create one on a drive will free space?

If it still won't open test behaviour in a different user profile.

Sometimes it helps to remove C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunesPrefs.xml which resets iTunes preferences both for the library and the media folder that open.

See Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for iTunes repair advice in case it really does need uninstalling and reinstalling.

tt2.

Hi. Have removed the item you suggested and iTunes does now open but still can not open any of my libraries after directing to its exact location in the advanced settings. It will however let me start a new library.

How should I now proceed ?

You connect to a different library with shift-start-iTunes > choose, not by changing the path to the media folder.

tt2

Had previously tried that but it won't connect to any of my stored librarys. It will only let me start a new library ?

What do you see when you try to open other libraries?

If you create a new library can you add an album to it, close, reopen, and still see the album just added?

What AV software do you have? (Apologies if we've covered this previously.)

tt2

If I create a new library I can add to it, close, reopen and still see the album added.

If I try to open an existing library what I see is in the screenshots below

Once I click on iTunes Media instead of iTunes Media appearing in the "File name" box it just opens the iTunes Media file as shown below

If I manually type iTunes Media in the box and click on open the same thing happens. If I click on Music the same thing also happens and it opens the music file.

The AV software on the computer is provided by McAfee

When you choose a library you need to select the iTunes Library.itl file as shown in the first image, The .itl file extension is hidden, but that is the file you need to choose.

tt2