HELP! Where did my iTunes Library go??

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HELP! Where did my iTunes Library go??

Hi, I hope someone can help!

I just opened up my iTunes and discovered my entire library, podcasts, everything is GONE. iTunes is completely blank! What the **** could have happened? I used it on Friday, everything was fine. I shutdown my computer for the weekend which should have nothing to do with anything....?! I do have my files on my C Drive. I am currently using version 7.6.1

thank you in advance!
dina

Dell Optiplex, Windows XP

Posted on Apr 21, 2008 3:29 PM

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Answer 1

fullcream

Level 2

325 points

Apr 21, 2008 3:58 PM in response to glam72

Hi dina,

Are your songs still there in your hard drive? Default location is My Documents > My Music > Itunes > Itunes Music.

If it is, open itunes while pressing the SHIFT key. You will be prompted with several choices, one of which is to open an existing, or previous, library. Refer to the Itunes Library.itl file and your library should appear. If you have more than one .itl file, cycle through them until you get your library back.

EDIT: Oh! Just in case, the .itl files are stored in My Documents > My Music > Itunes

Message was edited by: fullcream

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Answer 2

glam72 Author

Level 1

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Apr 21, 2008 4:32 PM in response to fullcream

hi Fullcream!

thanks for the reply. So here's the deal (which I just discovered 15 minutes ago):

my co-worker wiped out my iTunes. We are running out of space on our shared server here at work, so he is getting rid of the iTunes stuff which is taking up space. About a year ago, we had this problem and as it turned out my iTunes folder was connected to our shared "P" drive. I changed it so it is now located on my "C" drive.

the problem now is that everytime I import a CD to iTunes, the playlist data info still goes to the "P" drive, to a folder called :
P:\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music Library.xml

After adding 1000 songs, that data adds up and takes up space. That's why my co-worker wiped it. I still have all my songs, but neither of us can seem to figure out how to have that playlist data go to my C drive instead. Any ideas???

THANKS!

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Answer 3

fullcream

Level 2

325 points

Apr 21, 2008 7:04 PM in response to glam72

glam72 wrote:
About a year ago, we had this problem and as it turned out my iTunes folder was connected to our shared "P" drive. I changed it so it is now located on my "C" drive.

How did you move your music? Manually? Or using itunes?

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Answer 4

fullcream

Level 2

325 points

Apr 21, 2008 7:24 PM in response to fullcream

If you used itunes (Edit > Preferences > Advanced > General tab) then your XML and ITL files should've been saved in the location you specified.

If you did it manually (drag n' drop), then see above for how to do it via itunes.

NOTE: If you've got "Let itunes organize your music files" checked, itunes might move your music to your specified location.

If your co-worker deleted your XML file, then I'm sorry. I don't think it's possible to recover that.

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Answer 5

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Apr 21, 2008 8:17 PM in response to glam72

Next time you start iTunes, hold down the shift key and create a new library when prompted.
Browse to a path on your C: drive.

You'll have a blank library and will need to re-add your music. Make sure the "Copy files" setting is off before you add the music back to your library.

Helpful articles on all this:

What are the iTunes library files?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732

Using multiple libraries
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesWin/7.6/en/15502.html

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Answer 6

glam72 Author

Level 1

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Apr 22, 2008 2:27 PM in response to fullcream

I believe I moved my music using iTunes...and in fact, that box Katrina refers to "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library" was checked so they got in there twice and I had to go in and delete the dupes.

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Answer 7

glam72 Author

Level 1

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Apr 22, 2008 3:05 PM in response to Katrina S.

Katrina-

I was totally with you but now I am stuck!

I held the shift key down, opened up iTunes, clicked on 'Create a library", gave it a name - but HOW do I get the music back into my iTunes? Do I drag and drop each album into the library folder on C Drive, or directly into iTunes? I even clicked on both articles you linked me to and they didn't say either.

Sorry if I'm totally missing the obvious!

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Answer 8

fullcream

Level 2

325 points

Apr 22, 2008 5:47 PM in response to glam72

Simply drag your "Itunes Music" folder into the empty library window of itunes. As *Katrina S* said, make sure the "copy Files" setting is off.

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Answer 9

glam72 Author

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Apr 22, 2008 6:15 PM in response to fullcream

well I seem to have solved my problem! I moved the .xml and .itl folders from my P drive to my C drive and I just dragged my iTunes folder into my new library and everything seems to be copasetic!

thanks a lot!
dina

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