Playlists, Sonos and Network Attached Storage

Confused?

Well, a bit. ; - )

Just a few thoughts to try understanding your situation ...

The default location for the .itl and .xml files on Windows XP is C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\My Music\iTunes .

That remains the location even when you move your iTunes Music folder - to an NAS or whatever.

So perhaps iTunes is still referencing the library files on your local drive. Have a look at them and check the last modifed date.

If that seems to be the situation there is a method for getting iTunes to look to the NAS drive for the library files but personally speaking it's not really necessary. If you do want to pursue that route, though, post back.

As far as your problems with the SONOS system, I'm even more confused. Heck I don't even know what a SONOS system is. Wait ... I just went to Google and learnt what a SONOS system is ... Cool!

But perhaps it's best to first see if we're on the right track re: the library files.

Hope this clarifies things...

I think it does.

First, the setting in your iTunes Preferences for the iTunes Music folder only affects where new song files will be stored.

iTunes will continue to reference the original .itl file in its default location - C:\Documents and Settings\Franco\My Documents\My Music\iTunes - even if - as seems to be the case - you've put a copy of it on your network drive.

So there are a couple of ways of dealing with this. I think in your circumstances the best would be to first close iTunes and wait a minute to make sure it's shut down.

Now open Windows Explorer and delete the two library files - the .itl and the .xml - on your network drive. Keep a backup copy of the files somewhere else, just in case.

In their place put copies of the .itl and .xml file from C:\Documents and Settings\Franco\My Documents\My Music\iTunes.

Once you've done that you're ready to open iTunes again but follow the method described in this article in the Apple Knowledge Base, i.e. hold the Shift key while starting iTunes, and select the Chooose Library option when given the opportunity.

A navigation window will appear and you want to make your way to the .itl file you've just copied onto the network drive. Highlight/select that file and iTunes will open.

Now let your Sonos do its thing and it should be referencing the same up to date library files as iTunes.

Just make sure that from now on your computer recognizes your network drive before you open iTunes. Otherwise iTunes has a bad habit of going back to reference the library files on the C: drive.

You're more than welcome, Frank.

Thanks for reporting back.