iTunes doesn't show the songs in my library.

hi there mike,

How much free space does your USB stick have? Is it bigger than all your music files.?

I dun really understand what you have said,perhaps you can explain more

i think only the shortcut saved as oppossed the whole file cos when i open it, it just pops up an empty itunes with no music.

ok, i have the exact same problem as Krista Mckeaque. I have found most of my library, but parts of it are missing. I am missing all of my purchased music, all song information that I typed in, and some other albums. There is no apparent reason for those albums to be missing but not the others. any ideas where I can find find entire library? Would i be able to unistall the latest version of itunes and just revert to the old version that worked just fine?

piepgrass@ameritech.net

Just right click your songs then go to open with,then click itunes

This my 1st post so please forgive me if I'm in wrong place. All help appreciated. All my iTune songs show ! how and where can I correct "Songs could not be used because the original file could not be found".

Welcome to the Apple Discussions, Bob!

Your problem means that iTunes doesn't know where on your computer your music files are stored. And since you say it's
b all
of your iTunes songs, I'm guessing you've recently moved your Music Folder and failed to tell iTunes about it. Hopefully you know where the music is because then you can either move it back to its original location or if you want to leave it where it now is you can use the iTunes File menu > Add Folder to Library command to set things right. If you leave it where it is, you'll want to check out this post to delete the ! entries in iTunes:

MacMuse, "Removing "!" / dead links in iTunes library", 11:37pm Oct 8, 2004 CDT

One other thing, Bob, this is really an example of how your post can get lost in the crowd when you add it on to an already established thread.

Your post will be more easily noticed and you'll be more likely to get an answer by starting a new topic. To do so, click
i Using iTunes
near the top of this page and then click
i Post a New Topic
near the top of that page.

So if you have any more questions, post back but please start a new topic.

I also bought a new computer and cant find the music I purchased a while back. How do I do this?

Yes, this works. Thank you - so easy when you know how! I do actually now have 10698 tunes in there now which is more than what I've ever had, but I don't mind deleting a few. Thanks again!!

I am also having a problem, my computer got very infected with viruses to the point where i had to run system recovery software in order to completely clean my computer and return it to the original default settings and everything was deleted, it was basically back to how it first was when i bought it, but now i am trying to get my itunes library back, this is hard because i still have all the songs on my ipod, but no songs on itunes, itunes can read the songs on my ipod. is there anyway i can transfer all the songs from my ipod to the new library? thanks

Hi there

There is a way. it involvev enabling disk mode in iTunes
Firstly
1) connect iPod and hold Shift + Ctrl - this stops the auto sync
2) If your iPod doesn't appear in 'My Computer' then enable disk use for the iPod
3) Go to 'My Computer' and Double-click your iPod to open it
4) From the menu bar go to Tools > Folder Options…
5) Select the 'View' tab
6) scroll down and enable 'Show Hidden Files and Folders'
7) hit 'Apply' or 'OK'
8) Double-click on 'iPod_Control', then 'Music'
9) Copy the contents (Folders named F01, F02, etc.) to your HDD
10) open iTunes preferences and under the advanced pane, make sure that 'Keep iTunes Music folder organized' and, 'Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library' are checked. The first option will fix up the filenames so that they appear normal, the second makes sure that the songs are somewhere safe that iTunes knows about.
11) Drag the Folders into the iTunes window to import your music

All you have to do is locate the folder they are in and open them. This should work unless iTunes isn't your default media player.

Hi. I have the same problem as the person you replied to, I got up to step 7 in your directions. I changed the 'Show Hidden Files and Folders' but I still don't see ipod control. All my songs from the old library show in my ipod but not my itunes library. What can I do?Thank you very much.

Itunes shows a message when I open it " Itunes cannot run because it is missing some required files". What do I do? If I re install it won't I lose all of my music. Help me I don't know what to do.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, where is my music folder ! PLease help me im desperate

First off, you probably want to start your own top-level post, since no-one will see it all the way at the bottom of this.

However, in response to your queries:
1) A reinstall of iTunes should not remove any music. However, having a backup is always a good thing.

2) Assuming you never moved it, your music is in My Documents/My Music/iTunes.

firstly i would like to apologize for this late reply

try also: include show protected system files

I have the same problkem,lighting struck my other computer,does this mean ive lost my music