Rebuilding iTunes Library...What is the next step ?

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Level 1

31 points

Rebuilding iTunes Library...What is the next step ?

Hi:
I tried follwoing your advice.
I can do the Ctrl-A to select all songs in the iTunes libary.
I can right-click and select Delete,
but when I do, I do not get the 3 options that you mentioned
(Cancel, Keep Files, and Move To Recycle Bin)

I get a dialog box stating:

Are you sure you want to remove the selcted songs from your iTunes library?

These songs will also be remove from any iPod or iPhone which synchronizes with your iTunes library.

Why am I not getting the options you stated above ?

I have seen you oprions on a Mac at best Buy, but I am running an HP laptop under Vista Home Premium.

Then has a Remove or Cancel button to be clicked.

If I follow through with the above, will it wipe out my music library ?
How do I go about rebuilding the databse ?

Thank you

DaleB

HP dv6500z laptop Windows Vista

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Toocan

Posts: 54
From: Gauteng, South Africa
Registered: Jul 23, 2008
Re: iTunes forgets my CD files...how do I rebuild tune database?
Posted: Aug 17, 2008 10:27 PM in response to: DaleB Reply Email

Sorry DaleB, I have redone my library so many times, I forgot about this prompt. Just click 'yes'/'remove' to that question.
Reloading the library will only make your iPod resync again, thats all.

Intel Windows XP Pro P4, 3.4GHz, 3GB RAM, XP SP3 - iPod 80GB Classic

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DaleB

Posts: 145
Registered: Jan 18, 2006
Re: iTunes forgets my CD files...how do I rebuild tune database?
Posted: Aug 18, 2008 4:02 AM in response to: Toocan Reply Email

Hi:

You tell me to click "Yes" / "Remove" when prompted by iTunes with

"Are you sure you want to remove the selcted songs from your iTunes library?"

but when I do, I do not get the 3 options that you mentioned
(Cancel, Keep Files, and Move To Recycle Bin) ?

What is the next step ???
I don't want to accidentally erase my Library.

Thank you

DaleB

==============================================================================

DaleB

Posts: 145
Registered: Jan 18, 2006
Re: iTunes forgets my CD files...how do I rebuild tune database?
Posted: Aug 18, 2008 4:13 AM in response to: Toocan Reply Email

Hi:
A related issue.
I made a copy (backup ?) of the Music folder in Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit OS, to my Desktop. If something corrupts the Music in iTunes, will this be a "good enough" backup to be able to restore the music by moving it back into the Music folder, or will soemthing be missing ?

Thanx !

DaleB

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Posted on Aug 20, 2008 5:06 AM

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Answer 1

PT

Level 7

20,888 points

Aug 20, 2008 6:14 AM in response to DaleB

What is it you want to do? If you want to clear your library and start it over with the same media files already on your computer, the way you are doing it is both more work and dangerous (you could lose files accidentally if you hit the wrong button).
Assuming you backed up your library elsewhere, you will have an "iTunes Music.itl" file, or at least you do with XP. I am not sure if Vista works any differently. This is the file that is the database file that contains all the info about what is in your library, playcounts, ratings, etc. If you don't have that backed up somewhere else with your library, you should do that. If you periodically back up just that file, you can rebuild your library assuming the media files are not lost. So to clear our your current library, simply grab the iTunes Music.itl file in your iTunes folder and drag it to the desktop or the trash. Open iTunes and you should now see a blank library. Close iTunes, you will find a new iTunes Music.itl file has been created (representing the new blank library. To restore your old .tl file, simply drag your back up copy and overwrite the newly created blank library iTunes Music.itl file. That's it. Alternatively, you can File -> Import the .xml file that is also created and maintained by iTunes in the same folder as the iTunes Music.itl file. But Apple does state the XML file doesn't quite have everything contained in the iTunes Music.itl file, although it isn't clear what exactly is missing, at least not to me. Cheers, Patrick

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Answer 2

DaleB Author

Level 1

31 points

Aug 20, 2008 8:32 AM in response to PT

Hi Patrick:
Thanx for the reply.
How do I go about backing up the Libary.
I am not familiar with the Music.itl file, and backing up the Library.

I am running Vista 32-bit Home premium.
What I am trrying to do is rebuild the iTunes Libary to get rid of incorrect
mapping that it has as to where some tunes are located (I get the exclamation mark" to the left of many of the tunes.) I hadcreated subfolders and then copied & pasetd the tune files to the new subfolders when I was initailly ripping my CDs. I am just trying to update the library so things are pointing the files correctly.

DaleB

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Answer 3

Aug 20, 2008 9:03 AM in response to DaleB

Patrick,
I believe I have a similar problem. I moved my itunes files to an external hard drive. My itunes library points to the drive and I can see all the music files on the new drive but in library there's an i next to the song and it says it's not available because the original file can't be found. if I go to the file and click on it, then the i goes away and I can play it. I tried "consolidate libraries" and that didn't do anything. is there some way I can get the library to find the all files on the external drive? obviously, I don't want to do it one at a time.

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Answer 4

DaleB Author

Level 1

31 points

Aug 21, 2008 5:06 AM in response to DaleB

Any Ideas ?

DaleB

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Answer 5

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Aug 21, 2008 7:30 AM in response to DaleB

+(Cancel, Keep Files, and Move To Recycle Bin)+

This message only shows up if you are deleting songs that exist in the iTunes Music folder location that is set in itunes menu > Edit Preferences > Advanced > General tab

If you are deleting them from a different folder, you won't see it.

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Answer 6

DaleB Author

Level 1

31 points

Aug 21, 2008 8:17 AM in response to Katrina S.

Hi Katrina:

What is the "safest" way to rebuild you iTunes Library, so that you don't
lose any information ?

I have seen replies stating to remove library listings (keep files)
via the "Cancel, Keep Files, and Move To Recycle Bin" route, and I have
seen info stating to delete the Music.itl file.

Please provide details on how to execute the better method.

Thank you

DaleB

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Answer 7

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Aug 21, 2008 8:34 AM in response to DaleB

All the metadata such as ratings, playcounts, date added, etc are stored in the itunes database ITL file
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

There is no way to rebuild it and not lose info. You can recreate your library from the XML file, but it won't keep date added and some other fields....it does keep some info. The best defense is to make regular backups of this file, so if it gets corrupted, you can retrieve the back up.

Just what is it that you want to do?

edit - never mind, I see your previous post. If the correct folder path mappings are gone, you have 2 choices
1. manually find each file when itunes says it can't find it
2. search your hard drive for a previous ITL file that has the correct mappings

Message was edited by: Katrina S.

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