iTunes library keeps deleting

This is happening to me too, and I am so frustrated! When I reload my library from the .itl file, it is empty too. So then I have to choose "add folder" and add the music that way. There's got to be a solution.

I was having this problem for days, and was really frustrated. I'm not sure why it started happening, but I fixed it by adding an exclusion for virus scanning by Windows Live Onecare for all the itunes files (.itl and xml). I guess I would try to do this for whatever virus protection program you have and see if it helps--it did for me.

This is happening to me too. I am not running any virus check, however, itunes files are being mysteriously transferred to the Recycle Bin....Apple, fix itunes ffs!!

I had this problem and seem to have resolved it. To cut to the chase, the problem was Sony Vaio services that appear to hog the iTunes files. These include things like Vaio Content Folder Watcher and VAIO Content Metadata Intelligent Analyzing Manager. I’ve stopped them from running and iTunes seems to be a happy bunny again.

Here’s some more detailed background.

I bought the new Sony Vaio laptop (running Windows Vista Home Premium) and ported my iTunes across from my old laptop okay, deauthorising the old one and authorising the new one. All worked fine for the first couple of weeks, then iTunes started to randomly delete and recreate the iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml files, losing all my settings, music index, etc. The music was still there (fortunately) and I could re-import it but that was taking ages with 46 days worth of music!

I got into the habit of copying the four main iTunes files to a different directory each time I used iTunes so I could restore it by copying them back to the main iTunes directory. I also noticed that a lot of .tmp files were being created in the main iTunes directory.

A lot of forums I visited suggested that iTunes can recreate these files and create .tmp files if it can’t write to them because something else is using them when it wanted access. This is exactly what was happening. I discovered this by using the Process Monitor tool which can be downloaded FOC from Sysinternals.com.

The reason why it didn’t cause a problem initially was that on the Vaio, these services aren’t initiated on a new computer until you run one of the Vaio audio or video packages that get shipped with the laptop; the utilities are there to make these packages work more quickly.

If you don’t have a Vaio, I’d suggest you look to see what you have that might be trying to access these files. AV software is mentioned a lot as a culprit but there may be other services too. I hope this is helpful.

Good grief!
That's some good detective work!
Do you know the name of the service program that was running and locking the ITL file?

The main culprit was VCFw.exe. This appears in the Services window as 'VAIO Content Folder Watcher'. I changed the properties within the Services window so that the 'Startup Type' for this service is 'Manual'. I've done the same for all the other services that start with 'VAIO' except for 'VAIO Event Service' and 'VAIO Power Management' as these seem to have some ongoing use - I've set both these to 'Automatic' so they start when the laptop is booted.

I have not tried starting the programs that use VCFW to see what impact this has had on them (VAIO Movie Story, Vaio MusicBox, etc) - will try this when I have a minute.

Thanks, that might help someone else with a Vaio who is having a similar problem.


I don't have a Vaio, myself - but I think there should be some sort of setting to allow the itunes folder to be excluded from VCFw so it doesn't interfere with the itunes library getting saved properly.

I bought a new laptop Sony Vaio. Fantastic, however I got similar problems with Itunes. XML files were transformed into a iT.tmp file and after restarting my iTunes Music Library.itl was also tranformed into a tmp file and the new xml and itl were empty. First I thought it was caused by my Virus scanner but after days of searching I found out that there is a Sony programm Vaio XML library content organizer (not the excact name) which is reason for this frustrating behaviour. So you have to make a choice, or iTunes or Vaio music libraries. Apperently they are competitors so I deleted the Vaio program (via the Control Panel) and problem solved. No overwriting any more, no tmp files.

I also have a Vaio and have been having the same problems. Just did what you did and problems have gone.

Yeah, what exactly is the program name? I removed one with a name similar to the one you gave assuming it was the correct one, but I'm still having the same problem. This is really annoying because I just got this computer and It's really nice, but I was intending on using iTunes and I can't because I have to import my songs everytime I open iTunes.

THANK YOU!! I have a new VAIO laptop and was very frustrated trying to figure out the problem. This solved it!

Have also experienced the same issue with a new Vaio and itunes. Have uninstalled the Vaio xml library Manager, the Vaio content manager and the Vaio Music Box software that all came pre-installed.
Also created a new folder in the user account (called it My Music) and moved the already created itunes music folder contents to this. Then uninstalled and re-installed itunes, changing location of the itunes library to the new My Music folder, under advanced tab of preferences, before adding the My Music folder to the itunes library.
Now all works perfectly!

I just encountered the same problem today. I opened my itunes to find my whole library vanished. Interesting considering I've had my Vaio for well over a year, and my library has survived a failing computer, a full transfer, and two ipods, heheh.

Hey! I'm having this problem, too, on a Sony Vaio desktop. I am really not good with computers but could probably fix this if you can tell me the names of the programs and where to find them on the computer. Thanks!

I found the offending programs by going into the control panel, and looking at the add/remove program option that then lists all the programs installed on the computer. You will find one with Vaio xml library manager in the name, one with Vaio content manager, and one called Vaio Music Box. I uninstalled all 3. I also created the new folder for the itunes music folders, as already described. Not sure which was the real fix, but it worked.