JoeBloggs
Level 1 (8 points)
Desktops

Q: iTunes - Damaged Library, Further Problems

Further to this thread - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2006423&stqc=true, I had a problem with a damaged library in iTunes 8.1.1.

From the advice in that thread, I managed to restore it using the most recent Previous iTunes Library file and spent several hours manually adding all the missing music, playlists and so on from the last three months.

After doing this and on closing iTunes, I got on the Desktop a copy of the previous iTunes Library file I used, an empty folder called "iTunes Music", an .xml file (dated the same date as the Previous iTunes Library file I used) and the two Genius and Extras .itdb files (there were also versions of each of these at the top level of the iTunes folder tree).

Because iTunes seemed to be working, I dragged these files and folders into a new Desktop folder just in case I might need them for something.

Now, when I open iTunes there are no files, folders, playlists or anything. Further copies of the same files and folders I moved into the new folder have reappeared on the Desktop. I've tried holding Option on starting iTunes and pointing to the current Library file at the top of the folder tree, but it doesn't do anything.

In the iTunes folder tree there is still only one Damaged Library folder and the most recent Previous Library folder I used to restore everything is not in the list (but it is on the Desktop). There is an iTunes Library file and an .xml file with today's date at the top of the folder tree.

Can anyone advise what I'm doing wrong? I really don't want to have to spend the day re-adding all the stuff I re-added before for the same thing to happen.

Thanks in advance ...

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11), iTunes 8.1.1

Posted on May 17, 2009 6:50 AM

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JoeBloggs

Q: iTunes - Damaged Library, Further Problems

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  • Helpful answers

  • by christopher rigby1,Helpful

    christopher rigby1 christopher rigby1 May 17, 2009 7:43 AM in response to JoeBloggs
    Level 4 (2,146 points)
    May 17, 2009 7:43 AM in response to JoeBloggs
    There are two things you could try, with iTunes not running:

    1. reinstate the files you moved into a Desktop folder, as it looks like iTunes may have been using those (obviously though, NOT the empty iTunes Music folder - I'm assuming that your existing Music folder is aok). Then re-try launching iTunes.

    If that doesn't work, then

    2. (based on advice I saw in another forum) : copy the Damaged Library file back into the iTunes folder, move out the existing iTunes Library file, rename the Damaged file to be "iTunes Library" and re-launch, see if that works.

  • by JoeBloggs,

    JoeBloggs JoeBloggs May 17, 2009 9:06 AM in response to christopher rigby1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 17, 2009 9:06 AM in response to christopher rigby1
    Thanks for the prompt response.

    Reinstating the folders on the Desktop just gets me back to the three-months-ago stage. The iTunes Music folder itself fine and contains everything, including all the stuff from the last three months which now no longer appears listed in the iTunes application once launched.

    Using Spotlight, I found a Previous iTunes Library file dated as of yesterday (after I had reinstated everything), but, again, choosing this library only gets me back to the three-months-ago stage.

    Changing the name of the Damaged Library file doesn't work - after doing this I'm left with about 3 gb of music instead of around 100 gb.

    Whatever Library I choose (by launching iTunes whilst holding down the Option key), I get similar files and folders appearing on the Desktop whilst it launches.

    If I redo everything from the last three months again, is there a way to make a Previous iTunes Library file as of today so I could just select that as the Library if it happens again? I still have only one Damaged library file (there was no indication that anything was wrong when I closed or reopened iTunes after reinstating everything yesterday) but am fast becoming swamped with the other stuff (multiple Previous iTunes Library files, .xml files etc.).

  • by christopher rigby1,Helpful

    christopher rigby1 christopher rigby1 May 17, 2009 9:20 AM in response to JoeBloggs
    Level 4 (2,146 points)
    May 17, 2009 9:20 AM in response to JoeBloggs
    If I redo everything from the last three months again, is there a way to make a Previous iTunes Library file as of today


    The best thing to do - once you're happy that everything is showing up ok in iTunes - is to back up your entire iTunes folder, e.g. to an external drive.

  • by JoeBloggs,

    JoeBloggs JoeBloggs May 17, 2009 9:25 AM in response to christopher rigby1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 17, 2009 9:25 AM in response to christopher rigby1
    I've backed it up on 30(!) DVDs (including the stuff from the last three months).

  • by JoeBloggs,

    JoeBloggs JoeBloggs May 17, 2009 12:26 PM in response to JoeBloggs
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    May 17, 2009 12:26 PM in response to JoeBloggs
    By selecting one of the (seemingly incorrectly dated) Library files on the Desktop when launching iTunes holding down the Option key, I've got everything back, and iTunes appears to close and relaunch with everything staying where it should.

    The problem I'm having is that I'm still getting the .xml, .itdb and Library files appearing on the Desktop when I launch iTunes, along with an Album Artwork folder. A temp file also briefly appears. I can drag them to the Trash and iTunes works, but why do they keep appearing on the Desktop?

    The folder structure under Computer/Music/iTunes looks OK, with the exception of an additional iTunes Music level with two Genius and Extras .itdb files in it (both show date modified as of when I launched iTunes). In the top level, I have iTunes Library, iTunes Library.xml, iTunes Music Library.xml (all date modified today), Genius.itdb (date modified two days ago) and Extras.itdb (date modified two days ago).

    Anyone have any ideas?