Thanks for the reply, but it did not really address my main concern which is my version of iTunes does not let me check or uncheck songs in my Library - the option is missing - no little square check box, no check or uncheck option on right click...nothing.
I take your point about using playlists and that is an option I use to some extent, but I still like listening to music primarily by album, so I prefer to store the songs that way on my laptop and my iTouch. The trouble with that is my iTouch does not have the memory to hold my entire music library so I need to select which albums and songs to copy to it and which to leave off.
The check or uncheck facility lets me do that - or did.
I hope there is a solution to this because as things stand I cannot update my iTouch with the new albums and songs I have purchased recently or with any I will buy in the future. Music gives me immense pleasure and I use the iTouch to listen a lot when out and about or even just relaxing in the garden so this would be a big loss if I cannot update the device.