My Library sidebar on the left has totally disappeared. Tried everything, uninstalling and reinstalling, but nothing works. Any ideas what happened and how to get it back? Do you think it was a virus?
Thanks.
That can sometimes be a blown-out iTunes display preference, kc.
Which Windows OS are you running? (XP, Vista or 7?) That makes a difference as to how we go about doing pref file troubleshooting.
Hi bnoir, thanks for your reply. I am using windows 7. I have tried everything. Googled but can't find any solutions. Please help!
🙂 Many thanks. The heyday of this particular sort of problem was 4-5 years ago, so the Google results are buried way down (if they are there at all ...). Those results won't be of so much help either, because the pref files are stored in different locations on Vista and 7, and the format of pref files has changed since version 7.0 ... etc etc ...
We're going to try a pref file rebuild. For the basic technique, see the "Remove iTunes preference files" section from the "User-specific troubleshooting" section of the following document:
iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7: Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues
Prior to doing the preference file rebuilds:Best to make a note of any custom preferences you have set up for your iTunes. (Rebuilding pref files returns preferences to their defaults ... so you'll likely have to set some of those custom preferences up again from scratch.) Also make a note of any third-party plugins/add-ons you have installed. You may have to reinstall those after the rebuilds.
Things to watch out for during the rebuilds
Rebuilding the preference files in the \Local\ location causes the iTunes license agreement to run. So you'll need to agree to that again.
Rebuilding the preference files in the \Roaming\ location causes the iTunes Setup Assistant to run. When prompted to do so,do notadd files to your iTunes library. (Otherwise you'll end up with a library full of duplicates.)
Hi b noir, I tried using the link you provided. It mentioned that I need to remove/move the appdata\local or appdata\roaming files. I tried to search for these files, but I cannot find it. Since mine is a Windows lappie, so "Apple Computer" does not apply right?
Please let me know what kind of file these are? And how I can go about locating them. I tried to search my C: but can't find them!
Thanks!
... Sorry about that ... the files are hidden by default, so we need to change some view settings. (Forgot to warn you.)
In your Start menu, open Computer.
In your Organise menu, select Folder Options.
In the View tab, make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" isselected.
Click OK.
You should be able to find the folders now.
I see.. I have selected "show hidden files and folders". I have found these. How do I move it to the desktop?
Dragging them out should be fine.
OK, I have cut the "appdata\local\apple computer\itunes" folder and pasted it in the desktop. I opened my Itunes, same thing. The sidebar is still missing. When the instruction says "remove the second folder, does it mean, to delete the "roaming" folder?
You can put the \local\ one back where it was now (replacing the new one that will have been rebuilt when iTunes was restarted).
Once you've got your \local\ one back in place, you can shift the \roaming\ one out onto the desktop.
OK, after taking out the "Roaming" folder, it worked! You are a genius! 😎
So now I just leave the folder on the Desktop?
Thank you!
🙂 Excellent news. It should be safe to delete the one on the desktop now.
Thanks a bunch! I have deleted the folder from my desktop 😉🙂
Hi, my iTunes Library sidebar that normally appears on the left, has disappeared. I need help om how to get it back. Thank you.
