The newest v. of iTunes has wiped out all playlists and my entire library

I am having this same issue, I should have realized it last night when I started up iTunes and bought a new album and got an email from Apple saying that a computer that was not authorized had made a purchase. Went back into iTunes and the program asked me to authorize this computer. Went to listen to some music after work today and all my music is gone. I checked the iTunes folder and the only thing it displays is music purchased from iTunes in the last 30 days, since I reinstalled Windows 7.

For general library squiffiness following an upgrade the easiest thing is to restore your last backup, but I guess if it were that simple you wouldn't be here.

Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash

Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps youshouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.

See iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.

When you get it all working make a backup!

tt2

ARSmith87 wrote:

.... since I reinstalled Windows 7.

You reinstalled the operating system and expect your data to have magically survived? 😮

If you did a repair install your data might still be in older user profile. If you backed up, restore, otherwise you would seem to be the architect of your misfortune. 😟

tt2

stedy wrote:

Thanks tt2.....I did this, only problem was that the most recent was November of last year, I have added quite a bit since then. Just a complete pain, and Apple is of no help at all, they are completely useless.

If you "just updated" then there should be a backup .itl file taken at start of the process. Search your entire computer for files of the form *.itl

Typically an empty/partial post upgrade failure library won't be seen as "new" as the old library ID is often captured before the failure. Since it is showing as new it might also be worth confirming that you are using the correct profile and that your original iTunes folder is in the correct location of <User's Music>\iTunes. Is the missing media still present on your hard drive, somewhere? If so that might give a clue as to what has happended.

This is a user-to-user support forum. Mods don't answer users questions. Their main task is to edit or remove posts that breach the terms of use. If you want direct support from Apple then explore the options at http://www.apple.com/support/contact/ however I'm fairly certain the issue you describe would not qualify for free support.

You should be maintaining a backup of your iTunes library and any other data that is important to you to guard against an issue of this kind. If for some reason the original content has been completely lost then see this post from forum regular Zevoneer for options on moving your iPod data back to your computer.

tt2

I had the same problem, so I clicked on a previous itunes library and the most rcent was dated 3-10-201, which was missing everything added since then. My question is why does the latest itl file still say 3-10-2011, when I add things to the library and close itunes, why doesn't the date on the itl file change?

iTunes doesn't actually care what the name of the file is, or update it, it just use the same one it opened last time.

The instructions were to copy the dated .itl file into the main iTunes folder and give it the standard name of iTunes Library.itl. While the archive version will often work from within the Previous iTunes Libraries folder iTunes will then start putting other supporting files in ..\iTunes\Previous iTunes Libraries instead of ..\iTunes. Next time you upgrade you'll find you have a new folder at ..\iTunes\Previous iTunes Libraries\Previous iTunes Libraries

The repair instructions are now slightly different.

Copy your active library file into your iTunes folder. If present, rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Click the icon to start iTunes and immediately press and continue to hold down the shift key until asked to chose or create a library. Click choose and browse to the library file in the iTunes folder. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.

See iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.

When you get it all working make a backup!

tt2

I appreciate your advice, but I can't find where "previous iTunes libraries". How do I get to that point?

When you upgrade iTunes the current library file is moved to a subfolder (called Previous iTunes Libraries) of the folder that holds the active library, given the current date, and then used to rebuild a new library file incorporating any changes in internal structure that have been added for the new build of iTunes.

Occasionally this rebuilding process gets interrupted which can lead to the symptoms of an empty or incomplete library. The steps given earlier are designed to put the files back in place so that the update can happen again, hopefully this time successfully.

Have you recently updated iTunes? Do you know where your active library file is? Search your computer for all files of the form *.itl and things should become clear.

tt2

Found it and followed instructions. It worked! Thanks!

another question, now that I'm restoring the playlists, I sometimes click on a song and get a message " the song cannot be used because the original file could not be located" would you like to locate it. I know the location, but it asks you to do the same for every song in the playlist, is there anyway to do this for all the songs at once?

Actually just found the shortcut, delete all the songs from the playlist, then drag the whole folder back into the playlist agian.