Jamie.long951
Level 1 (5 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Got my Music folder but lost library file

I just updated iTunes from 10.5 to 10.6. As the auto update wasent working I uninstalled 10.5, then downloaded and installed 10.6 on my windows PC. Before I did all of this I copied my 'Music' folder from within the iTunes Media Folder (in My Music) to my external hard drive. However, I forgot to copy the iTunes Library files. So now, when I copy the Music folder into my new iTunes Media folder it doesnt show up at all in iTunes (my library stays empty, even though its where it should be!).

 

Furthermore, If I add the music (via file > add folder to library) it puts the songs in and makes the music folder, but in my library 25% of the songs show up with missing artist and album names - some show up as unknown. This is weird as I made the backup yesterday and everything was all organised PERFECTLY in 10.5

 

Any ideas as to how I can get my music back in library with proper titles etc?

 

i did back it all up in iTunes Match but not keen on re-downloading at the moment due to the large file size. If all else fails, then I will have to restore from match.

 

Cheers everyone!

 

Jamie

Windows 7

Posted on Mar 19, 2012 8:36 AM

by Limnos,Solvedanswer
Limnos Limnos
Level 9 (54,642 points)
Mac OS X
A:

I don't use a PC so maybe things work radically differently but don't you still have the Library.itl file on your computer?  iTunes updates should just change the iTunes program and not affect your iTunes library files at all except it will want to update the library file. On a Mac it places a copy of the old library files in "Previous itunes Lbraries" folder.  Backing up is always wise but rarely required and certainly not a routine necessity as part of updating.

 

What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

 

More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

Posted on Mar 19, 2012 8:46 AM

Close
Jamie.long951

Q: Got my Music folder but lost library file

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Mar 19, 2012 8:46 AM in response to Jamie.long951
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 19, 2012 8:46 AM in response to Jamie.long951

    I don't use a PC so maybe things work radically differently but don't you still have the Library.itl file on your computer?  iTunes updates should just change the iTunes program and not affect your iTunes library files at all except it will want to update the library file. On a Mac it places a copy of the old library files in "Previous itunes Lbraries" folder.  Backing up is always wise but rarely required and certainly not a routine necessity as part of updating.

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Mar 19, 2012 8:58 AM in response to Jamie.long951
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 19, 2012 8:58 AM in response to Jamie.long951

    The correct iTunes Library.itl file will probably be in the Music\iTunes folder of your backup, otherwise...

     

    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 you shouldn'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 this backup strategy may work better for you next time.

     

    tt2

  • by Jamie.long951,

    Jamie.long951 Jamie.long951 Mar 19, 2012 9:08 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 19, 2012 9:08 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thanks for the replies.

     

    However, I don't have the 'previous iTunes Library' folder as I didn't update it automatically with the apple updater. That wouldn't work, so I unistalled iTunes from Windows control panel and reinstalled it. Doing that deletes the whole iTunes media folder. I should have backed it up, but instead I only backed up the Music folder. Obviously its my fault, but surely if I physically have the music on my external hard drive there must be a way to load it into my library?

     

    Cheers

  • by Jamie.long951,

    Jamie.long951 Jamie.long951 Mar 19, 2012 9:12 AM in response to Jamie.long951
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 19, 2012 9:12 AM in response to Jamie.long951

    I just remembered - I did a full backup of the iTunes media folder about a week or so ago, so I should be able to do it with that... I'll have an album or 2 missing thouhpgh but they will be in iTunes Match from when I updated before uninstalling!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Mar 19, 2012 9:19 AM in response to Jamie.long951
    Level 10 (88,293 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 19, 2012 9:19 AM in response to Jamie.long951

    Jamie.long951 wrote:

     

    ... so I unistalled iTunes from Windows control panel and reinstalled it. Doing that deletes the whole iTunes media folder.

    Really? There is no good reason why uninstalling the app should touch your media or your library files. I've certainly never experienced that.

     

    tt2

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Mar 19, 2012 9:22 AM in response to Jamie.long951
    Level 9 (54,642 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 19, 2012 9:22 AM in response to Jamie.long951

    iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451

     

    On items missing information, mps3 and aac can store information in tags in the files. WAV does not support tags so any information associated with WAV files is lost when you lose the library file.

  • by Jamie.long951,

    Jamie.long951 Jamie.long951 Mar 19, 2012 10:30 AM in response to Jamie.long951
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 19, 2012 10:30 AM in response to Jamie.long951

    Thanks to all the replies and help!

     

    Luckily I had made a backup of the media folder a couple of weeks ago - so restored my library from that, and just downloaded the missing (latest purchases) from match!