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problems with restoring my iTunes library after performing an HP backup and system recovery

Hello,

Last Sunday night/Monday morning, I had to perform a system recovery (from the discs supplied by HP) on my HP Compaq Presario SR5310F 32-bit desktop computer running Windows Vista Home Premium, (on the recommendation of samone at HP) and just backing up my 90+ GB iTunes library took 12 hours (the actual system recovery took only about 2-1/2 hours, the following morning). After the recovery process was complete, I 'restored' the backed-up files by either double-clicking or just opening the first backup file (the one whose file name ends in '.1') and following the prompts, which placed the files into something called the 'System Restore Files' folder. I thought I could just restore my iTunes library by dragging and dropping the music, video and iTunes folder files from this System Restore Files folder back into their original places on my computer, but while the song titles did show up in my iTunes library, whenever I tried to actually play one, an exclamation point would appear beside the song's title and I'd get the error message 'iTunes cannot find the file'; when I clicked on 'Find missing file'--or whatever it's called--the C < Users < [username] < Music folder would open, and it would be completely blank, with only the words 'This folder is empty' appearing in it. (And BTW, before you try to recommend the 'Finding missing content in iTunes' or 'How to find missing music in iTunes' articles to me, I should point out that I did try all of the steps in those articles, but my iTunes library was still completely empty at that point, despite trying those steps; that was why I finally tried 'dragging and dropping all of those files back into the Desktop, Downloads, Documents--yes, some really large download files, not from iTunes, showed up in the Documents folder--and also a couple of downloaded music files--again, not from iTunes--showd up 'loose' [by 'loose', I mean not in one of the folders (e.g., Documents, Downloads etc.) in my [username] subfolder] in my [username] subfolder, after which, I was able to get most of my song and video titles listed in iTunes again, but they just won't PLAY! Also, it appears I'm missing about 5 GB from my iTunes library now, as it's saying that I only have about 85.15 GB worth of files in it, where before I had 90+ GB worth of files in it.)

BTW, I can play the files I moved to Desktop, Downloads, etc. if I right-click on the individual files in these locations and then click on 'Play' or 'Open With', but they just won't play in iTunes.

And one more thing: I stupidly deleted my 2 iTunes podcast file titles after I discovered that these, too, would not play; is there any way I can recover these--and my iTunes library--without performing yet ANOTHER system recovery and starting over 'from scratch'? (But if that's what I'll have to do, I'll do it--or else I'll just give up and start all over again with the new computer I plan to buy over the Labor Day weekend [it'll be a 64-bit Windows 7 computer, I know that much at least], as most of my music was ripped from CDs or else downloaded from places like Bandcamp or Amazon MP3, and these downloads were saved to a series of USB flash drives; I was informed that if worst came to worst, I could redownload my iTunes purchases, but my 2 podcasts will be lost forever, as iTunes doesn't 'keep' those--or words to that effect...)

P.S. The computer I'm using has only a 250 GB hard drive, of which 223 GB were available, I couldn't perform the 'Consolidate' function so I could properly back up my iTunes library, as, what with the accumulated Windows downloads (I got this computer in February 2008) and other programs, I had only a few (< 10) GB free--not enough to consolidate the iTunes library, and second, the computer malfunctioned just prior to my performing the system recovery, so that I could no longer log on in 'normal' mode, only in the various safe modes. A lady at Microsoft told me I could back up my iTunes library by logging on in safe mode with networking (since I could do that, albeit with the error message 'Your account has been loaded with a temporary profile') and pasting my iTunes library to my external hard drive, but when I tried this, I got a message listing my iTunes library as '(empty)' when I clicked on iTunes in 'All Programs', and needless to say, my iTunes library wouldn't even open in any of the safe modes (I don't know whether it was 'just' my computer, or whether the lady didn't know what she was talking about--she does work for Microsoft, after all).

Compaq Presario SR5310 desktop PC-OTHER, Windows Vista

Posted on Jun 13, 2012 11:27 AM

Best reply

turingtest2

Level 10

272,795 points

Posted on Jun 13, 2012 1:46 PM

Not sure at this point if this is a permissions issue or the library being confused as to where things are.

The "missing file" thing happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. The way that you've backed up and restored things might have caused iTunes to expect the files to be in the wrong location or layout.

Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to get info, then cancel when asked to try to locate the track. Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive. Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library hasn't been restored to the correct place then it might be possbile to move it now you know

Alternatively, as long as you can find a location holding the missing files, then you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes .

tt2

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56 replies

Jun 14, 2012 9:30 PM in response to turingtest2

Hello turingtest2,

I don't know whether you are still following this thread, but I certainly hope you are, even after I stupidly used up my two 'This helped me' responses before I could get a final resolution to my issues; all I can say is that I am new to this forum and didn't/don't know whether this closed the discussion or not.

As I said in my last message, while your last set of suggestions did work, I still don't have my podcasts (whether this is because I stupidly deleted the files from the library after they wouldn't play at first, or because one of them is no longer available from the iTunes Store, or simply because they *are* PODCASTS, I don't know), even though I can still see the files when I open the iTunes Media < Podcasts folder. Also, I would like to know just HOW to go about moving my newly-found (again) iTunes library from its current location in the System Recovery Files folder to 'somewhere more sensible', as you put it...

Thanks very much,

TPD

turingtest2

Level 10

272,795 points

Jun 15, 2012 3:09 AM in response to The Petite Demoness

Hi, I don't know the exact details by which threads get locked but they generally stay open until the original poster marks them as answered and nobody has added anything new to the thread for a few months. Once I've started posting to a topic my "Your Stuff > Discussions" view shows me threads with new activity so I usually notice when there are follow up questions. I'm over in the UK so your last two posts came in while I was fast asleep. 🙂

iTunes can maintain entries in its database for files you've deleted or moved. What we've done so far is to rearrange things so that most of your files are back where the database is looking for them. If you've actually thrown away the podcast episodes and deleted those from the recycle bin then it is too late to recover your original copies of the episodes. If they are still in the recycle bin restore them and. if needs be move them to where they should be, otherwise what you can do is delete the broken entries, unsubscribe, then resubscribe. Where the podcast producer keeps past episodes online you will be able to download those episodes that you want. However I suggest you leave that bit of maintenance until last.

We're nearly done, but now let's get your library back where it should be. Click the menu item File > Library > Organize Library... If possible tick both boxes, otherwise just the one that you can, and click OK. If in your previous efforts the library got connected to files that aren't inside the System Recovery path this step will drag in copies and also reorganize (if necessary) the library into the newer folder structure.

Close iTunes, browse to the folder C\System Recovery Files\C\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes and rename the folder iTunes Music as iTunes Media, then start iTunes again. Check things still work properly then close iTunes.

Browse to C:\Users\<User>\Music, rename the folder iTunes as iTunes (Temp), browse to C\System Recovery Files\C\Users\<User>\Music, right-click on iTunes and select Cut, then go back to C:\Users\<User>\Music right-click on an empty area and click Paste. Use the hold-down-shift-start-iTunes method to open the library file at C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl and check things are still working properly.

Nearly there now! Open C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes (Temp). There will be a folder called either iTunes Media or iTunes Music which has the files that got imported when you had the "wrong" library working. Cut and paste this folder into C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Automatically Add to iTunes to, um, automatically add to iTunes without leaving behind duplicate copies. You can now browse to C:\Users\<User>\Music and delete iTunes (Temp).

Now would be a good time to sort out your podcasts. If you have any other media kicking around in desktop or download folders move (cut & paste) these files into the Automatically add to iTunes folder to add them to the library.

There is a good iTunes housekeeping tool called iTunes Folder Watch. If you install this, set its option to check for dead tracks on startup and point it at your media folder it will be able to tell you if there are any remaining "broken" entries, or files in the media folder that aren't currently connected to the library.

While I think of it, check out Getting iTunes & Windows Media Player to play nicely just to make sure WMP doesn't accidentally undo our efforts so far.

Finally, backup the library using this User Tip.

tt2

Jun 15, 2012 3:54 AM in response to turingtest2

Sorry--I tried the 'Organize Library' option, but can't even complete this first step, as the one option available to me ('Consolidate Library') can't be used because it requires more hard drive space than I have available on my computer (I have 47.4 GB free, but my iTunes library takes up over 88 GB. This is on a computer that had only 223 GB of 250 GB total available for us, plus the Windows updates after the system recovery have taken up quite a bit of space, what with their creating restore points each time--and Windows just did another update yesterday. Doo I try deleting all but the most recent restore point using Disk Cleanup, fo free up more hard drive space? I warn you, if I do this, I *still* won't have enough hard drive space to perform the 'Consolidate' function.)

What do I do now?

TPD

turingtest2

Level 10

272,795 points

Jun 15, 2012 4:43 AM in response to The Petite Demoness

Oops, I forgot to ask you to make sure that under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder is given as C:\System Recovery Files\C\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music before this (I forgot it doesn't always happen automatically). Check and edit this value now.

You can probably skip the actual consolidate step, but changing the media folder is a vital precursor to the later steps. You should find the value updates automatically when you edit iTunes Music to iTunes Media, but if not edit accordingly.

tt2

Jun 15, 2012 5:39 AM in response to turingtest2

Uh-oh--I think I just made ANOTHER stupid mistake...

When I changet the media folder to C:\System Recovery Files\C\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music, I ALSO clicked on the boxes 'Keep iTunes folder organized' and 'Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library', and then clicked on OK; this apparently copied the files to the new location and created a new, second iTunes icon on my desktop--I think this was another stupid mistake on my part. At any rate, no more hard drive space was taken up by this move (thank goodness), but I still can't consolidate my files.

What do I do now?

TPD

P.S: Now it's my turn to apologize for being asleep--I was up most of last night with this, and got up early to check for responses to my posts, only to fall asleep again for about an hour just after 7 AM ET (sorry).

Jun 15, 2012 5:54 AM in response to turingtest2

In addition, there is now a THIRD iTunes icon on my desktop now; this one is marked 'iTunes - Copy'. Should I delete this icon, or what?

Why am I so STUPID?

turingtest2

Level 10

272,795 points

Jun 15, 2012 12:26 PM in response to The Petite Demoness

Three iTunes icons? One is enough. I take it these are all shortcuts, in which case delete those you don't need.

As long as you still have most of the 47.4 Gb free space space that you had earlier then I suspect the copying was a good thing...

Be patient, work slowly once you are clear you understand the steps. Feel free to ask more questions first.

Let's ignore the consolidate files step. The important thing is that the you are using the library files at:

C:\System Recovery Files\C\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes

and the media folder is registered as:

C:\System Recovery Files\C\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music

before you close iTunes, rename iTunes Music as iTunes Media and restart it. Afterwards check that the media folder has automatically changed to:

C:\System Recovery Files\C\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media

Once that has happened it should be safe to close iTunes, then move the main iTunes folder to a new path as described earlier.

tt2

Jun 15, 2012 1:45 PM in response to turingtest2

Well, I followed the steps you gave me, up to the point where I was supposed to cut and paste the 'iTunes Media' or 'iTunes Music' folder in iTunes (Temp), but when I got ready to paste this folder into C:Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Automatically Add to iTunes, i found that the 'iTunes Media' folder from 'iTunes (Temp)' had DISAPPEARED! T her wasn't even a 'Paste' option offered, and when I went back to look for this folder in C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes (Temp), ther was no sign of it there, either! Do I just add the entire 'iTunes (Temp) folder to the 'Automatically Add to iTunes' folder instead? I won't do anything else until I hear from you.

TPD

turingtest2

Level 10

272,795 points

Jun 15, 2012 1:54 PM in response to The Petite Demoness

iTunes (Temp) should be holding some unnecessary iTunes library files and an Album Artwork folder. These can now be thrown away. The only thing of interest in it was the iTunes Media or iTunes Music folder that should have been there. Did you actually paste it into Automatically Add to iTunes? I should have mentioned that if iTunes was running when you did that then the folder is supposed to disappear as the media inside it is added to the library and reorganized into its correct locations. 😊

tt2

Jun 15, 2012 3:05 PM in response to turingtest2

No, the Automatically Add to iTunes folder is empty, I'm afraid, but iTunes still opens and plays the files that are currently in its library. Does this mean I should just go ahead and delete the iTunes (Temp) folder now?

TPD

Jun 15, 2012 3:08 PM in response to turingtest2

And no, I don't *think* I had iTunes open at that time, but it's hard for me to be sure.

TPD

turingtest2

Level 10

272,795 points

Jun 15, 2012 3:15 PM in response to The Petite Demoness

If there is nothing in iTunes (Temp) other than the Album Artwork folder and the library files then sure, go ahread and delete it. If the music in your library plays OK then it looks like we might be there... 🙂

tt2

Jun 15, 2012 3:16 PM in response to turingtest2

Oh, and one more thing: When I reopened iTunust now and clicked on File < Preferences < Advanced, the file path now reads C:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media. So, I did I actually do something 'right' for once? An can I now just delete that iTunes (Temp) folder before proceeding with the rest of your instructions?

turingtest2

Level 10

272,795 points

Jun 15, 2012 3:19 PM in response to The Petite Demoness

Yes & yes 🙂

tt2

Jun 15, 2012 4:00 PM in response to turingtest2

Okay, I just got not only my downloaded videos to show up in Movies, but I even got my podcasts back! What I did in the case of the podcasts was to navigate to the Podcasts folder in iTunes, and then cut and paste them into the Automatically Add to I tunes folder. I then right-clicked on each podcast title in that folder (all both podcasts, one at a time), clicked on 'Open With' and then selected 'iTunes', and they not only reappeared in my iTunes library under 'Podcasts', but they actually played! (But I had to be careful not to select 'Always use [iTunes] to open this kind of file', because that would mean that the rest of my video files would open only in iTunes; instead, I selected 'Always use [Quicktime] to open this kind of file' for my other video downloads that I'd imported into iTunes prior to the system recovery, and as I said, those reappeared in my iTunes library under 'Movies' (because that's where I'd imported them), and those files play, too. I then cut and pasted the one 'loose' download that had, for some reason, downloaded directly into the <Users> folder, into the Automatically Add to iTunes folder, and now both of those songs appear in my iTunes library, too.

Now, I have to see about backing up my iTunes library (*sigh*)--should I follow your instructions on how to use SyncToy now? And will this work with the Windows 7 computer I'm planning to get in September?

TPD

problems with restoring my iTunes library after performing an HP backup and system recovery