Restored iTunes folder from Time Machine, get error iTunes Library Extras.itdb file

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Restored iTunes folder from Time Machine, get error iTunes Library Extras.itdb file

I restored my iTunes folder from a Time Machine backup (due to my kids deleting some playlists, which I wanted to recover).

After that completed, I am unable to open iTunes, I get the error: "The iTunes Library Extras.itdb file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission."

Now, when I was doing the restore, it paused twice to tell me something like: a particular song could not be transferred, since there was already a copy of it with the same name... and something about it being case insensitive. I selected OK each time that happened, made a note of the song thinking oh well I can just get a copy of that song again if I lose it.

Any ideas? I looked at permissions for the iTunes folder, I have read and write permission.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Aug 22, 2012 4:50 AM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

Level 10

272,749 points

Aug 22, 2012 5:40 AM in response to JDfunky

Hmm, the obvious things would be to reboot your system, then check/correct/repair permissions. Assuming you've tried without success. I believe you should be able to delete either of the .itdb files without causing problems. iTunes will rebuild them if they are missing.

tt2

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Answer 2

JDfunky Author

Level 2

229 points

Aug 23, 2012 5:57 PM in response to turingtest2

Hi tt2,

Restart and permissions repair didn't help. Trashing both the iTunes Library Extras.itdb, and the iTunes Library Genius.itdb file, as you suggested, then restarting iTunes, got it sorted. Thanks!

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Aug 23, 2012 7:32 PM in response to JDfunky

JDfunky wrote:

I restored my iTunes folder from a Time Machine backup (due to my kids deleting some playlists, which I wanted to recover).

Don't let them mess with your computer account at all.

Create their own computer login as a regular user, not admin and let them mess up their own stuff.

-> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3309

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Answer 4

JDfunky Author

Level 2

229 points

Aug 23, 2012 11:03 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris, thanks for that suggestion. I would still like for my kids to access my iTunes music, but just don't want them to mess with the playlists etc.

If I set up another account, then follow the instructions here -> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203

... to share the library with them, I'm guessing that they could still make changes to the playlists etc? (it doesn't specify in that article.)

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Answer 5

juankf

Level 1

4 points

Sep 25, 2013 2:11 PM in response to JDfunky

I had the same issue, but wasn't able to delete the itdb files. The answer was that they were "in use".

So I renamed them, relaunched iTunes and voila... my itunes was back!

Still have not been able to delete the old itdb files though, but will try again after rebooting everything as I have my whole itunes library on a NAS server

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