I had my iTunes libray on my old PC, just transferred to my new PC, downloaded iTunes, and my library is there, but can't play songs, says can't locate original files?

Question

Level 1

0 points

I had my iTunes libray on my old PC, just transferred to my new PC, downloaded iTunes, and my library is there, but can't play songs, says can't locate original files?

I had my iTunes library on my old Dell Inspiron, transferred all info to my new HP Pavilion PC, downloaded iTunes and my library is there, but when I try to play songs, it says can't play because can't locate the original files...how can I activate the songs to play? The iTunes library is also in my Windows media file, and the songs will play in there, but I set iTunes as my default music manager and want the songs activated in my iTunes library so I can play them and sync my iPod. Help? Thanks.

Windows 7, HP Pavilion g series

Posted on Aug 27, 2012 11:17 AM

Reply

Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

272,725 points

Aug 27, 2012 11:40 AM in response to dolphinlvr

This happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout,or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.

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(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions.

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 .

See also Getting iTunes & Windows Media Player to play nicely

tt2

Reply