woid
Level 1 (9 points)

Q: ITunes 10.7 "upgrade" doesn't recognize my library

Just installed the latest iTunes (10.7). Instead of bringing up my library, it's showing me startup info about how to add music to a (presumably empty) new library.

 

The software was pointing to a newly created "ITunes Media" folder. I've used preferences to point to the actual location of my library (on an external drive), but I keep getting the same startup info screens, with no music (/movies/etc.) list (although the prefs now show the correct location for my media).

 

I know I can choose "Add to library" to get iTunes to construct a new list... but then I think everything will have the current date as "Date Added," which I don't want.

 

How can I fix this? Thanks for any help.

 

(MacBook dual core black [2006 model] running OS X 10.6.8 — hardware is too old to run 10.7.x)

MacBook (13-inch), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 17, 2012 2:49 PM

by woid,Solvedanswer
woid woid
Level 1 (9 points)
A:

Pointing to the iTunes FOLDER on my external drive didn't work. It was only when I chose the .itl library file (I'm guessing the .xml file would work too) that iTunes figured this out.

 

By searching for "iTunes library" on my disks, I was able to find the .itl file that was in use just before the upgrade, which the new version had replaced and archived. Started iTunes with option key as suggested, pointed to that file, it works... thanks.

 

HOWEVER... As one of the undoubtedly many thousands who have large libraries that won't fit on an internal drive, I have to say that the way iTunes handles externally stored libraries is a mess.

Posted on Sep 17, 2012 3:25 PM

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woid

Q: ITunes 10.7 "upgrade" doesn't recognize my library

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Sep 17, 2012 2:57 PM in response to woid
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2012 2:57 PM in response to woid

    Ouch.  You don't use preferences to point to a library on an external drive.  I hope you didn't do anything with preferences.  You use that to redirect iTunes to where you want to put just media which is only part of your library.  The other part of your library is, uh, wherever you keep it.

     

    If you really keep the whole library on an external, start iTunes and immediately hold down the option key, then point it to the iTunes folder on the external.

     

    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

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html


    iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847

  • by woid,Solvedanswer

    woid woid Sep 17, 2012 3:25 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Sep 17, 2012 3:25 PM in response to Limnos

    Pointing to the iTunes FOLDER on my external drive didn't work. It was only when I chose the .itl library file (I'm guessing the .xml file would work too) that iTunes figured this out.

     

    By searching for "iTunes library" on my disks, I was able to find the .itl file that was in use just before the upgrade, which the new version had replaced and archived. Started iTunes with option key as suggested, pointed to that file, it works... thanks.

     

    HOWEVER... As one of the undoubtedly many thousands who have large libraries that won't fit on an internal drive, I have to say that the way iTunes handles externally stored libraries is a mess.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Sep 17, 2012 3:47 PM in response to woid
    Level 9 (54,635 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 17, 2012 3:47 PM in response to woid

    Works for me just pointing it to the folder but I use an older iTunes.  It may be one of the 'improvements' they made in a newer version where you have to be file-specific.

  • by woid,

    woid woid Sep 17, 2012 6:43 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Sep 17, 2012 6:43 PM in response to Limnos

    Pointing to the folder has always worked... Until this morning, when I downloaded 10.7.

     

    More to the point: on previous upgrades, iTunes has always figured out where my library was. This time, it created a new, empty, library file, and relegated the old one to an archive folder. I wonder if that's happening to everybody, or to those of us who have external libraries... In either case, a buggy pain.

     

    Thanks again for the help.

  • by MacRN,

    MacRN MacRN Sep 19, 2012 6:26 AM in response to woid
    Level 3 (640 points)
    Sep 19, 2012 6:26 AM in response to woid

    Same issue here. Wiped HD, installed ML, 10.8.1 update and then iTunes 10.7 BEFORE trying to point to my library on a seperate interrnal drive in my MacPro. Nothing so far I have tried allows iTunes to see my library (which was being used by version 10.7 before the wipe and reinstall).

  • by MacRN,

    MacRN MacRN Sep 19, 2012 6:24 PM in response to MacRN
    Level 3 (640 points)
    Sep 19, 2012 6:24 PM in response to MacRN

    Well.. I guess if I could read... holding the OPTION key (not the COMMAND KEY) did work - although previously I could just point to the MUSIC folder and it would find the library correctly. Issue solved - music playing and ready for iOS6!