XML iTunes library file changing path by itself!

Hmm, hacking the XML file as part of a library migration should not be necessary. iTunes uses this file to support 3rd party apps, not to tell it where to find media. That data is stored in the iTunes Library.itl database.

Let's start with what I think you should have done...

These are two possible approaches that should work to move an existing iTunes library to a new computer.

Method 1

1. Backup the library with this User Tip.
2. Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
3. Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
4. Keep your backup up-to-date in future.

Method 2

Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.

Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase are reload.

I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.

Should you be in the unfortunate position where computer has died with no backup then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.

The standard method doesn't work so well if the media folder has been split to a new location so that it is no longer a sub-folder of the iTunes folder. In such cases one can either Make a split library portable or restore the media folder to exactly the same path.

When iTunes 9 was released it included a new structure for the library called, at the time, "iTunes Media Organization". This moved the location of certain media content within the library. Notably artist level folders moved to <Media Folder>\Music instead of <Media Folder>. I suspect your library is in the "pre-iTunes 9" layout but, because of the order in which you installed iTunes and migrated your library, iTunes "thinks" it is the newer layout.

Close iTunes. Inside your media folder is a hidden file .iTunes Preferences.plist. Open this with a text editor, change line 8 from

<integer>1</integer>

to

<integer>0</integer>

and save the change. Start iTunes. Should all be fixed.

I'd advise that you use Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder> to upgrade to the newer layout.

tt2

You really don't need to edit the XML. Download & run the script iTunesInfo which should output something a bit like this:

I'm interested in the values of the first four lines. You can hide your username with <User> if it's in there. Also worth checking that Media Folder Location agrees with Edit > Preferences > Advanced. If not, let me know the value of that too.

tt2

Hmm, I wonder if iTunes 11.0.1.12 actually "obeys" the setting of the organization flag? I shall run some tests.

tt2

OK, test library in "old" layout works fine when the media folder is "iTunes Music" or "iTunes Media".

There is another file that stores preferences that is sometimes implicated when things go wrong. The file iTunesPrefs.xml should be at:

C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes (Win XP)

or

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes (Later Windows)

With iTunes closed try renaming the file and then starting iTunes. It might behave this time.

Alternatively go with the flow and move your artists folders down into <Media Folder>\Music.

tt2

😀

tt2

My whole library went missing when my drive crashed. I recovered the files but to a different drive. I then re-added the new folder to the library. Then in the "songs" view I add the column Date Added an sorted by the date added an this grouped all the songs with the missing locations together so I could mass delete them from the Library.

Hope this helps......

I had a similar problem, tried editing the XML, failed.

I had backed up the iTunes folder to external HDD because of drive errors, and was forced to use a new, smaller HDD for my system.

Usually I would have just copied back the iTunes folder, but I didn't have enough space for my music folder with my own sorting system.

So what I did was create a symlink (something like an alias, but on a deeper system level) pointing from ~/Music/my_own_music to the /my_own_music folder on my external HDD.

So:

- Copied the iTunes folder

- Open Terminal

sudo ln -s /Volumes/external/my_own_music/ ~/Music/my_own_music

You will have to change "external" for the name of your external HDD.

This creates a symlink in your home /Music folder called "my_own_music" that looks and behaves like a normal folder, but is really just a link to the correct folder on the external drive.

To remove a symlink use unlink ~/Music/my_own_music

iTunes now thinks all my files are on my internal HDD where they always were, altough they are really still on the external drive.

The behaviour may have changed, or be different under OS X, but it has been that case that symlinks relating to the media folder may be broken when new content is added to the library.

tt2