Every time I launch iTunes, my library/playlists have been cleared.

Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash

Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. Note that in iTunes 11 an "empty" library may show your past purchases with links to stream or download them.

In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.

See iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.

When you get it all working make a backup!

Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.

Would you mind telling me which anti-virus package you use? It may be that it is disturbing iTunes when it tries to write out the fresh database, as it does after almost any activity with your library. I'm noticing more of this type of problem than usual and trying to see if there is any pattern. It may help to prevent a repeat of the problem if you look at the advanced options for your AV package and see if you can find a way to exclude the iTunes folder from any real-time scanning process.

tt2

You're welcome. 🙂

...I will definitely go into my AVG scan and take the iTunes folder out for future scans since it's highly unlikely I will ever have a virus within my music folder.

Indeed. FWIW I asked a few similar questions regarding AV yesterday and so far AVG seems to have been consistently involved when people have got back to me... By no means conclusive, but certainly suggestive.

tt2

I just submitted a question as well - and am now thinking that AV may have had something to do with it. Yesterday's report states that there was a "trojan horse found on iPodService.exe". I find that hard to believe, but AV "healed" this problem.

I do not back up my library monthly - that's going to change - so is there anything I can do to restore to a state that it was in prior to 3/15?

If you use the most recent library file you have using the method give above you can then use a tool such as iTunes Folder Watch to scan the media folders and update the library with files that have been added/removed/renamed since then. You'll lose the intermediate playcounts and any new playlists that you've made but that is probably the best that can be achieved.

tt2

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2