Itunes library GONE.

That's great, thanks so much turingtest2 - script works really well.

Unfortunately having shut down iTunes, it's reverted to purchased only again 😠

I'm having a problem similar to someone earlier in the post where iTunes won't let me change a '.tmp' file to a '.itl' file. I've got 15 tmp files from today as it just keeps making new ones...

Ditch AVG. I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials as a replacement. You should find that after your restore it again your library then remains stable.

Make that backup I mentioned. 😉

tt2

Thanks again turingtest2. I did try downloading synctoy, but it wouldn't install for some reason. Will get rid of AVG and see if that helps.

I've now got synctoy working and have run your v helpful script again. Quick question - if i use the sync stats script with and iPhone which has some music on it and then try with an iPad which has it all, will the iPad data overwrite the iPhone data, or will it automatically keep the higher numbers / newest dates? Thanks!

Adds higher played or skipped counts, sets more recent played or skipped dates, from the device into the library. Doesn't change anything else. If you use it with both devices you should get the most up-to-date values, although I guess there is a possibility that if you'd played a particular track twice on the device since the last time it was synced, use the script to restore the correct playcount to iTunes and then sync, the delta count of 2 plays might be added into the library again. I originally wrote the script for someone who was manually managing their iPod and had rebuilt the library on their computer so I wasn't really focused on the potential side effects when using it with a synced device. Either way it should get you closer to the "correct" values.

tt2

I would like to hear from others who have done this before I make the change. I have added exception to avg and itunes will toss the data file to the trash. I back up the 4 working data files in itunes too an external harddrive before the itl file gets tossed into trash. Then I delete the old files and copy the back up into itunes and my library is restored. No one knows yet why the itunes library gets tossed into trash in the first place. Also have people who dont have AVG still losing their library.

Ditch AVG, I don't have the time & energy to run tests myself, but from the feedback I've had from other users it would seem that the current version of AVG (including the recent patch that was supposed to fix it) cannot be obeying its own exclusions as the problem persisted until AVG was replaced, and then went away. I have used AVG personally for years and often recommended to others, but I've now switched to Microsoft Security Essentials for personal use and I can't see myself recommending AVG again.

tt2

My library disappeared too. It actually did do while I was on my computer. I had just put a couple new songs on iTunes and everything was fine. Closed iTunes. Opened it a few mintues later and everything was gone. I'm an AVG user as well so I do think that's what's causing the problem.

Anyway I used the tactics described above by turingtest2 and myheartisinmothballs and I was able to get my library back very easily. thank you!!

I think AVG might not be the culprit, or at least the lone culprit. Two weeks ago this happened to me for the first time, but thanks to turingtest2's instructions I was able to restore the library. I was also running AVG and based on the other posts thought it might make more trouble, but for the 14+ days following the disappearance I made changes/updates to my iTunes Library—while AVG scaned and updated—without problems or vanishing libraries. One point that I believe important is that during that time I never connected my iPod (4th Gen running 6.1.3 in case it matters) to my computer.

Today, when I finally did connect the iPod via USB—SURPRISE! the library decided to pull a disappearing act again. I was able to restore it by renaming one of the temp files in the iTunes folder, but I decided to post my experience in the thread because it appears that syncing may play a larger role in the problem than AVG, which according to my logs took no note of iTunes whatsoever (nothing was flagged, quarantined or removed).

Has anyone else noticed that their library disappeared only when they connected their iPod to their computer?

I've got this issue - just found it this morning, and I DON'T run AVG, I run Microsoft Security Essentials.

It is very scary.

I don't seem to be able to add existing songs into the library.

😟

The mechanism I think is involved with the vanishing library can potentially be triggered by any background process that monitors the file system, anti-virus, anti-malware, continuous backup etc. Sony VIAO's have software that has caused the same kind of problem in the past, it has also been known to occur quite often during iTunes upgrades, and at random too. Of late there does appear to be a correlation with AVG, and for many people removing AVG has stopped the library repeatedly disappearing.However the random low level incidence of the problem won't have gone away.

Were you able to restore either a .tmp or .itl file in the way described? If you need to use an older .itl file then you may need to add the media folder to the library to import recent additions to your media folder. Not being able to add files to the library at all sounds like a different symptom. 😕

tt2

Hi,

I can report some progress.

I had tried to restore one version of a .itl I found (the biggest and most recent, but not quite in a location I expected) with no success. I then found the advice in an old archived thread and held down 'Shift' while double-clicking the iTunes icon. This then prompted me to chose a location for my library - I selected the one I thought it should be and all returned to normal. 🙂

I'll keep an eye on it of course.

Cheers

Chris

Hi Chris.

While that will work you'll find the library file isn't in quite the right place with respect to the media folder, or that your media folder has been changed. First check under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the correct media folder is being used, normally <User's Music>\iTunes\iTunes Media, or you'll have content in multiple locations. The library will work in this layout, but should you need to move it later it is better to get the library files stored back in the main iTunes folder. It also ensure a backup of the iTunes folder can work as a fully functioning library.

To restore a normal arrangement delete or rename the old library files and Album Artwork folder in <User's Music>\iTunes, copy the library files and Album Artwork folder from the current location to <User's Music>\iTunes, rename the .itl file as iTunes Library.itl if required then shift-start-iTunes and open <User's Music>\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl

tt2

Hi, my iTunes was wiped again yesterday, but it wasn't a big deal as I easily replaced it with a backup. But now the songs I have since added to by iTunes do not sync with my iPod. Is there a solution to this?

I think this happened last time my iTunes was wiped, but I got them to sync again, but I can't remember how.

Thanks

You may need to review the sync settings. Perhaps it is no longer syncing certain playlists. Check the songs in question play in iTunes and are "checked".

tt2