Empty Itunes library :s

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Empty Itunes library :s

A couple of days ago- i was listening to some Music in the itunes library. After i visit the itunes store to search for a song i closed itunes. A couple of minutes later i restarted itunes and my library was completely empty. Only the purchased albums from the itunes store are now in the library. So i had more than 100 albums in there and a lot of podcasts. The podcasts are not the biggests problem because the are still available from the itunes store. I spoke with three representives from Apple and the all tell me that they are very sorry to hear this but the only solutions is to put al the albums manual in again… Is it possible to restore my old library albums and downloaded apps? The are still in the itunes mediafolder. My Music from the library is in two folders- First the itunes mediafolder and second on a other place on the harddrive. I hope there is anyone who can help me to find the solution for this. The Apple answer is not satisfying for me… Thanks in advance!

Windows 7

Posted on Mar 20, 2013 3:01 PM

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turingtest2

Level 10

272,755 points

Mar 20, 2013 7:48 PM in response to koen82

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.

Alternatively, depending on exactly when and why the library went missing, there may be a more recent .tmp file in the main iTunes folder that can be renamed as iTunes Library.itl to restore the library to a recent state.

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.

I've noticed more of these missing library posts of late and a common factor since I started asking is AVG Anti-Virus. It seems it might be at least part of the reason why the library file disappears. Try excluding the iTunes folder from any real-time scanning process.

tt2

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