iTunes Library keeps deleting itself! NOT using a Vaio....

Howdy. This just happened to me today for the first time ever, a real frustration given the time I put into my library. After my lack of satisfaction with the solutions I saw on the web, I found another solution that was easy and seemed to have worked just fine. I don't know if you'll have the same options I had, but try this:

Close iTunes and open your iTunes folder (probably something like this C:\Users\yournamehere\Music\iTunes). Right-click the iTunes files there (might just need to do the library files but I did all of them), and open the properties. In the Properties window I had a tab for "Previous Versions." I had a file from last week, selected it and chose the Restore option at the bottom of the window. When I opened iTunes after that it was as good as it was last week.

Like I said, you may or may not have those options depending on your system, etc., but if you do it's worth a shot. From now on, I'm going to manually back up those files on a regular basis.

Thanks for the info. on previous versions. I've added it into my general solution for these types of problems below...

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. There is also the possibility that Windows has created a backup copies of the iTunes Library.itl file which may found if you right-click on the current copy and select Restore Previous Versions.

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 to most since I started asking is AVG Anti-Virus. It seems in some cases it might be at least part of the reason why the library file disappears. Try excluding the iTunes folder from any AV scanning process.

tt2

I have had this problem before but it was about a year ago. Until this weekend when it happened again, I fixed it , and then again today. I do have AVG anti-virus, I will do as you suggest and give some feedback whether it happens again or not. thanks

I am having the exact same issue and I am also running AVG free. No problems until last week. Please keep us posted....

I've been having the exact same problem since yesterday, every time I open iTunes my old library file has been deleted and replaced by an empty one. I am running AVG and it does seem to have something to do with it. If I disable AVG the the problem goes away, no more library deletion. If I enable AVG the problem comes back immediately. Also I have tried adding iTunes to the AVG exceptions list (I added both the program files/itunes folder and the my music/itunes folder to the exceptions list) but this did not cure the problem.

Perhaps the problem is AVG not obeying its own exceptions then. You could try adding exclusions for .tmp and .itl files. Or switch to Microsoft Security Essentials. 😉

tt2

I had no luck using exceptions in AVG either. I finally dropped AVG altogether and adopted Microsoft Secuity Essentials and I made it through the weekend with no more deleted libraries. I also downgraded to old iTunes 9 because I am not happy with the recent "upgrades." Poor print formatting, jumbo icons, etc. But that's a whole different story.

AVG Free has been a great perfromer the past five years and I did not want to drop it. But using iTunes is part of our business here- managing a huge library, making playlists, and burning CDs for a dance studio. I can not afford to have all my playlists, album art, and collections blown away as a surprise one morning.

MSE seems light and quick. We'll give it a try...

Many thanks to TURINGTEST2 for your topic post - I now have a fully recovered & working iTunes library thanks to your great advice!

The section of using 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" is what helped me.

After renaming the current (corrupt) version of my iTunes library file and then renaming the most recent temp file (iT 9.tmp) as iTunes Library.itl it worked perfectly.

I have now also taken backups of my iTunes Library ;-)

🙂

tt2

I had this exact same problem. Exceptions in AVG didn't work - I thought it had, but lo and behold two days later, it ate my library again. This ongoing issue has definitely got me backing up habitually though, so at least this time I was able to get back on my feet relatively quickly.

Just uninstalled AVG Free and installed a different antivirus. If it holds steady through the rest of the week, then I'll consider it a fix. It's disappointing that I had to switch antivirus just to keep my library (and therefore, my sanity) intact, but... well, let's be honest, I wasn't 100% thrilled with AVG anyway~ 😉

Yep...Same Here! I uninstalled AVG a few days ago and replaced with Virgin Media Security.. I've had no problems with the iTunes library resetting itself since the change. AVG is definately the problem...