HELP! My Library keeps resetting itself

iTunes has opened multiple times with no reset.

I'll most likely go back to MSE, however, because it installed and uninstalled so easily and had no ads. I liked its invisibility.

AVG was kind of a bear to install and uninstall. It makes its presence known. AVG also didn't completely uninstall, it left folders behind that it used after reinstalling. All minor, but it adds up to annoying.

I have stuck "faithfully" to AVG ever since the problem reared it's ugly head about a week ago. But I used quotes there b/c in reality I have just been lazy to uninstall AVG and install MSE. I can confirm though, that I am still seeing the problem as of Virus Database Version 3162/6229. Although I hate itunes 11 with a vengeance, I currently do not have a replacement for it. Thanks to this thread, I have a replacement though for AVG.

If you're not enjoying iTunes 11 see this post on how to restore some of the old behaviour, or roll back to 10.7.

tt2

My iTunes library disappeared again today - AFTER the AVG update with a supposed fix.

I recovered it by doing the .tmp rename trick, but I've had enough. I uninstalled AVG and installed MSE instead.

Maybe I (and my PC) will get a rest now.

There's plenty of old iTunes versions available, 32 bit and 64 bit. Check oldapps.com.

tt2 is so forgiving, changing v.11 to look like the older versions! No doubt I'll end up back there eventually. In the meantime I am enjoying the earlier version.

Wait a minute...

I've been using iTunes this morning no problems, but got worried with several people saying it had reset even after the install of new AVG. I checked. Mine had reset too.

In a few minutes I will go back to MSE and iTunes 11, following the directions from tt2(thanks).

What a learning experience.

I've been having this problem for a while now, and was directed to this thread. I've unistalled AVG and gone with MSE. Here's hopeing it works.

One more question. I've had to revert to an older itunes libraary to get everythign back so I have more thing to re-add. How do I save the library so I know which is most recent and can easily revert back to it, just in case. Or is the library file an automatic thing?

Some very good, easy to follow advice in here too, thanks for everyones help

1. Close iTunes, wait a while for it to completely close the database files.
2. Select the file iTunes Library.itl in the main iTunes folder and press CTRL+C
3. Browse to the Previous iTunes Libraries folder and press CTRL+V
4. Select the file you just pasted and press F2, add the date.
5. Start iTunes to make sure that it is still working, if so you now know that you have a valid time-stamped backup of the database.

I'd still recommend you make a full backup and supervise each subsequent backup process to make sure that you never unexpectedly delete the backup database file or overwrite it with a smaller essentially empty copy.

tt2

A bit off topic, but unfortunately, going back to an old version of iTunes is no longer an option for me at this point. I already have half a year of metadata piled up with iTunes 11 using play counts and date added, plus an iPad Mini I need to sync with. I think if anything, my replacement software of choice in the future will have to come from somebody other than Apple.

Meanwhile, back on point, add me to the growing list of ppl who have not had any further problems since replacing AVG.

turingtest2, I followed your recommendations for changing the look of v.11 and am much better satisfied with the way iTunes looks.

Going back to older versions only reminded me of what was annoying in each version. After making the changes I am pleasantly surprised at the look - and also at having content!

Great. I like the new Grid view, I just wish they'd left the old Album List view in as well.

tt2

I take it the iPad mini requires iTunes 11? Otherwise if you really want to roll back and keep your recent stats I have a script called ExportImport that could be adjusted to save and then reimport the data.

tt2

It does require at least version 11, but my interest has been piqued. Does your method also maintain Date Added? I have another problem whereby I may very well need to do a full reimport but I noticed the method I used while keeping my newest files and playcounts wipes out Date Added with the current timestamp. I don't mean to bogart this thread and hijack it so lemme know either through PM or by posting in my problem thread and apologies to the TC 🙂.

No private messages on these forums, but I'll drop by your thread...

tt2

When I still had AVG Free on my laptop, I unintsalled the latest iTunes 11.0.2.26 and replace it with 10.7, the next day my library was gone! Replacing the latest iTunes 11.0.2.26 with any older versions will not work as long as AVG is installed. After I removed AVG Free (and kept Microsoft Security Esssentials) I went back to 11.0.2.26 and have NO issues with loosing my library. I do hope the folks at Apple will fix the problem of iTunes not importing all files selected or not importing track numbers (I had the same problem when I instsalled older versions of iTunes, don't know why). I have not reinstalled AVG, because I don't rust it anymore.

Day one of no AVG and MSE in its place, iTunes Library still there.