HELP! My Library keeps resetting itself

turingtest2 wrote:

I don't think AVG is actually deleting anything, just tripping up a file rename operation. Frankly iTunes ought to do a better job of detecting such issues and gracefully recovering. While the current spate of problems might be new there is a backgruond of failed library updates during upgrade operations which could be automatically detected and resumed.

tt2

Respectfully disagree. When antivirus software is installed on any Windows, antivirus is set up to take position in registry that overrides "decision" of Windows administrator or program that is being run by him. No other program, unless it is malicious will go into registry deeper. I would not want to be a programmer that would have to bypass antivirus. Database of files, that are tripping antivirus is updated daily and they(AVG) just need to make sure that particular file that ituneshelper.exe or any other .exe is trying to access is not blocked for excess. There are not to many executables in itunes, to make an exceptions for. Everything in that post is JMHO, I do not pretend to know enough to pass my judgement, but still would suggest a report.

I guess I'm not explaining myself well. As far as I can tell AVG isn't actively deleting any files, as it would do with a "false positive". The mechanism by which iTunes updates the library appears to be. Write out new version of the library as a temporary file, delete the original file, rename the temporary file with the original file name. It does this for both the iTunes Library.itl and iTunes (Music) Library.xml every time a song starts playing and again when it finishes. And for any other action with the library!. AV sits in the middle of every file operation and checks before letting it complete. Perhaps something changed in a recent update to the AVG engine which makes it take longer to permit the change that iTunes has requested, or sometimes stall it altogether. I'm not saying that affected users shouldn't try to contact AVG, just that there isn't a false positive to watch for. I'd also like it if Apple attempted to make iTunes able to heal itself when things go wrong.

tt2

For the past two months I had been working on a major rework of all my media. I had just ripped my 600+ cd collection to Apple Lossless. Created 320 kbs mp3 version of each song in itunes, which created duplicates in iTunes. Had to figure out a way to move mp3 versions of iTunes library and media folder, while maintaining sturcture integrity (thanks Win 7 Robocopy, you're a lifesaver). Set up Windows Media Center to stream mp3s to XBOX 360, because it doesn't like Apple Lossless. Set up Teamviewer to remotely do some file tweaking to two libraries. Plus, like I mentioned before, I'm actually dealing with two user accounts on my computer. And just when I'm done with this project, my library goes missing, 😕 *** and LOL😕 So because of all these changes, I thought I had done someting wrong. So I would recreate everything. Create a smart playlist because 3000 lossless files don't fit on 32G iphone or ipad. Sync iphone and ipad with on the fly conversion to 256 kbs aac files. And only to lose everything a couple of hours or a rebot later.

Long story short, thanks to this thread, found out AVG was the culprit, deleted it and now everything is working fine.

I am not sure if this is related to the problem but earlier I tried to burn a dvd and my built in dvd writer had a code 19, connected my portable dvd writer and same thing (it works fine with my netbook).

Tried to shut down and use F8 to go to last good configuration but that wouldn't work and windows kept starting so gave up and attempted to go back to the restore point before AVG was installed. Failed first time as it needed AVG switched off but seems to have worked and I now have my DVD drive back and working, and AVG tried to run the big 2013 update but I've refused it.

Unfortunately my iTunes library is now back to the state it was late last night with no content!!! Glad I spent time restoring it!

Just spotted a thread with a couple of posts about dvd burners not working, both users have Windows 7 but do not mention AVG.

Hector, did you do what tt2 suggested, and install Microsoft Security Essentials when you deleted AVG? Or did you install another anti-virus program?

tt2, I just did a little research into MSE, and it doesn't have the best reviews online. What's your opinion of it, and do you use it?

Your opinions are much appreciated.

Yes, I'm currently using MSE on a number of machines. Having seen Norton, AVG, Avast, McAffe, Eset and others fail to protect against drive-by infections in the past I'm relucant to spend money on anybody's product. (I am the IT dept. where I work, and I get to clean colleagues' personal computer too.) MSE seems to get frequent enough updates, doesn't bog down the system and isn't constantly trying to sell its paid for cousin. If you don't visit the wilder corners of the net you're unlikely to get any attempt to attack your computer. If you keep it updated you should be protected from all but the most novel of exploits. AV may or may not help in the final case. Backup your important data regularly and if you do ever get infected be prepared to tear down and rebuild if neccessary. There are plenty of theads here that read "I got a virus and had to wipe my compuer, now my libray is gone". This isn't needed. Often there are thirdy party tools that can clean the infection, or the drive can be attached to another computer for repair. If nothing else all the user's data can be recovered before reinstalling Windows.

That said I've taken a quick look at the current reviews and they do seem a bit down on MSE at the moment. Weird thing is it was a similar sort of "best free AV" review which first introduced me to MSE a few months ago it because it came out on top. 😕

tt2

Message was edited by: turingtest2

Yes, I I did install MSE and it seems OK.

Me too. So far, so good.

I uninstalled AVG and replaced it with Avast on Friday night, and so far, so good.

Don't want to jinx anything but it's been over 24 hours since I uninstalled AVG and replaced it with MSE. So far, library holding strong.

I don't want to depress you, but I had about a week without problems after a clean re-install of iTunes.

iTunes is still regularly deleting all my content and going back to default settings. Grrrrh. I seriously do not want to switch to Microsoft protection, so I hope that's not what I have to do.

nosenabook wrote:

I don't want to depress you, but I had about a week without problems after a clean re-install of iTunes.

iTunes is still regularly deleting all my content and going back to default settings. Grrrrh. I seriously do not want to switch to Microsoft protection, so I hope that's not what I have to do.

Yeh, that's why I said I didn't want to jinx things. Did you uninstall AVG?

AVG is still in place. I tried a new way of making an exception for iTunes.

Well, fromsouth is right in that someone staying with AVG should call them and work through the issue. I'm not crazy about having uninstalled AVG and going with MSE...I've been using AVG for around 15 years and it has served me well.