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Sarah-1997 Author

Level 1

1 points

All the content from my iTunes library has disappeared

The other day I went onto iTunes and everything had disappeared from it except for the music in the Cloud. All the music is still intact in the folders on my computer and when I double click any song it reappears on iTunes but without any information like number of plays, and I obviously don't want to do this manually for every song as I have nearly two thousand. I synced my iPod with iTunes again but no message came up and the music is still on my iPod, as if it is only 'hiding' on iTunes. I'm not sure if it's something to do with the fact i got a new iPod a few days ago, but iTunes worked perfectly when I first got it so I'm confused about what's happened.

iPod touch

Posted on Apr 2, 2013 8:54 AM

Best reply

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Posted on Apr 2, 2013 9:02 AM

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 copied and renamed as iTunes Library.itl to restore the library to an earlier state. Look for a recent .tmp file that is similar in size to the .itl files in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder. If it has happened repeatedly you may want the earliest such file generated since the last iTunes upgrade.

If applicable, 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

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184 replies

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 10, 2013 1:50 PM in response to anoopy_58

See this post.

tt2

Apr 10, 2013 2:10 PM in response to turingtest2

I tried to go to that location on my hard drive and the locations don't exist, so I don't know what to do now.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 10, 2013 2:17 PM in response to anoopy_58

Your iTunes library is stored somewhere. Usually <User's Music>\iTunes where the location of <User's Music> depends on your user name and the version of Windows. If you can't work it out use my script TunesXMLPath or search the computer for all files of the form *.itl and look in the folders relating to the results. The extensions may or may not be visible depending on your version of Windows and whether or not you've changed Windows Explorer preferences.

tt2

Apr 11, 2013 12:15 PM in response to turingtest2

Hi,

I've been following this thread for the last couple of days in the hope of restoring my iTunes library which disappeared at some point between Monday and Tuesday.

Firstly I got rid of AVG and installed Microsoft Security Essentials.

I've then tried following the steps set out in turingtest2's post.

My most recent Library file from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder is from the date on which I upgraded to iTunes 11 (approximately 3 weeks ago). I've tried copying this to my main iTunes folder and renaming it 'iTunes Library.itl' but this has no effect. I've also tried renaming various .tmp files the same but I get a message saying that these are not valid Library files.

Is there anything I haven't done or am not doing correctly?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 11, 2013 12:20 PM in response to JamesofCanada

Did the .itl extension show up before you renamed the previous library? In other words did it go from iTunes Library 2013-03-## to iTunes Library.itl? If so rename the copied file as iTunes Library as the extensions are hidden on your system and this will give the file the correct name.

An alternative approach is to go into Windows Explorer's folder options and untick the option to hide known extentions.

tt2

Apr 11, 2013 12:44 PM in response to turingtest2

Right.

What I was doing was renaming the library files with the .itl extension as part of the file name.

I've since managed to use the library file to restore my library from a few weeks ago. Granted it's not fully up to date, but it's a **** sight better than having to start all over again.

Thanks for your advice!

CLP112

Level 1

0 points

Apr 11, 2013 12:50 PM in response to Sarah-1997

I have windows 7 and AVG free virus scanner. I had issues with Itunes 11 wiping out music files. I downgraded to Itunes 10.7 and it is doing the same thing. Anyone else having trouble with 10.7? It is frustrating when neither one of these Itunes will work. I have to keep reloading lots of music files and it is very time consuming.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 11, 2013 1:24 PM in response to CLP112

Right now AVG is doing the damage. It will probably do it for any version of iTunes. Switch AV packages until they fix it or Apple find a way to prevent the damage AVG is doing...

tt2

gadlaw6

Level 1

10 points

Apr 11, 2013 2:15 PM in response to turingtest2

SO AVG is doing the damage to my iTunes folder? That makes sense since I did run a AVG scan last night and today after work found my iTunes library gone like the wind. Thanks for the backup info. I took copies of those backup files and put them in another file to backup my backup. Also copies of the temp files as was mentioned. I see I'm still having to redownload my iTune songs but that's not nearly the number of my other songs which are backed up in a saltmine in Utah somewhere. lol. Now while I'm thinking about it I'm going to burn disks of the itunes bought songs now. So easily I am otherwise cut off it seems. Now I have to look into a different antivirus program.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 11, 2013 4:54 PM in response to gadlaw6

Yes. 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

yorpy224

Level 1

0 points

Apr 11, 2013 8:23 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks so much for this post.. I thought I was going to break my computer. Got all my stuff back.

Thanks again! 🙂

gadlaw6

Level 1

10 points

Apr 11, 2013 8:27 PM in response to yorpy224

I bought Bitdefender and it uninstalled AVG for me and set itself up. Hopefully that will be the last time I click on iTunes and find myself with a nearly empty music collection.

Apr 12, 2013 1:15 PM in response to turingtest2

Where exactly do you find the "Previous iTunes Libraries" folder?

turingtest2

Level 10

272,955 points

Apr 12, 2013 1:36 PM in response to QuoteNotes

Inside your iTunes folder, normally <User's Music>\iTunes\Previous iTunes Libraries. It is created during certain iTunes upgrades if it doesn't already exist.

tt2

Apr 12, 2013 1:47 PM in response to turingtest2

My folder structure is Libraries/Music/My Music/iTunes

The only subfolders in the iTunes folder are Album Artwork and iTunes Media.

The iTunes folder includes the following files:

iTunes Music Library (5.36 MB XML Document)

iTunes Library (1.20 MB Database File)

iTunes Library.itl.backup (1.28 MB BACKUP File)

iTunes Library.itl.original (1.28 MB BACKUP File)

All the content from my iTunes library has disappeared