Q: my playlists have disappeared?

See this post. If you have AVG grab the latest update for it before attempting to recover the library. It should stop it happening again.

tt2

I have the same issue. I do have AVG but latest update didn't help.  My library resets anytime I sync a device. I read in another post tht people without AVG are experiencing the same issue.

I've dropped some feedback in your other posts...

tt2

turingtest2 -

I have a similar issues as this one that you answered long ago, I hope you might be able to help me. I've read through several of your replies and others, trying what is suggested but without success due to either different versions or possibly I'm just not computer literate enough to follow.

Recently, my PC computer crashed, purchased a new one (with Windows 8) and fortunately had all my files and music backed up.  I was able to copy all my music from my external hard-drive to the new PC. All of my music library showed up in the new iTunes 11version - but without my playlists.

I have my "Classic" iPod with my playlists.  I have not synced it to the laptop because of fear that I would lose the playlists.  But I'd like to sync it since I have purchased new music and create ne wplaylists  Is it possible to somehow transfer ONLY the playlists from my iPod to my iTunes on the computer.  Or - is there someway to find the playlists in "Previous iTunes Libraries" or elsewhere from either the extrenal hard-drive or in the iTunes file on my computer...WITHOUT creating duplicate music libraries that I somehow have done in the past. 

Hi.

Every track in iTunes gets a unique ID. Playlists are a list of these IDs. If you have built a "new" library with the old media then the tracks will have different IDs in the library and on the device. I wrote a script a while back that manages to update stats in the library from stats on the device as long at the track properties (Artist/Album/## Name) match. I've considered adapting the script to import playlists too but I've been busy lately and nobody as yet has asked me to follow through. I can think of other approaches that would involve recovering everything, and then deduping (I've another script for that) but a dedicated playlist copying script would be more efficient. Can you wait a few days?

tt2

I forgot to say if you have the original library files backed up somewhere then it should be possible to restore them...

tt2

Thank you for your reply and willingness to help. Yes, most certainly I can wait a few days for a script to tell me how to do this! 

To (attempt to) answer your question about the original iTunes music library backed up...yes, I have it on a NAS that automatically backsup my laptop.  When I copied over the iTunes file to the new computer, I assumed it would have the playlists...and maybe it did??  I've done so many things since getting the new computer up and running, maybe the playlists disappeared AFTER I installed iTunes and it was the new 11 version??  Or maybe they were never there to begin with when copied over??  In any case, I have my iPod and also the iTunes folder on the NAS, now copied as it appears on the laptop, but I would assume also an old version from before the crash??

See this migrate iTunes library post for the preparation I would normally recommend. The "split library" link in there will give a few clues about what files are expected to be where. Restore everything as it was on the orginal system and it should "just work". If the library wasn't in the portable shape i have another script that can often repair broken links. Otherwise I can persue the playlist extraction idea. Probably have to wait until Sunday to grab some quiet time to work on it.

tt2

Taken a little longer than I'd hoped but hopefully ImportDevicePlaylists will be useful to somebody.

tt2