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what happened to my playlists? I just loaded version 11.0.4.4 and all my playlists and songs uploaded from CDs to iTunes disapeared!!!!
Dell Latitude E6500, Windows 7
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 as iTunes Library (Corrupt) 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.
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.
tt2
Moving stuff by hand, with some rare exceptions, breaks things.
First off does the media play now?
What value do you have for the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced?
How large is the library?
How much free space does the drive have?
tt2
Doesn't play. (Sigh.)
C:\Users\marie_000\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media
Very large (8000 tracks).
Plenty of free space.
In that case close iTunes, move things to where they ought to be, and start iTunes again. If you're really lucky iTunes is actually looking for your content in the usual place, which is why it is broken now, otherwise I have a repair tool. Don't forget to keep the various media types folders, Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts etc at the level of iTunes Media instead of moving them down into iTunes Media\Music.
The media folder is correct, don't change it.
I'd call 8,000 moderate.
Free space is no longer an issue. Might have been if the media had played where it currently is.
tt2
Thank you, Turing Test! Everything plays perfectly again. I never did get my current playlists back with any of the old libraries, but I can live without . . . and meantime I'll be hunting down a separate way to back up playlists. You're my hero!
You're welcome. 🙂
If the playlists are still on the iPod classic see my script ImportDevicePlaylists.
And see this backup tip to backup the entire library, playlists included. 😉
tt2
Make that "superhero"!
😊
tt2
Ditto all the accolades - your solution fixed my problem too! One question I had - the latest 'previous iTunes library' that I renamed and replaced was from September. I've synced and backed up my devices many times since September. I wondered why that one was the most recent one I had. Does iTunes have it's own schedule for creating these 'previous iTunes library' files?
I hope they're paying you. They should be.😉
The database backups in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder are made at the start of most iTunes version upgrades. You can make your own manually but see this backup tip for a way to make sure you have a complete, updatable, backup of the entire library.
tt2
I have followed your advice, having lost all my playlists after an update. I renamed the file, copied, pasted etc. However having re-opened itunes with fingers crossed it looks exactly the same. In fact the last track I downloaded on 25 Nov is there and I picked a previous itunes version dated September. Seems to me like I haven't got something right. Here's a screen shot of what my screen looks like now if that's any good. Thank you for all the help you're giving everyone with this.
MAYBE I NEEDS RESTORE FOR DUMMIES.....
I had tried your method given at the beginning of this thread but had no luck. I preserved, read more posts and luckily came across this one! I used the Apple support doc that you linked to and yay, my iTunes content is back. Thank you!
🙂
tt2
This didnt work I have windows 8 and there is no file for previous Itunes Library found. I have my old computer and when I bring up Itunes on there it has my Library but how do I get that from my old computer to my new computer. I have no apple device my Ipod was stolen. I need to do it via disk or something else.
what happened to my playlists? I just loaded version 11.0.4.4 and all my playlists and songs uploaded from CDs to iTunes disapeared!!!!
