Itunes on an external hard drive problem

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Itunes on an external hard drive problem

I've operated my itunes library from an external hard drive successfully for some time now, usually keeping the hard drive connected to the PC. I recently removed the hard drive to use with my laptop. When I reconnected the external hard drive itunes won't load. I get a message which says: "itunes cannot run bacause some its required filesare missing. Please reinstall itunes" Not sue whether to do this I don't want to lose my music files.

I've connected the external drive to the laptop and can see that the itunes library is still there. However. when I use shift and itunes and choose that library the music list comes up but none of it's there. When selected I get the message "the song could not be found would you like to locate it" with the dreaded ! by the name of the song.

Not sue what to do??

Help Please

Windows XP

Posted on Aug 4, 2013 9:13 AM

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Answer 1

claptonwhite Author

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Aug 5, 2013 12:45 PM in response to claptonwhite

Have reinstalled itunes which has resolved the problem without losing my music.

Still can't understand why I can't connect the external hard drive to my laptop using the choose library function. Any ideas why this won't work?

Thanks

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Answer 2

Chris CA

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Aug 5, 2013 12:57 PM in response to claptonwhite

What is on the external drive?

/iTunes/ folder or /iTunes media/ folder?

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Answer 3

claptonwhite Author

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Aug 5, 2013 2:47 PM in response to Chris CA

The external hard drive has both

\My music\itunes john\ then have a number of folders including:

\itunes media\automatically add to itunes

\itunes library

Have tried to direct to both these paths using the change library. With \itunes media it won't allow me to select. When I select itunes library it seems to load up but then can't locate any songs.

Thanks

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Answer 4

Chris CA

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82,434 points

Aug 5, 2013 4:54 PM in response to claptonwhite

Have tried to direct to both these paths using the change library.

You mean holding Shift when launching iTunes and selecting Choose library... and selecting the iTunes folder on the external?

Have have recently updated iTunes? Do you have the exact same version on both machines?

See this -> http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967

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Answer 5

claptonwhite Author

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Aug 6, 2013 11:20 AM in response to Chris CA

Chris

Sorry yes I meant shift and choose library.

I have recently updated itunes but I have the same version on both the PC and laptop (Itunes 11.0.4.4),

The PC is on Windows XP wheareas the PC is Windows 7. Would this make a difference?

Also the PC shows the external drive as drve F but the laptop is drive E??

Tried the link but didn't help.

Thanks for your time

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Answer 6

turingtest2

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Aug 6, 2013 11:36 AM in response to claptonwhite

If the library won't work when it has a different drive letter one approach would be to change settings in Windows disk managment to restore the original letter.

If the library is all there, but has broken links, another approach would be my FindTracks script.

If you want to be able to swap the library back & forth then seemaking your split library portable.

tt2

Message was edited by: turingtest2

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Answer 7

claptonwhite Author

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Aug 6, 2013 1:21 PM in response to turingtest2

Changing the settings in windows disc management from e to f on the laptop so that it matched the PC resolved the problem, I am able to use the same library on both the PC and the laptop.

Thanks for your help

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Answer 8

turingtest2

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272,731 points

Aug 6, 2013 1:28 PM in response to claptonwhite

You're welcome. 🙂

In the long run making the library portable would make it able to operate whichever drive letter is assigned so you don't run into the issue again. I can give specific instructions if you want. I'd just need to know the the path to the active .itl library file and to the media folder.

tt2

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Answer 9

claptonwhite Author

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Aug 6, 2013 2:08 PM in response to turingtest2

I would be interested in having a more permanent solution so would appreciate specific instructions.

The path to the Itunes library is:

F:\My Music\Itunes John\Itunes Library

The path to the media file is:

F:\My music\Itunes\Itunes media (this folder only has: Automatically Add to Itunes)

Thanks

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Answer 10

turingtest2

Level 10

272,731 points

Aug 6, 2013 4:16 PM in response to claptonwhite

Should be easy...

Close iTunes
Copy everything inside F:\My Music\iTunes John into F:\My Music\iTunes
Shift-start iTunes, click choose, and choose the library file F:\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Library

If you now connect the drive and it has been given a different drive letter then iTunes will complain it can't find the library on startup. Just browse to X:\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Library where X: where is the current drive letter and the links to the tracks should be properly resolved.

Personally I keep my library one level higher as X:\iTunes. There is no need to take that extra step, but now the libray is portable you could move it any time if you wish. Once you're happy all is good you can delete the old iTunes John folder.

tt2

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