itunes cannot locate music in my library

The options in full are :

Keep iTunes Media folder organized and

Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library

Keep & Copy for short.

tt2

That is, you want to know which option is checked off? (I was looking for options listed under these.)

It is "Keep iTunes Media folder organized"...

So the real location is:

C:\Users\...\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Music\F38\ICKM.m4a

But iTunes is looking in:

C:\Users\...\Music\transfer\Music\F38\ICKM.m4a

The media folder is:

C:\Users\...\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\

Keep iTunes Media organized is turned on.

Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library is turned off.

For starters I would suggest you run through the steps in Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows (while iTunes is closed) and apply to the folder C:\Users\...\Music.

Then I would physically move the FXX folders into:

C:\Users\...\Music\transfer\Music\

Start iTunes. Can it play your files?

If so the next step would be to use File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate Files. This should copy all of the files into the main media folder and connect iTunes to the new copies.

I would also recommend you close iTunes, rename the folder iTunes Music to iTunes Media and reopen which would put the library in the modern layout. The media folder preference should update automatically.

Oh, and see Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy when you're done.

tt2

When you write '"apply to the folder C:\Users\...\Music" do you mean C:\Users\...\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Music\ or C:\Users\...\Music\transfer\Music\ (They are both C:\Users\...\Music\ !)

PS - if I am not mistaken, the "consolidate files" option will effectively duplicate numerous files, using up considerable space (I have a great deal of music on this laptop, since I am far from my CD collection). This is not really an option for me.

I meant the higher level folder so that it includes all of the related subfolders.

If duplication, even on a temporary basis, isn't an option there are two ways to play it. Either use my script ConsolidateByMoving or use the techniques in Make a split library portable to put the library files in the main User's Music folder with transfer as the active media folder, and then normalize the library into the standard iTunes\iTunes Media layout.

tt2

Too late to try this tonight (I am in Europe), but I remain frustrated. Is there no other way to get iTunes to look for those files in the correct iTunes folder, rather than in an empty "transfer" folder?

I'm in Europe too. 😉

Even if you could trigger the mechanism that searches for other missing files in the same location it isn't going to find them because the names don't agree with the path implied by the tag. For the same reason my FindTracks script would fail. Moving them back to where iTunes is expecting to find them will make iTunes work. You can then use my ConsolidateByMoving script to move them back where you want them, or consolidate with iTunes and then delete the redundant copies it will leave in the transfer folder.

Why not move the files to start with so that at least your library works. If you don't fancy (or don't have the room) to let iTunes consolidate by itself, then my script should be easy enough to use. If you don't want to use a script recommended by an anonymous stranger then I can walk you through the precise steps needed to normalize the library using nothing other than iTunes and Windows Explorer.

tt2

Good afternoon! I am unable to locate some of my songs in my library, too and when I followed your suggestion to right click the broken song and say no to the Locate, I found the local host file path but it was not on the C drive but on the G drive!! The file path was file://localhost/G/iTunesMusic/U2/Zooropa/04Lemon.m4A. Any suggestions for this?

Thanks, vkgall

Start by reviewing this post from earlier in the thread. I'm guessing you left out a couple of spaces in that path. If you can show me actual location of that same track then I should be able to make suggestions.

tt2

I have not left out any spaces or characters. The problem that I see right off is that these missing music files are being stored in a drive that I do not have. I do not have a "G" drive, only a "C" where most of my music is being stored. This error occurred right after I upgraded to the new ITunes software. I was worried right off the bat as the desktop icon has changed from a blue background to a red one. Don't know if that is significant or not. I'm not sure why some files would be sent to a drive that I have never heard of before. I followed most of your suggestions, but when I saw the G drive, I stopped. Thanks for your help.

iTunes 12 has a red icon instead of a blue one. Nothing sinister there.

This path doesn't look quite right.

file://localhost/G/iTunesMusic/U2/Zooropa/04Lemon.m4A

My guess is that is one of these:

file://localhost/G:/iTunes Music/U2/Zooropa/04 Lemon.m4a

file://localhost/G:/iTunes/Music/U2/Zooropa/04 Lemon.m4a

but which?

The implication of that path is that the last time iTunes was able to access that particular file it was stored on a drive that had been assigned the drive letter G: Could the files in question have been added in from a memory stick? If they weren't copied into the media folder then once the stick was removed they would no longer be available. Regardless, can you locate the file 04 Lemon.m4a and if so where is it?

tt2

Thanks so much for that tip!! I had iTunes on my workplace computer but my boss told me that there was going to be a new security feature added to our work computers that would not allow us to attach memory sticks or iPhones or iPods. He gave me a memory stick and told me to copy my music folder from iTunes and put it into my home computer before this security upgrade occurred. I never copied the folders to my music library though and in fact I think I left the memory stick in the computer until just recently when I removed it. This morning I found one of the missing songs and copied the folder into my library and the song played and was stored along with the other iTunes music. I was concerned about the red background to the music note because my elderly computer was having trouble downloading the new software version in a timely fashion and I was concerned that perhaps the red background might mean that the download was incomplete in some way. I also am wondering why does saved CD music oftentimes not survive a software upgrade?

Thanks again!!

With the memory stick connected when you start iTunes use File > Library > Organize > Library > Consolidate Files. This will make sure iTunes has all the right files in the right places. Use Ctrl+B to reveal the menu bar if hidden.

Occasionally iTunes seems to crash during an upgrade leaving the converted library file incomplete. See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash should it be needed.

See also Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy.

tt2

I should let you know that the iTunes "consolidate files" did ultimately work. There were complications - for example, some album art inexplicably disappeared, along with some other information for individual tracks - but I managed to fix everything relatively quickly, as far as I know. Still, I have wasted many hours in total over something caused by an iTunes update. This does not make me happy. But that is not your fault. You have done your part. And I thank you for that.