Why don't all my iTunes Library songs show up in my music folder

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Why don't all my iTunes Library songs show up in my music folder

I have a lot of music in iTunes (16,000 plus songs) and they are stored on a LaCie external hard drive. Just recently I discovered that when I click on the file folder where all the music is stored, only files starting with A through B are listed. I can play anything in iTunes ~ nothing is missing, but the list of music when looking at the file with Windows Explorer is incomplete.

The reason this is of concern is because I am trying to back-up my music to DVDs (just for safe keeping in case of a hard drive crash). I have tried to do this several different ways, but nothing has worked. I suspect that it has something to do with the fact that maybe the directory of this large folder holding all my music files is incomplete or corrupted. If I run the Windows Back-up program on the folder, it acts as if only the A - B files are there and only creates a back-up of them. I know the rest exists because I can play them from iTunes. We are talking over 55 gigs of files that are not listed.

I am trying to back-up my library, but I think there is an underlying problem that is causing whatever method I try to fail. Is there anyone out there who can explain what is going on?

My question is two fold:

Why doesn't the list of songs in iTunes match the contents of my music folder?

How can I creat backup DVD's of 60 gigs of music?

Thanks in advance for the help!

Dell Dimension 4600 Windows XP

Posted on Sep 7, 2006 9:04 PM

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Answer 1

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pac_80

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Sep 7, 2006 11:55 PM in response to Vandy Man

Open iTUnes and rightclick on a file/song that doesn't start with a or B and hit "Get Info". On the summery tab at the bottom it should list the exact location of the file.

I have a feeling iTUnes might of moved the files or you consolidated the library at some point.

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Answer 2

Vandy Man Author

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Sep 8, 2006 5:34 AM in response to Vandy Man

When I did as you suggest, the location of all songs I checked was the same folder. Does it make sense to get/borrow a second external hard drive and try to move/consolidate my music folder to it. I think I might need to reformat the original external hard drive to get it cleaned up and my music folder is the only thing that is important on it right now. Everything else can be erased.

Your thoughts?

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Answer 3

pac_80

Level 6

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Sep 8, 2006 5:52 AM in response to Vandy Man

Well When you consolidate the library in iTUnes, ALl that does is COPIES all the files listing in itunes to the "iTUnes Music" folder and points iTUnes to the copies. By Default this folder is on the C drive (Where windows is) in my music>itunes folder.

If the iTUnes music folder is on the C drive, then you need to make sure you have enough space for this move/copy whatever you want to call it

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Answer 4

Vandy Man Author

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Sep 8, 2006 6:23 AM in response to pac_80

Is that not a way to relocate the files? In other words, I have 16,000 plus songs in iTunes and they are all playable. They must be on my external hard drive in the file I have named "Art's Music" (verified by the check you suggested in your first reply). Let's assume that I want to put them all on a different external hard drive (my C drive is not big enough). What steps should I use to relocate my entire library? The plan I had in mind was something I found at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301748

Is this going to work?

I am going to borrow a friend's unused hard drive for this and then put it back on my hard drve after I reformat it.

Dell Dimension 4600 Windows XP

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Answer 5

pac_80

Level 6

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Sep 8, 2006 6:42 AM in response to Vandy Man

Yeah it will, first goto advanced>consolidate library.

When iTUnes is done, goto edit>preferences>Advanced tab>general sub tab and hit the "CHange" button and change the location to your friends external.

Format your external like you want.

when formatting is done go back into iTUnes preferences and move the "iTUnes Music" folder back to your external

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Answer 6

Vandy Man Author

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Sep 8, 2006 6:43 AM in response to pac_80

Thanks for the help! I will keep my fingers crossed.

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