oldsarge

Q: Remove duplicate media files

  I need to reduce the size of my iTunes library. Why? I
recovered media files from two different computers and one external hard drive.
These are now consolidated into one large file.

 

    How/May I

    1. Remove exact duplicates
    2. Reorganize the remaining files without the
      "Cannot find" message by the title?

       

Is there a recommended software? Please be aware that I have
150+ gigs of media files so I am willing to consider every recommendation you
may offer.

pc, Windows Vista

Posted on Sep 21, 2014 8:18 AM

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Q: Remove duplicate media files

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  • by norm123,

    norm123 norm123 Sep 23, 2014 9:33 AM in response to oldsarge
    Community Specialists
    Sep 23, 2014 9:33 AM in response to oldsarge

    Hello oldsarge

     

    For steps on how to handle the exclamation marks and how to handle duplicates, check out the articles below for the step-by-step process on how to handle this. I would start with resolve issues with the lost media article and then once those have been taken care of, go on to importing in the other files and then use the second article to sort by date added and then remove the ones that you do not want. 

     

    iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408

     

    How to find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2905

     

    Regards,

    -Norm G. 

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 23, 2014 9:59 AM in response to oldsarge
    Level 10 (86,986 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 23, 2014 9:59 AM in response to oldsarge

    As above, Apple's official advice on duplicates is here... HT2905: How to find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library. It is a manual process and the article fails to explain some of the potential pitfalls such as lost ratings and playlist membership.

     

    Use Shift > View > Show Exact Duplicate Items to display duplicates as this is normally a more useful selection. You need to manually select all but one of each group to remove. Sorting the list by Date Added may make it easier to select the appropriate tracks, however this works best when performed immediately after the dupes have been created.  If you have multiple entries in iTunes connected to the same file on the hard drive then don't send to the recycle bin.

     

    Use my DeDuper script if you're not sure, don't want to do it by hand, or want to preserve ratings, play counts and playlist membership. See this thread for background, this post for detailed instructions, and please take note of the warning

    to backup your library before deduping.


    (If you don't see the menu bar press ALT to show it temporarily or CTRL+B to keep it displayed.)


     

    The most recent version of the script can tidy dead links as long as there is at least one live duplicate to merge stats and playlist membership to and should cope sensibly when the same file has been added via multiple paths.




    You may also find my FindTracks script useful if there are broken links remaining in the library after deduping which have the potential to be repaired. Alternatively iTunes Folder Watch with its option to Check for dead tracks on startup can be used to remove any broken links.



     

    tt2