ITunes won't load external library after update

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ITunes won't load external library after update

Some time ago I moved my iTunes library to a Diskstation NAS drive and it has worked perfectly for over a year. Following the recent update to iTunes I have noticed I can no longer access the drive correctly as it tries to load my media from the cloud instead.

I have reset the iTunes media folder location to my Diskstation drive and it shows up in the iTunes menu but then all the media shows as being available through the cloud and will not load directly from the disk station which is evident from the time it takes to load (I have roughly 1mb broadband #mayaswellbedialup)

I just would like to play my media as normal but can not find the solution.

Any ideas would be very useful as I can not seem to sort this.

iTunes-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 9:43 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

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Jul 28, 2015 10:17 AM in response to Mickyfen

You do not tell iTunes where to find previous media with preferences. Setting preferences only tells iTunes where to store media from that point on.

Now I do not know what that Diskstationfen thing is. Is that some kind of library on the network server? If it is then it is probably something the last iTunes update broke and you will have to contact the NAS supplier about fixing it. Apple does not support NAS and getting one to work with iTunes is luck.

iTunes "points" to media locations using the iTunes Library.itl file. This in fact contains all the information you normally see in an iTunes window. You tell iTunes to use this file by holding down the option/alt key while starting iTunes then guide it to that file to select a library. However, even then there may be problems because I have seen may posts here even before the update where a NAS made a mess of the file addresses. Generally you are better off using a standard external hard drive with iTunes and use the NAS for backup of that.

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Answer 2

Mickyfen Author

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Jul 28, 2015 10:29 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks Limnos but I followed a separate forum (https://www.synology.com/en-global/knowledgebase/tutorials/521) previous to set up my synology disk station and consolidate my media to the drive created on it so I don't believe it was just luck as a lot of other people seem to have done it and the fact it was working previously but thank you for attempting to answer the question.

Kind regards

Mick

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Answer 3

Chris CA

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Jul 28, 2015 10:36 AM in response to Mickyfen

Make sure the NAS is mounted and ready before launching iTunes.

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Answer 4

Mickyfen Author

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Jul 28, 2015 11:50 AM in response to Chris CA

Thanks Chris. Have checked that a few times and updated the disk station manager too but no luck currently.

Mick

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

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Jul 28, 2015 12:08 PM in response to Mickyfen

Try this...

Quit iTunes.
Hold Option and launch iTunes.
Select Choose library...
Select the /Music/iTunes/iTunes library.itl file

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Answer 6

Limnos

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411,229 points

Jul 28, 2015 12:23 PM in response to Mickyfen

We're obviously not clear on the issue here because you're getting repeat recommendations (both of us suggested to select the library file with an option+start).

Which iTunes files do you have on the external? Is the library file there too, or only media? Option+start is the way to start with a library file on the external drive after iTunes has forgotten where the file is located (usually by you not starting the NAS before starting iTunes), but if your iTunes display is populated with media files showing broken links then that isn't the solution.

When you start iTunes is it populated with your tracks but you get broken links, or is it empty, or does it have only music in iCloud?

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