I've imported my song library onto my new lap top, but iTunes has not found all the file locations. When I locate a file, iTunes doesn't include the remaining 500+ 'lost' files even though they are all saved in the same location! I don't want to be forced to have to find them all individually! Is there a solution? Please help!
iPod classic 160GB (Late 2009), Windows 10
The "missing file" error happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, one of its parent folders, or the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to Get Info, then click No when asked to try to locate the track. (Due to a bug in iTunes 12 you currently have to say No twice!) Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, a folder renamed, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions. If the difference between the two paths is an additional Music folder in one path then this is a layout issue. I can explain further if that is the case. If everything is where it is supposed to be try Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows.
In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps with Get Info but this time click Locate and browse to the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links. Although it says something like "use the same location" I think it expects to find the tracks in the same artist & album layout they were in previously, with one systematic change to the path.
If another application like Windows Media Player has moved/renamed the files then the chances are that subtle differences in naming strategies will make it hard to restore the media to the precise path that iTunes is expecting. In such cases, as long as the missing files can be found somewhere, you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes. See this post for an explanation of how it works.
If you want me to try to provide specific advice please post back the following details:
tt2
Windows 10 actually. Am I best advised to avoid the Windows Music been able to access my music files on G. Could it cause a problem ? If so do I go into properties on the windows music file > location and restore to default. A bit worried it may mess things up
I'll have a look at the Windows 10 equivalent of that library feature tomorrow to make sure I understand how it behaves, but it is probably responsible for the icon changes, and it should be possible to point it elsewhere and just not use it. If I recall from my very brief look whatever player is built into Windows 10 is a very poor substitute for Windows Media Player and is probably best avoided altogether.
tt2
OK, thanks. Will not alter anything until you contact me.
If you open File Explorer, type Libraries into the address bar and press enter, then right-click on Music and select Properties you should see something like this.
Here the first entry is the Music folder which I've added manually to test it, but it hasn't affected the icon on the folder. The second item is the standard C:\Users\<User>\Music folder. Clicking Restore Defaults at the lower right should restore the default paths without affecting your iTunes library.
I really don't like Groove Music. You can set it up to share the same common music folder that is inside iTunes Media but I cannot find anywhere to make sure that it never moves files around. This would confuse iTunes so it should be avoided. It is possible to replace the Groove Music tile with one for iTunes, or at least show both, in the start panel. I'd also recommend you work with your library through iTunes rather than File Explorer.
tt2
Opened the Windows music properties and restored it to default, it now just opens an empty folder. Hopefully it can't affect iTunes in anyway in the future.
Is it still OK to have iTunes as the default music player ?
Had a few issues with my iPod when I connected it but seems to be Ok now, but during the sorting out process I ran diagnostics and there were a few issues that still persist such as iTunes helper is not running. Do I need to be concerned ? I would greatly appreciate it if you could let me know.
Regards, Alex
Have attached a copy of the diagnostics report, maybe you can understand it !
See Restart the Apple Mobile Device Service (AMDS) on Windows - Apple Support although if you don't have any iOS devices then it probably doesn't matter. Likewise I think you can ignore the iTunes Helper status if iTunes is working as you want it.
tt2
Restarted the AMDS and have a slight improvement in diagnostics, see attachment below:-
It would be nice to have the iTunes helper working but as everything seems to be working OK, and your happy I'm of the opinion if it's not broken don't fix it.
Once again thank you so much for your help. 🙂
Regards, Alex. PS if you do find a simple fix for the iTunes helper please let me know but hopefully now I won't need to use it.
See http://osxdaily.com/2009/09/10/ituneshelper-what-does-itunes-helper-do/ for background and a possible fix reversing the instructions there for disabling it.
Go to Start Menu -> Run, type in ‘msconfig.exe’ and hit enter. A system configuration utility will pop up and click the “Startup” tab, from there navigate to iTunesHelper.exe and enable it by selecting the checkbox next to the app name.
Looking here the checkbox is next to the word iTunes and you only see iTunesHelper,exe by resizing the command column. Mine is running, but it doesn't have much to do since I've told iTunes not to launch when I connect my devices since I often only connect to charge.
tt2
Followed the instructions to the start up tab but there doesn't seem to be any iTunesHelper to enable, see screen shot
I'll have a look at my Windows 10 install at work later to see where this start-up entry should be housed.
tt2
Went into properties on iTunesHelper and ran compatibility troubleshooter which basically informed me that the iTunesHelper I have is incompatible with the Windows 10. See below.
That's odd. Installed and working here on my Windows 10 64-bit test box.
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe - version 12.3.2.35
tt2
I have checked I have the same version of iTunes as you, 64 bit. Where do you suggest I go from here ?
Is there an iTunesHelper.dll file in the same folder?
Do both the exe and the dll show the correct version numbers?
You could delete both and then repair iTunes from the Programs and Features control panel which should replace the files and the setting to run iTunesHelper on startup.
tt2
Don't know how it happened but for some reason iTunesHelper now working !
Locating files
