Level 1

0 points

iTunes re-arranged my entire mp3 collection. Can it be restored?

Let me start by saying that I don't own an ipod yet. I wanted to use iTunes for downloading and for playing my mp3's. I loaded my entire mp3 collection into iTunes. Over 19,000 mp3's. It listed them into one massive folder making it almost impossible to sort through. While trying to find a way of listing them in folders as they are on my hard drive, I found the option to organize them. I chose to do this and it ripped all of my mp3's from their folders and reorganized them into new folders on my hard drive. It did nothing to what I was seeing on the screen. It only re-arranged my hard drive. All of my Beatles, RHCP, Doors, etc. album folders are empty and all mp3's are now placed into new folders named 01, 02, etc. or new folder and I'm physically ill thinking of trying to manually fix this problem. Can anyone suggest anything that might restore them to their proper folders automatically? And why wasn't there a great big warning, telling me that I was about to re-arrange my hard drive? Any help would be greatly appreciatted. - Al

Pentium 4 Windows XP Pro

Pentium 4 Windows XP Pro

Posted on Dec 29, 2006 6:50 PM

53 replies

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 29, 2006 8:20 PM in response to rudawg

What is an id3 tag?
Haven't really been doing much with MP3s, eh?

It's not an "Apple Invention".
It's a standard (sort of) used to include all the information for a song such as Artist, Album, Genre, title, composer, length, album artwork, liner notes, etc.
See -> ID3.org

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 29, 2006 8:24 PM in response to alfalfa63

I simply went up to file, then chose "Add folder to library"' then pointed to my mp3 folder. It put everything into one very large list.
Again, I have NEVER heard of iTunes messing with the original folder.
It will do one of 2 things.
1 - Add the songs to the iTunes library, copy the files to the iTunes folder and do nothing with the original file or
2 - Add the songs to iTunes library only and do absolutely nothing with the original files.

alfalfa63 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 8:26 PM in response to Chris CA

iTunes copies the music to My Documents -> My Music
-> iTunes -> iTunes music.
In this folder, the music is copied into
Artist(folder) -> Album(folder) -> Song(file).
It uses the info in the ID3 tags to create these
folder and file names.
If the artist or album fields are empty, it puts them
in Unknown Artist or Unknown album

No it didn't and believe me, I'm not trying to be sarcastic or beligerent. I checked that folder and the only thing there is two songs that were in the MY MUSIC folder when iTunes was installed. They happen to be songs that I wrote and recorded and placed in that folder a long time ago. When I tunes was first installed it saw these two songs and renamed them as mp4's. Why mp4's, I don't know.... I just added 2 more songs to my library while typing this response and it did not move them into that folder but it also did not erase them from my hard drive so.. I don't know. There is not enough room on my C: drive to hold all of my music but it allowed me to put all 19,065 mp3's in the library so somethings not right. I do appreciate your time in trying to help me though. Al

rudawg

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 8:34 PM in response to Chris CA

And after ripping a song from a cd, other than in the file properties, how does one modify the id3 tag?

and what is there to do with MP3 files? How much more should I have been doing? Had I done more would itunes not have re-arranged my directory?

By sort of standard do you mean it is sort of proprietary or simply not widely adopted?

When you move a file from one directory to another how does the id3 tag move?: Is it part of the mp3 file itself? I ask because in my new "arrangement", none of the albums display artwork. Do both itunes and windows media player use id3 tags or does windows use a different 'sort of' standard?

I do appreciate your time. I hope to vent here or it's off to the clock tower.

dawg

alfalfa63 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 8:35 PM in response to Chris CA

Again, I have NEVER heard of iTunes messing with the
original folder.
It will do one of 2 things.
1 - Add the songs to the iTunes library, copy
the files to the iTunes folder and do nothing with
the original file or
2 - Add the songs to iTunes library only and do
absolutely nothing with the original files.

Chris, I understand what your saying. I searched for an answer to my problem but found none. Why? Because iTunes does not do anything to the original folder. Simple as that. However, I now have several thousand new folders in my original folder and I also have many, many thousands of folders which used to contain mp3's but which are now empty. I didn't do it, so iTunes must have. Let's now say that iTunes SHOULDN'T do anything to the original files. I apparently have found a glitch or whatever you want to call it. My original files and folders have definately been changed because of iTunes. You have NOW heard of iunes messing with the original folder.
Thank you for your time, AL

alfalfa63 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 8:45 PM in response to rudawg

I do appreciate your time. I hope to vent here or
it's off to the clock tower.

dawg

The Clock Tower?! Don't jump dawg! It's not that bad!
Seriously man, it ***** big time and people might not even believe us.

I know what id3 tags are and my niece had even told me that she had to go through her mp3's and update some of them in order for them to be sorted correctly but I don't even have an ipod! I just wanted to download some of the new Red Hot Chili Peppers songs and figured "Well, since I have the iTunes program, I might as well use it." Man was that a big mistake. I guess you and me know what we'll be doing with all of our free time for the next few weeks. And hey, if you're gonna throw that ipod through the screen, don't. I'll take it. lol - Al

alfalfa63 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 8:47 PM in response to alfalfa63

Oh, and by the way. Searching through what's left of my mp3's collection. I am finding some things that were not touched. Whole albums still intact. I am assuming that these had good id3 info but can't be sure right now. Regardless of this, NOTHING should have been messed up and I shouldn't have to be here ranting about it.
Al

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 29, 2006 9:36 PM in response to alfalfa63

iTunes defaults to copying the music to the iTunes umsic folder.
Go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced Importing.
There is a box to check Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding songs to library.
If it's checked it will copy the songs. If it's not checked, it will only add them to the iTunes library but not make a copy.

Also, look in iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General.
What does the iTunes music folder location show?
Is all your music in this location?

but it allowed me to put all 19,065 mp3's in the library so somethings not right.
iTunes library is a database file used by iTune to keep track of everything.
You can have the songs in the library (they will show up and play in iTunes) but they can be wherever you want them.
Select a song in iTunes, right click - show file will show you the file in Windows explorer.

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 29, 2006 9:57 PM in response to rudawg

Don't jump yet!!!
And after ripping a song from a cd, other than in the file properties, how does one modify the id3 tag?
The file properties are not the ID3 tags.
In iTunes, select a song, right click-get info.
This shows some of the main ID3 tags and you can edit some of them.

By sort of standard do you mean it is sort of proprietary or simply not widely adopted?
I mean it's something that people are trying to organize but not everyone uses it exactly the same way.
Some programs put in their own extra fields or write the data in a slightly different way than the standard.

This is one reason I suggested changing the ID tags. iTunes will save the tags in the correct format.

When you move a file from one directory to another how does the id3 tag move?: Is it part of the mp3 file itself?
Yes, the ID3 tags are part of the actual file itself.

I ask because in my new "arrangement", none of the albums display artwork. Do both itunes and windows media player use id3 tags or does windows use a different 'sort of' standard?
Yeah, windows is pretty peculiar in just about eveything it does. It will use the ID3 tags kind of but not always. If the info is there it will use it but it will not always add info the tags when you edit in WMP.
For album covers, WMP stores the album cover in the album folder and not as part of the ID3 tags.

There are all kinds of ID3 tag editors out there that will allow you to edit/convert/find just about everything in the tags.
I can't recommend any but you can search at www.versiontracker.com for some.

rudawg

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 11:15 PM in response to alfalfa63

I hadn't even thought of jumping...I'm going to the clock tower with a weapon.

Seriously, it can not be that the id3 tags were incomplete, inaccurate or otherwise inadequate. id3 tags might explain why within itunes the directory/database would be messed up but NOT why folders and subfolders were created on an external drive and actual files were moved around.

Alfalfa, in the directory where you keep your mp3's, if you had file property information saved for each song, I think a VB program can be written to re-re-arrange the directoy by artist/album/title. Unfortunately, I don't know enough VB to do it myself. But I got a guy....I'll keep you posted. Going through 14,000 (for me) songs is a ridiculous task.

good luck

rudawg

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 11:24 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris,

I still don't think the problem has to do with id3 tags. Especially because different programs use them differently. There would be directory chaos if each program rearranged a directory based on how that particular program dealt with these tags.

It has to be something else. I would suggest that apple wants the world their way and they are actively taking advantage of their market leadership position. I would bet that this is an intentional effort to make migrating from their software extremely cumbersome and uncomfortable. There is no other reason I can see for their software to destroy a directory the way it has. And I do mean destroy. It is unbelievable to me that there is a constructive reason for allowing this let alone doing it without warning or notification.

And to all those who don't believe that the source files and directory have been altered, all I can say is that they have and it's a miserable experience.

thanks again

alfalfa63 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2006 11:46 PM in response to rudawg

> I still don't think the problem has to do with id3

tags.

I agree dawg. It has to be something else.

> I would suggest that apple wants the world their way and they are actively taking advantage of their market leadership position. I would bet that this is an intentional effort to make migrating from their software extremely cumbersome and uncomfortable.>

Here I have to disagree. You and I are the only two that this has ever happened to. At least as far as we know. If Apple had an evil plan to make everyone do things their way, this would be a widespread thing and it's not. Something happened that should not have happened and we are the unlucky fools that it happened to.

> It is unbelievable to me that there is a

constructive reason for allowing this let alone doing
it without warning or notification.

I was asked if I wanted to organize my files into folders BEFORE it happened. I said yes. Trouble is I thought they were just going to rearrange my screen, not my hard drive. I assumed this because of repeated notices that my original files would not be changed. I don't think they were supposed to be changed. And yet.....

> And to all those who don't believe that the source

files and directory have been altered, all I can say
is that they have and it's a miserable experience.
thanks again

Oh, I believe you dawg. I believe you.

Yes Virginia, there is an iTunes.... and it's evil!

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 29, 2006 11:58 PM in response to rudawg

Before you mess with anything else, I highly suggest you first make a copy of the music folder.

Go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - Importing.
1 -Is "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library" checked?
2 - Is "Keep iTunes music folder organized" checked?
Go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General.
3 - What does the iTunes music folder location show?
Is all your music in this location?

I still don't think the problem has to do with id3 tags.
Do this;
4 - Look in the windows directory and identify one of the songs.
Go into iTunes, find the same song. Right click-get info. The Album, Artist and song title shold be the same as the folders and filename where it is located.

I think a VB program can be written to re-re-arrange the directoy by artist/album/song title
If the ID tags are correct, iTunes will do it for you. This is why I suggested to convert the ID3 tags.
Also, go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General and tick "Keep iTunes music folder organized".
It will organize the music in the folder identified in #3 above.

There would be directory chaos if each program rearranged a directory based on how that particular program dealt with these tags.
Correct. This is why iTunes does not mess with any folder except it's own iTunes music folder.

There is no other reason I can see for their software to destroy a directory the way it has.
Yes, something is obviously not working correctly but it's not some conspiracy to keep you using only iTunes.

I would suggest you restore your original music folder from your backup but my guess is that ain't gonna happen, correct?

rudawg

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2006 6:40 AM in response to Chris CA

> Before you mess with anything else, I highly suggest

you first make a copy of the music folder.

I will do this after I go buy another external drive. I have about 100GB of files that I can't move to my laptop. My current external drive only has 120GB capacity. So I am kind of stuck on this point for now.

Go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - Importing.

> 1 -Is "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding

to library" checked?

iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General. The check box is not checked. But at 120GB, I don't want to copy the files to a second folder.

> 2 - Is "Keep iTunes music folder organized" checked?

Go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General.

It was, I have since un checked this box. My suspicion is this is where I allowed itunes to work its magic.

> 3 - What does the iTunes music folder location show?

Is all your music in this location?>

E:\My Music

> Do this;

4 - Look in the windows directory and identify one of
the songs.
Go into iTunes, find the same song. Right click-get
info. The Album, Artist and song title shold be the
same as the folders and filename where it is
located.>

In windows: E:\My Music\Eric Clapton\24 Nights Disc 2\07 Edge Of Darkness.

In itunes: All information matches the info above.

However, prior to itunes deciding where the file should be stored, in windows it was E:\My Music\Full Albums\Eric Clapton\24 Nights Disc 2\07 Edge Of Darkness. This is the problem. Multiply this by 14,000 and you can see my issue

> If the ID tags are correct, iTunes will do it for

you. This is why I suggested to convert the ID3
tags.

But why would itunes rearrange the actual directory. My hard drive E:\My Music has been irreparably modified by itunes.

> Also, go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General and

tick "Keep iTunes music folder organized".
It will organize the music in the folder identified
in #3 above.

So you're saying to make a back up of my music directory, check the box to "keep itunes directory organized", and it will again rearrange my directory? But an album might have 15 songs. The artist information might be Clapton for most and Clapton and BB King for a few others. These are now in different folders.

> Correct. This is why iTunes does not mess with any

folder except it's own iTunes music folder.

So I assigned my E:\My Music as my itunes directory thereby giving itunes access and authority to mess with it. It was my understanding that itunes was more or less a database, like WMP, that simply used the "tag info" to prganize the files. Not a program that would actually move and rename directories and folders.

Yes, something is obviously not working correctly but
it's not some conspiracy to keep you using only
iTunes.>

Is so.....evil ********....

> I would suggest you restore your original music

folder from your backup but my guess is that ain't
gonna happen, correct?

Now you're talking crazy. The E:My music was my backup. Unfortunaltely, I no longer have the tunes stored on my main drive so as a backup it makes for a great primary drive. It is the only copy.

alfalfa63 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2006 10:56 AM in response to Chris CA

> Before you mess with anything else, I highly suggest

you first make a copy of the music folder.

I just did this Chris. With 107gb of music it took a little over 3 hours. I now have a back up of an absolute mess. For instance: Time/Life 8 CD Set of Hits of the 90's: This folder which contained 8 other folders named, 1990, 1991, etc., is now empty and a new folder has been made on my hard drive for EVERY single song. Hundreds of new folders made for what was once one folder. Multiply this by over 19,000 mp3's. An absolute nightmare!

> Go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - Importing.

1 -Is "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding
to library" checked?
2 - Is "Keep iTunes music folder organized" checked?
Go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General.
3 - What does the iTunes music folder location show?
Is all your music in this location?

Perhaps if my setting had been that way I might have been saved because there is no way all of my music would have fit on my C: drive. Maybe it would have warned me and I could have just stopped and erased the stupid iTunes program/virus completely from my computer.

I still don't think the problem has to do with id3
tags.

I do, I'm finding that CD's that I ripped in their entirety seem to have stayed intact in there original folders. I can't be sure of this because I have several hundred folders to check but so far, the things that haven't changed are CD's that I own. Everything that I have downloaded from other sources have been comepletely re-arranged. The exception to this seems to be CD's that have various artists on them. These have also been re-arranged.

> If the ID tags are correct, iTunes will do it for

you. This is why I suggested to convert the ID3
tags.
Also, go to iTunes prefs -> Advanced - General and
tick "Keep iTunes music folder organized".
It will organize the music in the folder identified
in #3 above.

Wouldn't it be a whole lot better if it didn't re-arrange anything for any reason? Leave my stuff the way it is. I already have it arranged the way I want it. Are you telling me that an ipod can't play music if they are stored in different folders? Other MP3 players sure can. If the ipod can't, then I definately don't want one. I have a crappy little $29.95 MP3 player that lets me move my music to it exactly the way it WAS on my hard drive.

> There would be directory chaos if each program

rearranged a directory based on how that particular
program dealt with these tags.
Correct. This is why iTunes does not mess with any
folder except it's own iTunes music folder.

Cris, please stop saying this. iTunes can and does mess with other folders. If you check the discussion board there is now another person with the same problem as rudawg and me. I think you're going to see this happening a lot now. I suspect it has something to do with the latest version of iTunes. Whether by design or by accident iTunes can now rearrange your hard drive.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iTunes re-arranged my entire mp3 collection. Can it be restored?