Itunes can't find my library

Hi, ipod nancy.

The settings for the iTunes Music folder in the iTunes Edit menu > Preferences > Advanced tab > General sub-tab don't tell iTunes where to look for the music that's in your Library but rather where to put the music that it adds to the Library.

As for your problem, you may have to explain the situation a bit more clearly but is it possible you didn't have the external drive connected and powered on before running iTunes? This is known to cause problems.

Opened up my iTunes and poof....no library ! Where did it go ?

hi, i am experiencing the same problem as you by the sounds of it.
If anyone can help please do!
My i tunes has been fine for ages.
Turned it on today and my songs came up as normal in the library, but when i tried to play one it came up with the tell tale ! next to the song, and said it couldn't locate it. I tried another and that was same, then another, and so on. you get the picture. Every single song has the ! next to it.

I then went into my docs/my music/itunes/itunes music, where the tunes are stored. they are all still there and i havent changed any folder names etc.

Once i click the song file directly it will play no problem and then i tunes will recognise it as normal.

Why would this have suddenly happend?

dell dimension Windows XP

I went to Advanced and can't find the option:
General sub-tab don't tell iTunes where to look for the music that's in your Library but rather where to put the music that it adds to the Library.
Can I click on something to have iTunes not look for the music? How can I get rid of "!" when I go to a song?