I have a new hard drive as my old one crashed. Everything seemed to transfer fine except for my entire iTunes library. It shows all of my old songs, but when I click on one it states "the song could not be used as the original file could not be found

I have a new hard drive as my old one crashed. Everything seemed to transfer fine except for my entire iTunes library. It shows all of my old songs, but when I click on one it states "the song could not be used as the original file could not be found.would you like to locate it".
Either how do I locate it, and I've tried every trick I know, or how do I restore all of my songs from one of two sources. I have my old hard drive backedup on an external drive which should have all of my songs, and I have most of my songs on my old iPhone 3S which I'm using as a backup iPod.

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. In the case of a library moved from one system to another there are also potential permissions issues. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows.
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.
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.
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.
See also Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

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When i try play a song i get this message " the song could not be used because your original file could not be found, would you like to locate. I tunes works on my iPad

OSX 10.9.5

I am getting this same message. I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac. Perhaps they did not transfer something critical? I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle.
I have the same issues with my downloaded movies but my apps all seem to be fine.
Even more confusing - it seems to allow random songs to play and download on my Macbook and other devices. But most of my music - whether downloaded from iTunes or my CD collection comes up with that message about the original file.
Should I get new geeks to locate these files on my old mini-mac?

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Hi Susan, you must have a Mac Pro, Powermacs cannot run 10.6.x
Anyway, once you Install the new drive, you likely must Format it...
How to format your disks...
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html
(To Install OSX on an IntelMac the Drive it needs the GUID Partitioning scheme mentioned at the bottom.)
Thanks to Pondini, Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks...
http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/DU.html
Then Install the OS & on first boot of the new install, after a step or two, avail yourself of Migration Assistant & Migrate everything.

I had a repair done on my MacBook Pro and had to have a new hard drive installed. The Apple Auth Repair Shop then updated the OS from 10.6.8 to 10.7.5. Now my iPhoto v 9.2.3 will not open and it sounds like it will not work with this OS. Can you plea

I had a repair done on my MacBook Pro and had to have a new hard drive installed. The Apple Auth Repair Shop then updated the OS from 10.6.8 to 10.7.5. Now my iPhoto v 9.2.3 will not open and it sounds like it will not work with this OS. Can you please advise?

You may need many other updates to retain compatibility with Lion. I suggest you reinstall Snow Leopard. Unfortunately, you will need to erase the drive first. Be sure to backup your data if you haven't done so already.
Clean Install of Snow Leopard
Be sure to make a backup first because the following procedure will erase
the drive and everything on it.
     1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came
         with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
         After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see
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     2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue
         button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
         After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive
         size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of
         partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button
         and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended
         (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.
     3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed
         with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.
     4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
         Assistant. After you finish Setup Assistant will complete the installation after which
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Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

HT1386 I have had to have a new hard drive fitted to my Apple Mac and now I can't sync my music with my iPhone, it thinks it's a new computer. Please help, What do I do?

I have had to have a new hard drive fitted and now I cannot sync my Iphone with my Apple Mac, thinks it's a new computer. Any ideas Please?
Alan C

I keep this as a copy and paste. It's the same process for Mac as it is for a PC. Read it over and see what you think. Post back if you have questions.
The following was copied from this thread. This is essentially what you want to accomplish.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/11527071#11527071
1) Without connecting your iPad to your laptop, start iTunes. Click on Preferences. Click on Devices. Check the box next to "Prevent your iPod etc. from automatically syncing." Click OK.
2) Now connect your iPad to your Mac and start iTunes.
3) When iTunes starts, right click on your iPad under Devices in the left column. Select Transfer purchases etc.
4) After it finishes transferring all your apps to your new laptop, right click on your iPad and select Backup your iPad.
5) After it finishes backing up your iPad, right click on your iPad and select Restore etc.
6) After it finishes restoring, left click on your iPad , then click on the Apps tab on top, and check the box next to Sync Apps, then click on Apply below.
If everything on your iPad looks good after the sync, go back and click on iTunes / Preferences / Devices and UN-check the box next to Prevent your iPod etc. The only other thing you may want to check is if your contacts, bookmarks, etc. are syncing correctly now. If not, go to the Info tab after connecting and make sure you indicate which features you want to sync with what sources.
Read this thread and the support links as well. There are apps that you can purchase that will allow you to transfer photos from the iPad to your PC. Look at Photo Transfer App in the App store and you can search for others as well.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/13016026#13016026
This support site will help you with transferring iTunes music to your new computer.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527

Hard Drive crashed. I have a new hard drive but I cannot log into computer.How do I reset password to my i Mac?

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Forgot Your Account Password
For Snow Leopard and earlier
     Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password
For Lion/Mountain Lion
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Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
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     Or see Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password and
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I have a new hard drive on my imac I want to sync my ipad(which has the files I lost when my old hard drive died), which holds the files I lost when my old hard drive died. How can I sync my ipad with my new hard drive?

My hard drive on my IMac died, so I have a new hard drive. I want to sync my Ipad(which has the files I lost when my old hard drive died) back with my IMac. How can I sync my Ipad with my new IMac hard drive without erasing my legacy files on the Ipad at the same time?

Copy everything from your backup copy of your cpomputer to your new hard drive.

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I have a new hard drive and I would like to pull my ical and contacts from my iphone to replace what I lost but when I sync my phone it doesn't bring the data onto my computer and if I choose sync calendar and contacts it seems to want to erase the phone and replace with the blank computer data. Any ideas?

If you are running OSX Lion and iOS 5, you can sync via iCloud.
What versions of OSX and iOS are you running?

My computer has had to have a new hard drive how do i get my iphone to sync all the music and info on it please?

I Have had to have a new hard drive fitted to my sony computer and it has wiped everything off. I have reinstaled itunes, how do i sync the info on my iphone to my computer as i cant seem to sync the contacts or the music. Please can sombody help me as i'm not great with computers?

If you don't have the prior computer backup files, you may want to look at this to get your information from the phone:
http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/index.php

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It's likely that the new drive isn't working, or it wasn't installed correctly, or you had some other hardware fault rather than a bad drive.

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John

Depends on where you got it - if it came on yoru compujter then you need to have accepeted it in the App store - and it will be in your purchases when you log in with the Apple ID that you used to set up your computer - it mahy be hidden - if you do not find it unhide applications in teh App store
LN

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Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.

HT201272 How do I get albums and songs I have purchased back on my devices? They show up in my purchased list but when I click on them a little circle shows up with an x in it and it won't let me do anything with it. Any guidance would be greatly apprecia

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The Get Info. fields show up gray if the files is locked and iTunes knows it can't edit the file. Make sure the files are not marked as read only and, if necessary grant both your account and system full access to all files and subfolders of your media folder.
You can set Part of a Compilation for multiple tracks from the Options tab of Get Info.
See Grouping tracks into albums for tips on getting iTunes organized.
tt2

Can't access suggestions in Google toolbar dropdown since upgrading to F4.Suggestions appear but when I click on one nothing happens.

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eg If I type the word 'honey' a number of suggestions appear. One is 'honey crackles'. If I click on that I'm back to 'honey' again

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TS1382 Im trying to dowload a song but when I click on buy it doesnt work

Hi I am trying to download a song but when I click buy it doesn't do anything.. Any idea?

Hi mccandk,
Welcome to the Support Communities!
The article below may be able to help you with this issue.
Click on the link to see more details and screenshots.
iTunes 11: Frequently used features
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5649http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5649
iTunes 11 for Windows: Create a playlist
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12340?viewlocale=en_US
Cheers,
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I have a new hard drive as my old one crashed. Everything seemed to transfer fine except for my entire iTunes library. It shows all of my old songs, but when I click on one it states "the song could not be used as the original file could not be found

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