ITunes keeps dumping my library

For the 3rd time in 2 weeks, iTunes has dumped my entire library. I reboot my computer and everything is empty; no music, no playlist, no movies, no Podcasts, all empty. The 1st time i totally freaked, found all the music files still on my computer, but not in iTunes. I finally figured out how to move them back to iTunes, took at least an hour.
The movies and TV show were lost.
Then it did it again yesterday. I moved all the files back, again taking at least an hour. And today, ONCE AGAIN, they have all been dumped!!
What is going on?
HELP!

See this post.
tt2

Similar Messages

ITunes keeps losing my library every 2-3 days!

iTunes keeps losing my library every 2-3 days. Completely erasing all songs and playlists. This is incredibly annoying and forces me to redo it all AGAIN.
Any way for me to solve this problem?

Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash
Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. Note that in iTunes 11 an "empty" library may show your past purchases with links to stream or download them.
In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.
Alternatively, depending on exactly when and why the library went missing, there may be a more recent .tmp file in the main iTunes folder that can be renamed as iTunes Library.itl to restore the library to a recent state. Look for a recent .tmp file that is similar in size to the .itl files in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder. If it has happened repeatedly you may want the earliest such file generated since the last iTunes upgrade.
If applicable, see iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.
When you get it all working make a backup!
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
I've noticed more of these missing library posts of late and a common factor to most since I started asking is AVG Anti-Virus. It seems in some cases it might be at least part of the reason why the library file disappears. Try excluding the iTunes folder from any AV scanning process.
tt2

ITunes Keeps Erasing Entire Library

Hello,
Since the most recent iTunes update, my iTunes has started to erase my entire library. I have re-imported all of my music, books, videos, ringtones and TV shows back into iTunes at least 20 times, only for iTunes to dump the lot the next time I open the software.
I have tried to resolve this by uninstalling iTunes and reinstalling 3 times to no avail. I am at a complete loss as to why this is happening.
I am running Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Firewall.
Any advice on a resolution to this would be sincerely appreciated.

Have you worked through the following document in the course of your troubleshooting to date, scott?
[iTunes creates an empty library file in Windows|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2715]

Why does iTunes keep reseting my library?

This is the second time this has happened: everything will be working fine (as fine as iTunes 7 can) and then I'll wake up one morning and BAM! - all the songs and delightfully crafted smart playlists will be gone, replaced by no songs and the default playlists iTunes gives you. The music files aren't gone from my hard drive, just the ratings, play counts, date added and last played data and all that stuff iTunes takes care of. I wouldn't be so frustrated, but my smart playlists are either based on the songs' ratings, play counts or how recently they were added.
Last time I had to manually rip them from my iPod using one of those ripping programs (thanks to Apple's refusal to allow iPod to PC synchronising) which took me ages because I'm too stingy to pay for the registered version and had to keep clicking a "buy me" notice every 50 of 3500 songs, as well as changing the date on the computer so the 'date added' data wouldn't be too out of whack.
After the last time this happened I backed up the library xml file, but that was in early October and since then I've added several hundred songs, and it looks like I'll have to do the same procedure again to get back my data. So, is there any way to prevent this from ever happening again? Or, why does this happen to my library at all?

It keeps happening to mine as well. Honestly I think it's something that iTunes (or Apple) does if they find out you haven't been paying over 200 dollars for songs from them. I read an artical about that as well. It doesn't help that when I e-mailed the staff about this, they sent me an e-mail back basically saying: If you bought our songs, then we can return them to you... if not, then it ***** to be you.

ITunes keeps wiping my library.

This is the 4th time this has happened. I have several playlists and albums, along with many songs from CDs and some LEGALLY downloaded for free from Nico Nico Douga (it has a sister site that allows you to download their videos as MP3s.) What happens is on seemingly random occasions (including today) I start up iTunes like normal and find that my playlist tab is set back to literally nothing but the defaults. Not only that, but all of my songs, except for a few purchased albums from the iTunes Store, are gone. It's as if it keeps wiping everything that it doesn't recognize as a purchased song. I'm starting to find it incredibly annoying, since I have to remake all the 12 playlists I have (because I like to be organized, not the point here,) and find the songs in my Music folder. I have no idea what's going on; again, it's like it just decides one day to delete my stuff. I close it down like normal without force-closing of ending any processes, and I see no sign of trouble beforehand. My iPod Touch also seems to be perfectly fine, with all of the playlists and music intact. Also, like I stated earlier, I can drag my music back in, as it's still on my computer. It simply seems like iTunes wipes itself back to when I first installed it.
This never happened on the old iTunes before the playlist and album system changed, nor did it occur on Windows XP. It's a pretty recent issue. There is only one thing that I noticed before this wipe that happened today. I was getting out of my car to work and iCloud complained it couldn't connect to the internet, which it does normally when I start up my iPod. There was also one time it occurred when there was a power-outtage during an update, which wiped my iTunes Library and my iPod as well. Since then it has only been iTunes that has been effected.
Please, does anyone know why this is happening? I am positive I am treating the program right; I never have any crashing or device-recognizing issues. If this keeps up, I don't think I could deal with using iTunes any longer...

See this post.
tt2

ITunes keeps losing my library

Hi folks! I just added a time capsule to my home and moved my itunes library to it from my 2011 iMac. Every time I close and openTunes it asks were the library is located, what gives? Thanks in advance for the help!!

That's the problem with using networked drives, they have to be turned on, fully mounted and awake when iTunes starts or you have to restart iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the library.itl file in the iTunes folder on the external. Make sure the Time Capsule is on and fully awake before starting iTunes.
By the way, if using the Time Capsule for backup, it is a bad idea to keep your iTunes library on it too. What happens when the Time Capsule drive fails (it will some day, unexpectedly)? Where's your backup for your library?

ITunes keeps saving my library and data to my desktop

I can't get I tunes to quit saving to my desktop. I have already gone to Preferences-> Advanced and have My Music folder chosen from My Documents.
I've deleted the saved libraries, data files, album cover artwork from the desktop and started over many times. It keeps saving it back to the desktop.
I tried consolidating my library.
I've even uninstalled Itunes and installed a previous version. I'm now back to the latest version.
Help would be appreciated!

Okay, I found out for myself what the problem was:
Somehow iTunes decided to no longer knowing where I store my ituneslibrary.itl and switched back to default (users/mymusic/itunes).
I needed to start iTunes with pressed SHIFT in order to define the old folder on the external drive as the new one.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/recovering-itunes-from-an-ext ernal-hard-drive/

Moved media to TC. Now itunes keeps changing default library location

I realize this might be better suited in the iTunes discussion forum however...
I recently purchased a time capsule and moved all my media to the new drive. I changed the default library location in preferences. Problem is, every time I quit and relaunch iTunes, the default library location reverts back to my old location on my mac. Any ideas how I can get iTunes to remember my new default location? It's as if it's picking up a location file somewhere that is telling it to create a new library on my mac's hard drive.
Thanks for any input.

I don't have a TC but I also keep my iTunes library on an external Firewire drive and the following is the behaviour. Maybe it's so for you too:
• When the firewire drive is mounted on the desktop and I open iTunes, iTunes will link back to the library on the firewire drive.
• When the firewire drive is unmounted and I open iTunes, iTunes preferences will revert the library to default back to the internet drive.
• BUT, when I remount the firewire drive, and open iTunes again (after it's been closed), iTunes preferences will automatically go back to linking the library on the firewire drive.
So in short: when unmounted, iTunes links music library to the original default which is the internal drive. When mounted, iTunes will automatically relink music back to the firewire drive.
Does it work like so for iTunes on Time Capsule?

ITunes keeps clearing my library!

OK, hoping someone out there can help. iTunes has just cleared my library for the 6th time (no exaggeration)! In the latest occurence, I had added my music folder, as well as my apps from my 1G iPod Touch to my library. 24 hours later, I try to access my library and there is absolutely nothing in there! iTunes seems not to be able to keep my library for more than a week.
As adding all my music and apps from my computer and iPod takes a long time, my frustration with iTunes is thru the roof, as I am growing tired of having to make a library from scratch. In addition, when my apps are actually in my library, when I go to sync my iPod, iTunes never fails to rearrange my apps on my iPod.
Both these problems have been discussed in the forums, but I have tried people's tips with no success (e.g. de- and then re-authorizing my computer didn't fix the library problem). Am I missing something, or is iTunes just a horrible program?

It's something on your PC, as most folks don't have these troubles. The big culprits are
1) security software interfering with itunes saving its database file
2) A Sony Vaio running the Vaio Content Watcher program
Here's an older thread that's similar. The most difficult part is finding out what other software on your PC is conflicting with itunes.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8537277
Good luck!

ITunes 9 Dumps music library when exiting the program

I would sure appreciate any help that you all might be able to throw my way. Upgraded to iTunes 9 a couple of months ago. Basically from the time it was installed I have had the problem that I must Manually click FILE and Add Folder to Library. Upon exiting the program it will then basically dump the whole library and the next time I open iTunes I have to Add Folders to Library Again. After the upgrade to 9 I didn't even try syn'in my Nano because I was afraid I might loose music so I just left it alone and kept fiddling trying to figure out why the library would dissapear upon exiting the program.
Just after Christmas I got a 16GB Touch so figured I really need to get the figured out..... and I'm still trying. Before connecting the Touch for the first time I COMPLETELY uninstalled iTunes, Quicktime, Apple Software UPdater, Apple Mobile Device Support, Bonjour,etc. After this, I found i still had an itunes folder in my Music folder so I deleted that (I pulled purchased music files into a seperate folder on my desktop just in case). I reinstalled itunes 9, went to File and then Add Folder to Library and imported everything. I wanted to get up and running with the Touch so I made a couple small playlists and called it a day. Exited the program, then re-opened it just to check if it was still there and it was! I was excited..... but not for long. Next day opened iTunes 9 and there was no music, the library was empty.
I could go on and on... but won't. I've read posts about checking the XML file in wordpad, which I've done and seems like it's correct. even when I go to Preferences/Advanced, and look at where it's storing it seems correct.
Can some one point me where to look?????
Thx! Jeromy

Thank you so much for your reply Katrina. Interesting stuff. Somehow in the mega searches I was doing for answers I didn't think to search using the Vaio angle. I will definitely go through those Vaio Files. This is my 4th Vaio and I NEVER seem to use any of the preloaded software, but to this point have not had problems until I installed iTunes 9.
Last night I read another post that reminded me that the music files that show up in the iTunes/music folder are just "pointers" or say "shortcuts" (I can't remember the actual term used) to where the ACTUAL music files are located. When I used the Add Folders from the file menu I've always assumed that these "shortcuts" have been placed in the iTunes/Music folder properly. But just in case, I clicked on the Copy Files to iTunes Media folder in Advanced tab to be safe and then I did the Drag/Drop from my windows MY MUSIC folder (rather than using the Add Folders to Library in iTunes). I started by dragging and dropping like 5 albums. Then I'd close, open, close, open etc. to see if they would stay in my iTunes music library.... and they DID! So I left it overnight and then this morning I dragged a bunch more albums into my iTunes music library. Did another close, open, close, open on iTunes and so far everything is staying in place. My next test is going to be to completely shut down my Vaio and start it back up and see if it's all still there.
Do you think any of this makes sense, or relates back to the Vaio software issues from the post you provided? I don't quite understand why it would work to drag/drop but not simply click Add Folders to Library???
Thanks Again,
Jeromy

Itunes keeps losing my library on an external hard drive

Several issues of which I can find no answers.
I have 600 CDs I have ripped. Due to space constraints, I have them all on an external hard drive. I can view all the contents of the hard drive through Windows. Yet when I click the song in Itunes library, Itunes can't find any of them. If I open up the song through windows, Itunes displays a duplicate song title in the library, and plays that, but no others. I've tried restarting Itunes with the external hard drive on. I've tried restarting the computer with the external hard drive on. I've verified my "Itunes Music Folder Location". When my Ipod syncs, it deletes EVERYTHING, since Itunes can't find these files. Every time I want to add a CD to my Ipod, I have to re "add folder to library" for 600 cds worth of music. This takes days to accomplish, after Itunes analyzes song volumes. Then I have to manually upload album art because about 80% of the CDs I have, Itunes can't find it. It takes me about 3 days of hard processor crunching and adding album art just to sync my Ipod to add a new CD.

I had the same problem. I had to move my iTunes and all my music from my main HD to an external. Even when I pointed iTunes to the external HD it messed up the whole lot. It said that it couldn't find any of my tracks and there where (at the time about 9,800) so I wasn't too chuffed. The only way I could get round it was to delete iTunes from my main HD and reinstall it on the external HD. That has worked for me. I am not saying it will work for everyone. Thankfully I haven't had a problem since, plus I've backed up my external to DVD's just in case.

ITunes keeps resetting its library

Hello,
I own an iPhone 4 and my biggest problem with it is that its constantly demanding to be in sync with my iTunes library.
This wouldn't be a problem if my iTunes library wouldn't reset itself every month or two.
Every month or two, out of nowhere(I'm not making any changes in my computer)
I open my iTunes, and see that its empty.
No backup logs for my iPhone, No music files, no playlist and so on.
What can I do to make it stop?
Thanks alot,
Eitan.

Updating Itunes and iOS wrote:
Uhm...The only thing connected in any way to Sony in my computer is the Sony Vegas software...Could this be connected to my issue?
I don't think Vegas comes with Sony Entertainment Platform.
Do you have any plug-ins or any applications that might add music to iTunes or otherwise modify the iTunes Library? This Apple document will walk you through the removal of iTunes plug-ins -> http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3430
WTH.

ITunes keeps saying damaged library

Dunno whats happened but everytime now when i connect my ipod video itunes always pop up with an error message before it opens saying something along the lines of 'itunes library is damaged, do you want to replace this file' or something like that, and everytime it will make a new .itl file in my iTunes folder.
Anyone know whats causing this or what i can do to stop it happening? any help appreciated.

Have you tried the procedure here?
How to recreate your iTunes Library
If not, that might do the job for you.
Regards.

ITunes keeps deleting my library

When I launch iTunes i get an error stating that my iTunes library is damaged and then deletes all my movies, music and podcasts from the library. If I plug my ipod in iTunes then deletes everything from it. This is driving me to insanity!!! Can anyone help?

I've just reloaded everything onto the library and imported a couple of new CD's without a problem so it's certainly not every time I try.
Have called a mate who's a system's man so he's going to have a look at the PC itself tomorrow or Tuesay. If it's a problem with the PC he should be able to sort it, if not we'll have to look at iTunes again. Either way I'll post here in a couple of days and let you know mate.
Cheers

ITunes keeps deleting my library on closure (NOT VAIO)

Let me start off by saying, iTunes honestly blows. Really wish I could sync my phone without the use of this garbage software...
Now that that's out of the way. I'm running 64-bit itunes 10.4.xx and import my music file only to have it delete everything every time I close my itunes. I have itunes set as an exception on my antivirus so that's not the issue. I just give up, it did this to me when I had 32 bit also. Which crashed ALL THE TIME.
Somebody help, I'm so done trying to troubleshoot.

If turning off continuous backup didn't fixt it, then something else is interfering with iTunes saving the library when it closes.
Antivirus software has done this in the past although not recently.
Music software on the Sony Vaio can do it, but suspect any music software that may access the iTunes library.
If necessary, you can use MSConfig to do a selective startup to identify the problem, but this is a bit of a pain.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2292?viewlocale=en_US

ITunes keeps dumping my library

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