Original music files missing

Whenever I attempt to use any of the songs in my iTunes library I get an error message like this one:
The song "Achilles Last Stand" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
When attempting to locate it, I have not been able to. I have followed all support instructions to locate the files with no success.

It's easy to do: first of all you need to export all playlists to txt files (not xml). Then open one of the files with MS Word application and press Ctrl+H (or Edit - Replace in the menu). It the upper field type that part of the path what you need to replace. In the bottom field type the new part of the path. Then press replace all, and...Ooo...Miracle...all paths will be replaced. Easy and simple. Save file (in original txt format). Then edit all your's playlists the same way and import them to a new iTunes.

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Music files missing? Seems like iTunes bug...

I recently noticed that many of my music files are missing, and that the selection appears to be somewhat random. They are retained in iTunes, but have the ! next to them. So, doing the logical thing, I tried to locate them, and the files themselves are missing, but their iTunes link is preserved.
In an effort to continue to do the logical thing, I then systematically went through my CD library, re-loading all the missing material back into iTunes. This was extremely tedious, but appeared to fix most of the issues (obviously, the ones were the CD case was mysteriously empty were left unfixed). The files played fine at that time. Then I carried the computer upstairs to my home office, where I proceeded to plug it in to do a time machine backup on the newly transferred files.
Now here's where it gets really strange... The time machine backup went swimmingly without hitches, to a relatively new USB 3.0 drive. I then set about organizing the music, so that it would all be in the iTunes music folder (User(me)/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/ directory, the one automatically made by iTunes on installation). Many of the songs linked perfectly, and I didn't have to re-link the songs to their new location, as one might expect. So, I then thought I would sit down to enjoy this new library that I had spent a day bringing up to speed and organizing again. And, low and behold, songs are missing--again. Not just the ones that I couldn't replace, but some of the newly replaced ones. For example, Track 12 of an album might be missing, but the files for Tracks 1-11 and 13+ are all present.
As other people who have experienced this problem previously have noted, there does seem to be a slight preference for songs whose artist and/or title include accented characters, although my detection ability is more limited now, as I have since lost many of these original CDs, and so the songs were not replaced within the library. But, while they account for about 5-10% of my overall library, they accounted for about 50% of the songs missing at the beginning of yesterday's overhaul.
And what makes matters really strange is that when I tried to look up the missing files--which I know myself to have imported yesterday--in the fresh time machine backup I made right after importing all that music, they are all missing.
So, it appears that iTunes is systematically deleting files at random. While I'm tempted to try to put the missing ones back on (fewer are "re-missing" than I was able to replace, so it's a little better), this doesn't exactly seem fruitful, given the fresh deletions.
The original music files were encoded a long time ago, and have been copied and re-copied (and recopied... ad infinitium). It appears that everything that I encoded on the really old system (before iTunes really became popular for this sort of thing) were preserved; however, the issue seems to temporally localize around the time I started using iTunes for most of my music encoding needs (except, of course, for the little issue about files that were imported less than 24 hours ago).
A few other notes:
- I did not delete these files accidentally. I'm more careful than that.
- The files are not there (they're not just hidden--I already checked for this).
- iTunes has retained the link to where it believes the file should be.
- The issue appears to have originally arisen quite some time ago, as these files are systemically missing from all backups made by time machine. However, it wasn't all that long ago that I deleted my entire library and started over (about 2 years, so the files should have been natively present on 2 of my macs) by re-importing all the files in my music folder. This newly created library has since become the "master" library that is propigated to all my other computers (although I don't trust iCloud for obvious reasons, given this fiasco--Thanks, Apple...)
- I have not elected to have iTunes manage my music folder, or automatically copy things to the iTunes music folder when importing (although this is the default destination, so they are imported there, but not duplicated there when imported from elsewhere on the hard drive).
- I am currently running OS X 10.6.8 on an Intel Mac (yeah, yeah, I'd upgrade the OS, but software that cost more than the computer isn't 10.8--or even 10.7--compatible).
If anyone has any thoughts on how to prevent this issue in the future, I'd really appreciate it. I think the music files themselves are just... gone. But, I would like to be able to have them stick around for a bit when I get around to dedicating another day to trying to import them from their CD.
Does anyone know a piece of third party software that allows you to sync and update iDevices? Hopefully one that doesn't take over my music library and decide to delete things of its own accord?

I was lucky to be able to use a PC, that after trying numerous times actually read the external hdd, I quickly copied all files over to a backup hdd and recovered all files. After that I ended up in contact with Western Digital about the incident and they recommended to completely erase (7-pass erase) of the hdd, which ended up taking over 5 days to do. They gave me no reason as to "Why" it would have happened but if I erase and reformatted of the hdd and the problem reoccurred they recommended to get the unit replaced.
I was lucky to recover all my files.....keep trying on different computers if you can, and copy what you can get hold of. The 7-pass erase will delete pretty much every trace of information on the hdd with no chance of recovery.
So far since the incident its been running ok but I not longer trust the hdd to be stable. Not a simple nor quick process / solution I'm afraid.
Good luck!
Once you have recovered your files (or as many as you can get hold of) and ready to erase the hdd:
(THIS WILL ERASE ALL YOUR DATA, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BACKUP BEFORE PROCEEDING)
Connect the drive directly to the Mac, open Disk Utility.
Select the drive and click on the "Erase" tab Select the "7-times zeros" to completely erase the drive.
Once the erase have completed format the drive to your selection.

Cannot locate original music file error message???

cannot locate original music file error message ??? i transferred to a new laptop then some of my music collection seems to get this message .

This 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, or that 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 cancel when asked to try to locate the track. 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, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions.
Alternatively, as long as you can find a location holding the missing files, then you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes .
tt2

HT3842 Does iTunes store the original music file and copy it into a separate folder? If i delete the original file from finder will it remove it from my iTunes library?

Hi, on my last PC when transferring music to my new MacBook Pro i noticed i had about 6 duplicated of each song in every album i took hours in removing them.
I Just wondered Does iTunes store the original music file and then copy it into a separate folder?
If i delete the original file from finder will it remove it from my iTunes library or vice versa. I didnt want to lose any music like i have some how managed to on my old computer.
Or should i keep both files of it in the Music folder and also iTunes library folder?
Which is best ?

DrewPowell wrote:
I Just wondered Does iTunes store the original music file and then copy it into a separate folder?
It does both at the same time.
When you add files to iTunes, it copies them into /Music/iTunes/iTunes media/ folder. The original file remains where it was.
You can drag a file to /Music/iTunes/iTunes media/Automatically add to iTunes/ folder.
This will add to iTunes and move it to /Music/iTunes/iTunes media/.
I keep a shortcut of this folder on my desktop then simply drag files to the shortcut to add to iTunes.
Then there are no "extra" files around.

My PC computer was wiped (virus) including itunes. How do I transfer the many playlists and music to the new re-installed itunes?? Ipod is synced to old itunes. I have all original music files on external hard drive. Please help?

My PC computer was wiped (virus) including itunes. How do I transfer the many playlists and music on my ipod to the new re-installed itunes?? Ipod is synced to old itunes. I have all original music files on external hard drive. Please help?
New itunes is trying to wipe the ipod. But have many many playlists (many hours making) which I want to save. Any help would be appreciated.

If you want to just extract the playlists from your iPod, plug it in iTunes. When it appears under devices, right->click on it and choose Export Playlists. Save them to a location such as your desktop and them import them into your library once you have copied and imported all of your music back into it.
See this older post from another forum member Zevoneer covering the different methods and software available to assist you with the task of copying content from your iPod back to your PC and into iTunes.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2452022?start=0&tstart=0
B-rock

Need an expert help solve linking original music files

All my iTunes music files now have an exclamation mark ( ! ) next to them. The error says unable to loacate original music file. I choose to locate the file, and I am able to find the file. When I find the file in "my music" folder, I see all my albums. If I open the album file I can find the original music file and I can link it successfully so that that particular song will play correctly from iTunes.
My problem is that I have almost 4,000 songs listed in my iTunes library. I can't possilby take each file and link each one manually through the My Music folder to the Album folder and then find the song. There must be an easier way, or I am doing this incorrectly.
I would certainly appreciate anyone's expertise.

I believe I followed the directions: I closed iTunes. I renamed the MY MUSIC file to MY MUSIC 1. (this is where all the music files were located). I reopened iTunes, then dragged the MY MUSIC folder into the open iTunes window. Now I have duplicates of all my music files in iTunes, but both sets get the exclamaion mark that original file cannot be located. Perhaps this works for MAC, but not Windows.
Still looking for any solutions. Thank you.

Since upgrading to version 8.1, iTunes "can't find original music files".

I've been building an extensive music file since the first iPod. It's about 110 GB large and for about three years I've stored it on an external drive with absolutely no problems. Now, within hours of upgrading to iTunes 8.1, every listed item on my iTunes library has an exclamation mark next to it and the message *"The song "whatever" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"* Of course I can show iTunes where the song is and then it will play it but I'm not gonna do that for 110 GB's worth of music! And yes, I've gone into iTunes preferences and told it again and again where the iTunes library is located but that doesn't work. Does anyone have a fix for this? And oh by the way, I will NEVER AGAIN let Software Update sway me into upgrading to a new version of iTunes until it's been up and running without bugs for at least three months!

Have you tried, importing the music into iTunes again? So delete the music from iTunes only not the system, & then import to see if it finds your musics?

The original music file cannot be found

Music that is clearly in my iTunes library, and will play from there, shows in the media window of iMovie but, when selected, returns the warning that the original file cannot be found. I have cloud music or whatever it is called. Any ideas?

I doubt that your music files are gone. Do a spotlight search and look for The Cure. What likely happened is that for whatever reason, your iTunes lost track of the location of your songs.. which happens on occasion.
What you need to do is go to the folder where your music library is - where the song files are - and check to see if they are there. If so, then go into your iTunes preferences and in the 'Advanced' pane put in the location of the folder where it says 'iTunes Media folder location'. iTunes should then be able to 'see' the songs again.
Deb.

Unable to play songs(music files missing)

I've bought albums and single songs on iTunes a while back(almost 3-5 months ago) and what ever selection I pick to play it doesn't let me. On the left of the song I seleceted it shows an explanation point with a circle around it. When I click play on it, instead of playing it it says the following:
"The song "___" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
And when I try to locate it it is not found on my Mac at all. I accidently deleted the music files for the selected songs I bought on iTunes and I need instructions or some type of solution to re-download my songs and albums back for me to play it. Please help me.

I guess the Apples support page can help you:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519

Music files missing/hidden in folder on network hdd

Hi all,
I have setup my home net work with a iMac (mountain Lion) backed up by a TimeCapsule and at the back of the TimeCapsule I have a 2TB networked external HDD. My iTunes library is located on this HDD, I take care not to start up iTunes before this networked external HDD has propoerly mounted to avoid any conflicts with links to my itunes library files and folders.
The other day I noticed a few missing files (the dreaded exclamation mark !), not too bad a figured, I located a few manually but reached some that does my head in...... Out of the whole album there are two files "missing", the other ones play as they should. When I try and locate the missing files the folder comes up empty.....
I have even checked the songs that do play in the same album....they dont show up either, even though they still play in iTunes (yes, they are all located at the same location). The album was originally ripped from a CD and I don't use iTunes Match or Genius.
I have tried to find the files by:
1."open in finder" - files missing / whole folder empty
2."through finder and located the drive and folder" - files missing / folder empty
3."copy file location from "get info" and paste into "go to folder" - the file temporarily appears in the finder window but dissapears shortly after / folder yet again empty.
4. I check the folder "get info" from my finder and it says "zero bytes"
5. I can't use Search because its on an external HDD and there fore not indexed
6.I have tried to copy the folder to the desktop but still shows empty....
7. I have tried to "organise" my library, still no change.
What the..xxx..is happening..?
From what I can gather, the files are actually there but not visible through the finder window (even though the folder appears to be 0 bytes).
The problem being that I can't locate my missing files because I cant see them any more......
Am I missing something (like show hidden folder on a Mac) or has it got to do with anything else...? How can I fix it..? I have found posts that relate to windows users forced their W7 to show hidden folders but nothing yet on Mac.....
Help.
//Fred

I was lucky to be able to use a PC, that after trying numerous times actually read the external hdd, I quickly copied all files over to a backup hdd and recovered all files. After that I ended up in contact with Western Digital about the incident and they recommended to completely erase (7-pass erase) of the hdd, which ended up taking over 5 days to do. They gave me no reason as to "Why" it would have happened but if I erase and reformatted of the hdd and the problem reoccurred they recommended to get the unit replaced.
I was lucky to recover all my files.....keep trying on different computers if you can, and copy what you can get hold of. The 7-pass erase will delete pretty much every trace of information on the hdd with no chance of recovery.
So far since the incident its been running ok but I not longer trust the hdd to be stable. Not a simple nor quick process / solution I'm afraid.
Good luck!
Once you have recovered your files (or as many as you can get hold of) and ready to erase the hdd:
(THIS WILL ERASE ALL YOUR DATA, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BACKUP BEFORE PROCEEDING)
Connect the drive directly to the Mac, open Disk Utility.
Select the drive and click on the "Erase" tab Select the "7-times zeros" to completely erase the drive.
Once the erase have completed format the drive to your selection.

Music files missing after sync with iTunes

All of my devices are updated to the last version.
I created playlists to manage syncing music from iTunes to iPhone.
Sometimes my music files would be missing on my iPhone 6 running iOS 8.1 after sync with iTunes 12.0.1.26.
When music missing, they look OK in iOS playlists, but will appear a "waiting for copy” symbol on the right side then jump to next song one by one when I try to play.
It's really weird because it happens randomly, I totally have no idea when it will happen again, more even far from why ...
Zen style APPLE !!

It sometimes takes awhile for the info to download from itunes.
try this:
Reboot the device by pressing and holding down the home and sleep/wake buttons (power) at the same time until the apple logo appears on the screen, then let go.
If that doesn't work then reset the device by going to settings/general/reset/reset all settings

ITunes 12 crashing on iMac - now music files missing - help!

Hi
I'm not tech-savvy so apologies in advance! I installed iTunes 12 on my iMac (early 2008) running OSX 10.7.5, I previously had iTunes 11 and now find the new version crashed regularly. However whne it did that again yesterday, on restarting a good 75-80% of my music files have disappeared. Not good. Can anyone help me work out where they have gone, and how to get them back? Any assistance would be much appreciated. I tried backing up to my previous iTunes library from a Time Machine backup but to no avail. Help!!

Hi
Any help appreciated! Thanks

HT1296 How do you put all music on Ipod back onto a previously crashed computer in which the original music files were not able to be restored?

Hi, HOW DO YOU PUT ALL MUSIC FROM IPOD BACK ONTO A PREVIOUSLY CRASHED COMPUTER IN WHIHC ALL MUSIC FILES WERE UNABLE TO BE RESTORED.
My computer crashed a few months ago and my IT guys were not able to restore my music files.. at least I can't find them. When I log into Itunes, all of my music and play lists appear but when I click to play a song in Itunes on computer, it says the files can not be found. My Ipod obviously has all of my music but I'd like to add more (without deleting what I've got on there) and to copy back whats on my Ipod back to my computer. If I plug together and my computer sync then I will loose all music... needing detailed instructions please.

from what i understand, the procecess is similar on both mac and pc, so i'll try help you here. have you set your preferences to "automatically update all"?
Yes i have.
if this isn't working, maybe try moving one that you are certain is in the correct format, manually. import it from scratch to your itunes, and then copy it to the ipod.
If i click 'import files' the only files it comes up with are text file. Should it be doing this?' So the only files i can import are written documents :/
If i select 'add files' it dosnt add them to my libary at all.
I tryed what you said, i deleted my movies then loaded one into my libary which i no is in the right format but it still said that it is unable to put into my ipod.
Thanks for trying to help by the way :]

Please help. Music files missing from itunes and computer!

I know that this isn't exactly a new issue, but I have scanned the discussions and nothing that I have read seems to help. My son has a nano (4th gen). He isn't sure but he thinks that maybe he disconnected his ipod before a sync was complete or something because all the music was deleted from it. He's not positive that's what happened but that's his best guess. No problem -- thought we'd just pull songs over again to it from our library. However, when we try to do this, on about 50% of the songs he wants (all were purchased, not from CDs) there are exclamation points next to the songs when we try to drag them and it says the file can't be found. I have looked in the itunes library on our computer and while I can find the libraries, they also don't have these specific songs we are looking for. I've tried to search and I just come up empty. Is there anything we can do beside buy the songs again? There are about 16 songs or so. A couple of them I have on my itouch. Could I somehow transfer the couple of songs to the computer? And would that work to get them to his ipod? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

+It appeared to do that as there are now duplicates in our library, but when I tried to drag the new song to the ipod, that darn exclamation appeared again and the song wouldn't transfer.+
It's easy to get rid of the duplicates. iTunes menu > View > View Options
Check the Date Added box, then click on the column name Date Added twice. Eveything you added to day will be at the top.
Then click File > Show Duplicates and only delte the one from today.
Do NOT delete both duplicates, or the song will be entirely gone.
As for dragging songs to the ipod, it has to be set for "manually manage music" for that to work. I don't understand about the exclamation point showing up again, unless you were dragging the 'old' reference that got deleted. Tyr dragging over the copy from today.

Some music files missing in iTunes folder, yet work fine in iTunes

I am using current version of iTunes on OSX 10.7.5.
Let's use a song for example: Piano Man - by Billy Joel on the Greatest Hits album
In iTunes, this song works fine and all songs are there.
If I go to finder>user>music>itunes>itunes music>Billy Joel>Greatest Hits> ..... and not all the songs are there, maybe just a couple. We will say Piano Man is missing right now.
If I go to iTunes and click on Piano Man> Show in Finder.... it takes me to the mentioned folder and then suddenly some more songs appear including Piano Man.
I don't like this because my backup hard drive is not backing up all my music, some of it is missing. What's going on?

Found the issue:
At first glance my itunes music folder looks normal, but after some careful reading of the location data...it turns out all of my music is also stored in a subfolder "MUSIC" in with all the artist names. I found this after discussing with a genius today while having my battery replaced. Together we found the issue.
How? iTunes at some point started making a MUSIC and MOVIES and maybe some other folders in the iTunes folder. When I redid my library some time ago, it must have changed the directory and copied all my music to the user/music/iTunes/iTunes Music/Music folder. This would also explain why I found that sometimes my library took up more data than I had expected. iTunes would say 45 GB but the folder would say 90GB.

Original music files missing

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