The iTunes Library.itl file is locked

Question

I have read many, many postings on this issue, but can't seem to find a resolution that works for me.
The problem occurs whenever iTunes is forced to close unexpectedly. Upon attempting to reopen iTunes, I get the following error message:
"The iTunes Library.itl file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file."
However, when I browse to the library.itl file and select "get info", it does NOT show as locked. In fact, if I attempt to check the "lock" selection, it immediately unchecks itself. Also on the "get info" page, the Sharing & Permissions area says "You can read and write".
I do not know of any other way to change permissions in OSX. I do not know how to use the terminal and view the chmod permissions on a networked drive.
However, since I do store my music library on a NAS device, I have browsed to the library.itl file via PC and viewed the properties. Again, it is not checked as "read only", and the permissions clearly allow read and write by everyone. I have even changed the permissions to "full control" for everyone. But that doesn't resolve the problem. As far as I can tell, there is not a permissions problem at all.
I have tried to copy the library.itl file to my mac desktop, in order to rename the original file and replace it with the copy, to try and reset the permissions that way. But OSX tells me "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access “iTunes Library.itl”. So I cannot move the file. Interestingly, I CAN rename the file in the iTunes folder. But this does not help me. I find it funny that I can rename it, but I can't move it...
I am running OSX 10.6.5 with all the latest updates, and the latest version of iTunes as well. 10.1 I think? But I can't check because I can't get iTunes to open right now.
I have had this problem many times in the past. And I have gone as far as creating a whole new library, which takes FOREVER as I have nearly 120GB of music. And I lose all sorts of info... playlists, album art, etc. This is a real pain which I hope to avoid.
What gives me hope is that the last time this happened iTunes just spontaneously started working again. As if there were some sort of "timeout" issue. I have restarted multiple times of course, but still have not got a resolution this time. It would be nice if there were a simple "iTunes Library.itl.LOCK" file that I could delete.
Apple, would you please institute a crash recovery protocol for this issue? In all my reading and research, it seems like people are just sort of guessing at what is causing this problem, and coming up with a variety of different fixes that they think might work, or that occasionally work in given situations. But there seems to be no official word from anyone at Apple as far as a direct response to these library file locks caused by crashes.
Additionally, I feel that this may fall along the same lines as the lack of Time Machine support for networked drives. There is something sub optimal about Apple's networking. I don't know what it is. But there seems to be very little support for Apple users who use networked storage. Just to put my iTunes library on a NAS took a whole lot of reading and understanding to get done right, with no official help from Apple to be found anywhere. Not all mac users are dummies who need the simplest and most limited configuration options in order to avoid "problems". Networked storage is the future of home media and data backup. Please pay more attention to those of us who are trying to pave the way here.
Thanks for any help I might find here.

Answer 1

CB many thanks!
woke up today with the exact same problem... iMac locked up while playing a video podcast off my NAS
(it was happily playing the audio even though the mouse was frozen)
couldnt get permission control of my Library.itl so found your post,
turned off the iTunes Server in my Synology (dont use it like that anyway) and rebooted the NAS.
iTunes immediatley launched WITHOUT the lock, performed its repair check and up it came!
THANK-YOU
...oddly I notice that I dont have permissions to ANY of my directorys/files,
guess 'cause they are set in the Synology Shared Folder permissions?
All are listed in the finder as:
(unknown) R&W
everyone NO ACCESS
cockbongo wrote:
 I had exactly the same problem, but appear to have solved it
Not sure what make/model NAS you have, but if it has an iTunes Server type service on it, turn it off. This won't delete your music folder, don't worry, but it will stop your NAS thinking it deserves exclusive access to the library files. Then reboot your NAS and voila, you can do what you like with the files.
You can turn the iTunes service back on whenever you've finished doing what you need to do.
Hope that helps.