Beware of iTunes' Reorganize Library feature - DATA LOSS!

Once again I had to report an INFURIATING DATA LOSS BUG in iTunes to Apple.
I have a large library of music, movies and TV shows-- all painstakingly purchased, ripped and imported onto a 2 TB external Lacie NAS. Everything works fine-- UNTIL I dare to use iTunes' Library -> Reorganize Files feature in an attempt to clean up iTune's inability to keep an external drive properly organized as media is added.
This time, iTunes saw fit to DELETE all of the .m4v files from THREE ENTIRE TV SERIES. With NO WARNING OR ERROR. The files are simply gone off my NAS. These will take weeks to replace!
I reported this bug back in iTunes 10.4 and it STILL EXISTS in iTunes 10.5b48. So beware of using this feature, even in the upcoming version of iTunes.
iTunes should NEVER delete your files without warning no matter what! Not under ANY circumstances!

Since this is an iTunes question, it might be better to post in the iTunes for Windows forum.
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=800&start=0

Similar Messages

What can I do simply to keep all my previous contents, (own pics, videos, etc.) on my previously authorized iPad on PC, but get a new authorisation and a right syncronization, without data loss with a new iTunes on my new Mac?

Friends,
I already had an iPad(1) and its full contents (not only the purchased items, applications from Apple, but my all own pics, videos, songs etc.) is normally syncronized with an authorized PC (Windows) computer.
Now, I've bought a new MacBook Air computer, and want to sell my PC. But I don't know how to transfer (or syncronize) all of the contents from my previous iTunes on PC to the new one on the Mac.
When I connected my iPad to my new MacBook Air, I promted, if I want to change authorization of my iPad to the MacBook.
But also got a warning, that the new iTunes will delete from my iPad all my previously syncronized items, pics, videos and music, with the previously authorized iTunes on the previous computer, expect the saved pics from the net.
What can I do just like that, simply to keep all my previous contents on my iPad, but have a new authorisation and a right syncronization, without data loss with the new iTunes on my new Mac?
Thanks a lot for your answer.
([email protected])

Here are some instructions that I have posted several times that may be helpful to you as they have been to others. You can simply ignore anything that does not apply or that you have already done.
As Alan stated above - transferring the iTunes library is the best first step. If you can transfer the iTunes library to the Mac, most of this will be unecessary for you to do.
Very Important ....
1. Authorize the computer.
2. Turn off auto sync in iTunes
3. Transfer purchases
The text in italics is from the other thread - non italics are my words.
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 new computer, start iTunes. Click on 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 computer 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 computer, 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 computer. 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
One final note - you may want to leave auto sync turned off - but that is totally up to you. I never did use auto sync.

[DATA LOSS] I closed the Tab Groups and all my tabs dissapeared. How can I recover the tabs in Firefox 26? Would you please just delete this feature?

Thank-you in advance for reading all of this.
A slip of the mouse in trying to return to the left-most tab caused the tab groups feature to take over the window. I completely failed to comprehend what I was looking at and closed the thing by clicking the x because I damn sure didn't want what I was looking at. Undo close group? Of course not, I didn't want a group in the first place. Hey! My tabs are completely gone now! So in just a few steps all of which seemed innocent, I have lost all but ten of the tabs that were open, and those were only the most recent ten (and actually older tabs would have been more valueable than newer so insult on top of injury).
I don't think increasing the number of undoable tab closures is the answer. I think getting rid of the tab groups feature all together is the best way to go. I seem to have lost all the tabs I had open, irretrievably, and some of them had been open for WEEKS so they can't be reopened from history.
The tab groups feature is a data loss bug. Please remove it from the UX completely. If you have to figure out a way to grandfather people who actually have a tab group, fine but don't further vex me with it, please.
The reason this catastrophe has occurred is that your feature, was so discoverable that I activated it by mistake, and the UI after that had to be learned on the spot, yet was too complicated to learn. You really should withdraw it until you can figure out how to keep the UI for it from causing data loss such as I have experienced this morning.
Also, there may be other questions on this feature which are from a certain point of view the same as this one. It's hard for me to tell for sure. None of them had a true resolution so that's why I posted this one, also I'm seeking a specific fix, removal of the offending feature.
Why remove the feature? Because if I allow in my discussion the possibility of retaining it, it will stick around in its present and dangerous form until your team is done bikeshedding the new form it should take. Instead I want you to delete the feature and then require its champion to convince you that a new incarnation won't cause data loss before you allow it back in.
Fellow users, if you know of a way to recover all 50 lost tabs from an "undo close tab group incident", I would be grateful for that advice, but I would still believe the feature should be deleted. Some of the tabs have been retained for months so digging them out of the history is not practical.

I am not 100% certain but I am fairly sure development of this tab feature has ceased and it is likely to be deprecated. I am even less sure what the replacement will be.
Thus forum is not the place for discussing development issues or feature requests. (Developers do not use this site)
*You could comment using feedback <br /> https://input.mozilla.org/en-US/feedback
*Or try to find a developers forum or mailing list <br /> http://www.mozilla.org/about/forums/#general-development
I have not tried this and am not even using Windows at present but the tabs groups are stored as entries in the sessionstore.js files. Firefox has such a file plus sometimes numbered copies and a backup copy. Firefox will have re-writen these files but I suppose there is a posibility the Windows OS may have kept copies.
* see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Previous-versions-of-files-frequently-asked-questions
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Sessionstore.js Note the files are kept within the Firefox Profile
** Firefox Button -> Help -> Troubleshooting [open profile] (or some thing similar) is one method of locating the profile.
Find and backup any current sessionstore.js file. Consider also bookmark or otherwise recording anything you have open. Now find any previous versions and try putting them in Firefox's profile before restarting it.

HT3819 My iMac had a corrupt seagate HD that had to be replaced my imovie files & itunes video library are missing when I picked up my Mac from Apple?

I purchased my 27" iMac in October 2010 after attending classes we discovered my computer needed new graphics card, hard drive, and a total rebuild after owning it only 6 months. Apple rebuilt my new computer, several months later same issues began yet again, slowly Apple began replacing defective parts they installed, my computer still hasn't worked as it should and has been in and out of Apple all the time sometimes they keep it for weeks! running tests?? February 10, 2013 I took my imac back in because it has been taking upwards of 6 minutes to make 1 single edit in imovie after 6 days of editing my project I could No Longer save in itunes, external HD, or export my imovie videos (they are 4 min up to 20 min max) Apple informed me that my Hard Drive was corrupt a bad batch of Seagate HD had been installed and my computer was again affected by this and it needed to be replaced and they couldn't get it to respond at all my itunes library was missing, etc. We saved my videos on my external HD I brought in with me. The Genius bar said they would call me in 3-5 days for me to pick up my computer. 9 Days later not hearing back from them I went in to get an update February 19, 2013 No one can tell me what was done except my HD was replaced they can't answer my questions about my itunes library being reinstated or my videos, music is missing, podcasts, etc. I was even using icloud, empty? They tell me IF I find anything wrong or not working again to just bring it back. My iMovie videos ALL the edits are missing ? I can't find ANY of my videos in my itunes my Library is empty as it is in imovie except for 2 videos? HELP! I can't imagine having to re-edit my entire video with sound effects, fronts, graphics, etc. I spent weeks on this :-( I'm at my wits end with my iMac.... I have searched in my previous itunes library EMPTY ! Waaaah! I want my mommy....

The Apple Store is not responsible for data loss and generally does not do any backups of your data before performing any repairs, though in some cases, as seems to be the case in yours, they guide you to making your own backup. Here's what they say on the "getting service page" (when I've taken a system in for service a similar statement was presented to me when I agreed to the service):
Many repairs require Apple to replace or reformat the hard disk, which will result in the loss of your data. Please make sure you back up your data on a regular basis to minimize your data loss. Learn more about backup options. Apple and Apple Authorized Service Providers are not responsible for any damage to or loss of any applications, data, or other information stored on your Mac desktop while performing service.
Since you say that you backed up your videos before the drive was replaced, why can you not just restore them? And did you not back up anything else?
If you didn't make any sort of backup of your other data prior to taking the iMac in for service, then sorry but your data is almost certainly gone. Regular reliable backups are a must, particularly when dealing with content you spend a lot of time creating. You may be able to re-download any content you purchased from the iTunes Store or Mac App Store, but anything else you'll have to recreate or re-obtain from the original source.
Regards.
Message was edited by: varjak paw

How can I transfer my iTunes Media Library from one PC to another without losing files and making a mess of the file and album structure?

I have imported a number of Café del Mar CD's to iTunes, and iTunes keeps scattering the tunes into several different folders in iTunes Media. It also has trouble finding album information, unless it has been downloaded from iTunes Store. Previous versions of iTunes I have tried didn't have this problem.
I've tried to tidy the files manually in iTunes Media, but that usually results in duplicates, so I stopped messing with it. I actually wouldn't mind iTunes blowing up my albums into a nightmare file structure of hyper categorization in iTunes Media (Album, Album Artist, Artist, etc.) if only it recognised its own mess when I transfer the library from one iTunes library into another.
An example: I downloaded Cafe del Mar - Essential Elements featuring 13 tunes, two of these can be found in the files Cafe del Mar/Cafe del Mar Essential Elements, iTunes also created the folder Cafe del Mar/Cafe del_Mar Essential Elements containing 0 tunes!?! and the rest of the tunes are found under Rue de Soleil in the root folder, indicating ONE of the artists as the criteria for creating a folder of tunes!?!
I am trying with every fiber NOT to hate this program, and would appreciate it if someone could explain to me how I can move an iTunes Media library of aprox 54 gb from my desktop via an external harddisk onto my laptop. I have tried 4 times, and everytime the result varies. Sometime I transfer 3000 files, other times 4000. Which files follow and don't is random. I lose files tranferring to the external harddisk and lose even more files from the external disk to the new library on my Lap. Do I have to transfer song for song or can this genius program actually transfer a larger amount of files without losing half the files and duplicating the rest?
Is there a limit of size or amount of files?

Backup with this User Tip, restore the library to the new computer using the same tool, keep the backup up-to-date in future. Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer need to access protected content on it.
As to your issues with compilations albums select all the tracks, set the Album Artist to Various Artists and on the options tab set Part of a compilation to Yes. See Grouping tracks into albums for details.
tt2

Updating to ios 6.1.5 leads to data loss in several apps (bento, teacher tool)

After updating to ios 6.1.5 I have experienced severe data loss in several apps. Can I return to older version of ios to rescue data?

All you can do is restore from backup
To restore from backup see:
iOS: How to back up
If you restore from iCloud backup the apps will be automatically downloaded. If you restore from iTunes backup the apps and music have to be in the iTunes library since synced media like apps and music are not included in the backup of the iOS device that iTunes makes.
You can redownload most iTunes purchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

How can i backup itunes my library?

I don't use "itunes music" folder,my musics are stored in several folders of two disks,i add the folders separatedly, i want to use itunes to manage all the music i've added,and create many playlists in itunes,add many information related to the songs,for example,the picture of album,the id3,and also use itunes to rate the songs,so i want use itunes do all the things of managing songs.
but before do that all above,one thing need to be solved,how can i backup all the things i do.if my system break down,how can i recover the itunes library,recover all the rate i've done,all the information i've collected,all the playlists i've made?
now i use wmp,if that unfortunate things happend,after i reinstall my system,i use the disktool to let the disk id same as before,and copy the database of wmp in my new system,and i would get all what i've down,no different with before, what to do with itunes?
wait and thanks anybody that reply to me ^_^

Well....You can Use iTunes for Backing up your Music, but I do not favor this mehtod.
It works fine for music files BUT: I prefer more control and completeness over my backup process. It is also very important to note that a large limitation of using iTunes to manage the backup is that the iTunes method does not create or maintain backups of the two meta-data files (iTunes Library.itl & iTunes Music Library.xml) where your Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, etc. are stored. See: What are the iTunes Library files?
If you are heavily invested in your Library data (Playlists, Play Counts, Ratings, Last Played, Date Added, etc.), it is crucial that you also make and archive multiple backups of your ‘iTunes Library.itl’ file.
If your music is located under one common Folder (e.g.-‘iTunes’), then it is easiest to physically copy that folder and all its sub-folders in one simple process. It can be done quickly, and incrementally – several times a day, when necessary. In the case of any data loss, just re-copy your entire (or partial) music library back to wherever it was, placing it in the main Folder that the previous iTunes expected. Along with the ‘iTunes Library.itl’ metadata file, this completes a full ‘restore’ of your music to the time of your last backup.
Use of a backup software program will greatly help. It will allow you to easily perform incremental backups of only the files that have changed. WinXP has such a facility built-in. I use a free program called FileSync ( http://www.fileware.com ). There are many out there. Some use Zipped files or proprietary formats, others use standard file formats. I like FileSync as it uses normal file formats that can be viewed/managed via any Windows program or utility.
iTunes Files to Backup
1) All music files in their current folder structure (usually located in and under the ‘iTunes Music’ folder)
2) The Library database file: ‘iTunes Library.itl’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
3) The Library XML file: ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
4) Any XML playlist files you created for Playlist retention
5) The two iTunes.pref files (optional)
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer Inc\iTunes.pref
Here's a list of possible ways to copy your music files from your main iTunes computer to another storage medium for backup purposes.
1) Use an External Hard Drive to store the complete iTunes meta-data files and underlying Music Folder structure and songs from your main computer. They are quite cheap now, for their storage volume. This is my preferred main medium.
2) If you have Two Computers:
2a) Connect them through a router
2b) Connect them using a Direct (w/Mac) or Crossover (PC/PC) Ethernet cable (See: http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3001.html)
2c) Connect them via a USB-to-USB Network Bridge. See: here as an example.
Copy the files and folders from one computer to the other. Use the second PC as your backup repository.
3) Burn several DVDs (at 4.7+ GBs each) with the music data files and store them safely. Re-writable ones are good for backup purposes (if your DVD drive can manage these).
4) Burn 6x more on CDs (at 700MB each) than in #3 above and store them safely in more space Re-writable ones are good for backup purposes (if your CD drive can manage these).
5) Use a larger USB Flash drive (1GB – 4+GBs) to store the files only if you have a small amount ripped music or have multiple and/or jumbo USB drives at your disposal that will fit your music library.
6) Use the Second Internal Hard Drive (if available) of your PC -- not optimum, as you really want to physically separate the storage of backups from the originals, but good as a tertiary storage device.
By keeping only one copy of your music (other than on the iPod), you are not truly 'backed-up' and are running a high risk of losing your music. Music files on just the iPod and the computer is not considered having any backup. If you cannot store your complete music files on the computer’s internal HD, then create and maintain at least two external sets (any multiple combinations of ExHDs, DVDs, CDs).
You need at least two full sets of your music, not including what is on the iPod:
-- One full set on the PC within iTunes (on internal HD or ExHD)
-- One full set on an separate external backup medium (CD/DVD/ExHD/other)
-- One (full or partial) set on the iPod
It is a good policy to backup all your important data. It is a very smart policy to back it up on more than one medium.
External hard drives now run less than $100 for 200-250GBs of storage. Very cheap backup insurance, indeed. See This Link

Can't find itunes music library

I have 46 gb of music on m mac mini. recently upgraded to os10.9. cannot find my music library..

Upgrading over the old OS X should not cause data loss. You do have a backup, right...?
Besides the backup question, I have a few more.
1. Exactly what steps did you take before, during and after upgrading to Mavericks...?
2. When you go to "Finder > Music > iTunes > iTunes Music" do you see Albums...?
3. What happens in iTunes when you select File > Add to Library...?

How do I avoid data loss during setup?

Hi All,
Update: below is my original question/concern. But since posting, I've come across others posting about data loss at various stages of install and initial setup and syncing. None of those posts have been replied to, and I think many of us need some answers. So after reading one guys calendar got scrubbed, I checked mine and the same thing... I had synced through iTunes before upgrading, and all my freshly updated calendar events had been erased when I enabled iCloud. Honestly, what is it with Apple's obsession with deleting people's data when adding new equipment or services?
So add to my question below, a how to for getting data from existing devices to cloud w/o having cloud erase files and data from devices...
I'm just setting up. I want to go into this cloud thing slowly, starting with just calendar syncing.
I go to settings: Documents and Data and click it off. I get a pop up witch says "All documens and Data stored in iCloud will be deleted from this iPad"
What?
This switch was in the on position upon install. Have my Documents and data already been scarfed to the cloud, where now if I turn off the feature I lose my files?
And what about down the road if one wants to turn off the feature after it's been in use? Doe my iPad get scrubbed of my files?
Am I learning that once my files get sent to the cloud, the server holds a copy which I can never scrub off iCloud?
The way that warning reads, my only option for taking a device off the grid is to have my data scrubbed from that device.
What am I missing? I want to control which of my data makes it to the cloud. This says they take it all up front and steal my copy if I try to get my device off the grid. No?
Please help me understand how to control which of my files go to the cloud, and how not to have my files removed from my device if I chose to opt out of the docs and data sync feature?
S.
PS why would they ever make that a consequence of turning off the feature?

Unless you have signed up for AT&T's international roaming for phone calls, I suggest putting the device into Airplane mode. That is what I did when I did the 3 day Bahamas Cruise. And to support what AmishCake said, the cruise lines charge for their wi-fi. Generally a daily 24-hour charge, or they will have a special for the length of the cruise, but it is pricey.

ITunes musical library located on a WD 2TB, ext. drv. Computer destroyed by virus; ED survived. Bought new laptop, connected ED. Not able to see library. ED shows as 'G:' 95% full. How can I reconnect my old library to new laptop?

I had my iTunes musical library on an ext. drv. WD 2TB, ‘MY BOOK ESSENTIAL'. Three weeks ago, my computer was infected by a virus that fried it. It did not affect the external drive. I bought a new computer: a laptop, Dell XPS, Intel Core i7-2630QM CPU, Windows 7 Home Premium. I have been able to connect the WD external drive; however, I am not able to see the musical library in my iTunes or Explorer. ‘My Computer’ shows the external drive as ‘G:’ 95% full. It reads, 32.1 GB free of 1.36 TB. When I click on the drive to see its contents, it shows nothing. The library in iTunes also shows nothing. Can anyone help, please? How can I reconnect my old musical library to my new laptop and iTunes? Many thanks.

Hmm, viruses don't generally "fry" drives. They can make bootable operating systems not bootable, hide data, and corrupt executable files. Software can potentially wipe all the data from the drive but it shouldn't be able to physically damage the drive. Bah! What's done is done.
As to unhiding your files assuming they are just hidden....
Hit Start > Run, type in CMD and press enter. Type the following at the prompt and then press enter:
attrib -h -s -r g:\*.* /d /s
This tells windows to clear the hidden, read-only, and system flags from all files on the drive, assuming of course your profile has the power to "see" the files and change them.
If that doesn't work then you may need to take ownership of the drive first. The drive may have security settings that make it "belong" to an account on your old system. Right-click on the drive in Windows Explorer and click Properties. Click the Security tab, the Advanced button, the Owner tab, then the Edit tab. Make yourself the owner, then you can make any other changes to the security settings you want to back on the Permissions tab. (If you can't change the owner log out and log back in as Administrator). For iTunes your account (or everyone) and SYSTEM need full access to all files. Any changes you make should be applied to "This folder, subfolders and files", should be inheritable and you should also replace the permissions on all child objects.
tt2

There is no Data Loss!

Basically, any Pages file that has been modified and seemingly "overwritten" can be easily restored to its pre-5.0 state within Pages 5 by clicking File > Revert to > Browse All Versions and then selecting the previous version, clicking Restore and then closing Pages 5.0 without saving. That allows you to open the file in Pages '09 and delete Pages 5. Now everything is back to normal and you can continue using '09 until the feature set is restored.
I'm hoping people will continue to explore and verify this, but I've tried it myself and a few others have verified its validity. I started a thread yesterday but it quickly got buried in the swathes of complaints.
robogobo wrote:
Great! Hopefully this means everyone can get back to their old files and continue working in '09 until the feature set is restored to 5.0. Now we can all stop clamoring about Apple intentionally damaging users' work. I was 1000% sure that wasn't the case. After "Save As" was depricated, Autosave and Version History are part of a normal workflow (except for those who rejected the whole idea of auto save - but Apple didn't), which explains why files were not explicitly duplicated with the upgrade and no warning was issued.
Does this work for you, Peter? If so I hope you can see the value of actually using the product before jumping on the bashing bandwagon.
Karabuni wrote:
Seems to work - I've unplugged the external disk as well as turning off Time Machine. Old versions are there, and not only that, when the restored file is loaded into 5, it looks the same as it did in 4.3., whereas if just the latest one is opened, layout is, er, not right.
The "unrestored" file has layout errors, whereas, the "restored" one still looks OK when reopened, even after making a few changes. This might not be the case if a "removed" feature has been used, such as linked text boxes - they are there but not linked.
You will not be able to open this file in 4.3 if you make changes, as robogobo also said.
So, are the earlier versions inside the new one? Word docs have all sorts of old stuff inside if you open them in BBEdit, especially if the author has used an earlier letter to someone else as a template, and altered the text. Having looked at a 4.3 xml file there isn't any changed/deleted text or other obvious stored changes. So they must be somewhere else, I suppose.
The 5 files are zipped .iwa, and I haven't found anything that the system will allow to open them (unidentified developer).
robogobo wrote:
Could someone please verify this? Basically it would mean the transition from 4.3 to 5 is at least non destructive and we're dealing with a loss of features here but no data loss.
robogobo wrote:
Browse All Versions:
Now I hadn't tried this before, but it was on my todo list. When I first noticed problems with files opened in Pages 5.0, I was simply restoring files from Time Machine in order to get back to the original version for 4.3, thinking it was necessary for version history. But correct me if I'm wrong, Time Machine isn't necessary for browsing documents version history. Is that right? I just tested it and it seems to work with my Time Machine disk disconnected. Can someone verify this?
I just opened an old 4.3 document in 5.0, made some changes, saved and closed it. Then I tried to open it in 4.3 and of course it wouldnt open. So I opened it again in 5.0, went to File > Revert to > Browse All Versions and it opened up the interface, which looks like Time Machine (I always assumed it was) but I think it's not. Anyway, I went back to the old version, hit restore and then closed it without saving. I can now open it again in 4.3 in its original state!
Did everyone already know this? If it's true, then there isn't any permanent damage being done, and everything can be reverted to originals from within5.0. I think this is great news.

Jeff Shenk wrote:
If you upgraded directly from Snow Leopard to Mavericks, and never had Versions in Pages 4, can you still revert to the oldest version in Pges 5 and get a Pages 4 document?
The documents brough into Mavericks from Snow Leopard should still be considered the original versions before they're opened in Pages 5, so I think it would work. Probably best to open them in 4.3 on Mavericks first though, to be safe.
At any rate, data loss is only a problem if you have opened the only copy of a document with a new, untried application, and in that case, you are acting as though it isn't a very important document, anyway.
Couldn't agree more.

Cannot see BOTH synched library AND iTunes Match library at the same time

I ran iTunes Match on my library of MP3 files and hit the maximum allowed 25,000 song limit in my paid iTunes Match account. Then I created a new version of my local/PC iTunes library with those 25,000 MP3 songs removed, and synchronized it with my iPhone 4s running IOS7 and iTunes Match turned OFF. So far so good.
So now I theoretically have no duplication between my 25,000 song iTunes Match library and my local iTunes library that resides on my PC.
But even though I have the "Show All Music" setting on the phone turned on, the iTunes Match songs don't appear on my iPhone until I also turn the iTunes Match setting on. But as soon as I do that, all of the songs I synched from my local iTunes library on my PC completely disappear- having been completely replaced by my iTunes Match library. If I then turn the iTunes Match setting off again (while still leaving "Show All Music on"), the iTunes Match songs also disappear, leaving my iPhone music library completely empty. Have I misunderstood the meaning of the "Show All Music" setting, or is something malfunctioning?
My question is: How can I make ALL of my songs (both the ones I have previously captured in ITunes Match AND the ones I synched with my PC via iTunes) appear on my iPhone at the same time? This scenario seemed to be working just fine under IOS6 on the same iPhone.

I had a somewhat similar experience. When I enabled paid iTunes Match on my iPhone 5, iOS7, all of my locally-stored songs on the iPhone disappeared and remained gone even after I disabled iTunes Match on the iPhone.
A chat session with Apple support revealed that iTunes Match will in fact supersede any synched content on the iPhone. The suggestion from Apple support was to download on the phone all the previously-synched content via iTunes Match wireless connection. Of course, that would take hours if not days. And that crazy workaround won't help you because you want songs other than what you have in the Cloud.
It appears that various members of this forum have not had this same experience. I'm not sure what's going on here. Usually with Apple's tight control of hardware and software these anomalies are avoided.
And I didn't really need iTunes Match except I wanted commercial-free iTunes Radio (which I think is great, by the way). At least for now, commercial-free radio (with a paid subscription) can be achieved only by enabling all of the iTunes Match features. I'm not sure why Apple requires this bundling unless its part of a general push to a streaming model for everything (more revenue opportunities) as opposed to supporting local storage.

How to move iTunes Music Library from an external HD to another?

Yesterday I tried to move all my music from an external HD to a new bigger one.
Well, I encountered various problems, the most important one is that the “iTunes Music Library” file messed up.
I transferred all files and both “iTunes Music Library.xml” and the “iTunes Library” file in the new HD. I have to say that I didn't know so much about those two files and I thought that it was enough to move them in the new location; I discovered that those files included the information about where the music is located (among other infos), so it still redirects to the older HD.
However, now I’m trying to recreate the previous situation on the older HD, and I’m trying to “rebuild” the iTunes Library (I have a back-up of the xml file, even if it is not the running one).
This operation is very important for me because about two years ago I used (for a long time )an earlier version of iTunes that had a bug: even if wrote all the tag infos on an a mp3, the “artist name” and “album name” tags didn’t remained. But I still can see all the informations through the iTunes browser (thanks to the iTunes Music Library DB). So, I cannot recreate it from zero. I absolutely need to export the existing “iTunes Music Library” to the new HD, or at least to use the existing “iTunes Music Library”, leaving it where it already is and moving only the “iTunes Music folder” (even if I don’t want to use two external HDs, the older one holding the existing “iTunes Music Library” e “iTunes Library” files and the newer one holding the “itunes Music” folder I moved!).
As far as you know how can I move safely “iTunes Music Library” e “iTunes Library” files on the new HD applying them to the new “iTunes Music” folder??
I really need your help!
This article http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307074 didn’t help.
Stefano

Sorry, I wasn't responding to you, just the original poster. I didn't look at the date on that posting and didn't realize that you'd added a post that wasn't quite the same problem. In future, you'll find you get better answers if you start your own thread. You're issue really is a bit more complicated.
If iTunes currently recognizes all the music on both internal and the external drives, it should work. You have to make sure that both drives (old and new) are mounted. Make sure you have both "Keep iTunes music organized" (you probably already do) and "Copy files to iTunes..." (you probably don't) checked.
If not all of the music is currently in your iTunes library, perform the procedure with the music that is a part of the library and add the other stuff afterwards.
Best of luck.

Transferring iTunes music library from a mac to a PC

Hi
Does anyone know how i can transfer all the songs on my mac iTunes to my new windows iTunes? I followed the instructions on the msn support website but these instructions must only be for transferring the iTunes library from a mac to a mac, or from a pc to another pc, and not from a mac to pc or vice versa.
I`ve just bought a laptop to take to university and i want to bring my music library with me.
When i loaded up my itunes from mac onto the pc it just keeps saying windows does not recognise the type of file. Is there a way of changing the settings so that windows will recognise and run a mac file?
If anyone knows that'd be of great help

The music files will transfer and play without a problem.
You will need to download a Windows version of iTunes and the iPod Updater in order to use the PC. The Mac versions will not work.
iPod Updater
iTunes Download Page
There may be some problem with the Windows version of iTunes reading the Mac's iTunes Library file. This may prevent you from completely moving over some of the music meta-data from the Mac to the PC.
There have been some posts on this, but I'll need to search for them.
Also see this for the transfer process: Buegie, "transfering music to another pc." #4, 11:22pm Oct 14, 2005 CDT
EDIT: Based on an old post I had copied into my "iPod Hints" file, here is how one contributer gave a high-level process:
i 1) copy the iTunes Music folder to your Windows machine, replacing the existing folder (back up the existing one first)
i 2) copy the iTunes Music Library.xml file to your Windows machine, and change the name to e.g. iTunesMac.xml so iTunes won't write over it.
i 3) delete any "iTunes Library.itl" file (back up the existing one)
i 4) run iTunes, and do File > Import... and pick iTunesMac.xml
Hope this helps.

Can I manually edit the iTunes Music Library.xml file

Here's why.
Noticed on my Apple TV that there were a number of podcasts that when selected would say "Apple TV cannot play the current song".
Looked in iTunes and these podcasts are no where to be found. Did some searches in Spotlight and also, turned up zeros. Not found.
I then looked directly into my iTunes Music Library.xml file and sure enough there are the records.
What is odd is that the location of all the bad songs have a similar invalid path.
Bad path.
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/iTunes/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Podcasts/KQED/podcast.mp3</string>
Correct Path
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/iTunes/Music/Podcasts/KQED'/podcast.mp3</string>
Now, all of these have dates that lead me to believe this was due to an iTunes upgrade back in September of 2005. It doesn't look like they are causing problems with iTunes itself. However, it is quite annoying for my Apple TV.
Question. Is there a different way to fix this than just manually removing the entries from the xml file?
I haven't tried to edit the iTunes Music Library.xml file just yet as I want to make I don't totally screw things up first.

I did some additional testing here and I deleted the track information from the iTunes Music Library.xml
On start up of iTunes, it does not add the deleted file back in. On the Apple TV, it still shows the bad file.
What I think that means is that even the Apple TV gets its playlist information from another source.
I have also started on another track which is to remove all of my podcasts from iTunes. Which I have now done.
The only ones left are these bad tracks that only show up in the iTunes Music Library.xml file and more importantly on my Apple TV.
I'd put this on the podcast or the Apple TV thread, but still believe this is an iTunes issue.

Beware of iTunes' Reorganize Library feature - DATA LOSS!

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