Exclamation marks and duplicates

A while ago I messed up when copying my library to and exhd. Anyway I have cocked up again in a different way and I have 3 copies of songs in my itunes library, one of each has no tick next to it because I went through the whole library weeks ago and unchecked one of everything, these also have an exclamation mark next to them. Then some have exclamation marks and ticks.
Confused? I am!
Anyway what I want to know is whether I can somehow delete the whole library and then just somehow get one of everything back, or somehow bulk delete these exclamation lists?
My ipod is on autosync so I daren't connect it incase I lose some things or end up with tthousands of duplicates on the ipod.
Any help appreciated....

iTunes Library.itl in the iTunes folder is the file where iTunes stores the information about your library, tracks, ratings, counts, playlists.
You drag it to the desk top so iTunes can't find it and creates a new empty library. The desktop is just a convenient place to put it without deleting it, you might want to put it back.
When you add your music folder to iTunes, all the tracks with exclamation marks will be gone and you will only have entries for the files actually in your iTune music folder. This only addresses tracks with exclamation marks which are dead links, it does nothing about duplicate files.

Similar Messages

How to delete songs with exclamation mark and duplicates?

I have a large iTunes library, around 600GB. Due to a HDD failure some of the files are no longer in existance and so show up with a '!' in front of them. Is there a way to automatically find all of these and delete them?
In addition, according to iTunes, using the 'Show Duplicate' feature, I have around 50,000 files that are duplicates. Is there a way to sort this out (not manually)?

For the dead tracks, there is http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=removedeadsuper - I'm currently running it now.

Cant share photo via email in i photo 11 exclamation mark and i photo logo

but no message or wording. just blank error message and the exclamation mark and logo.
all email and passwords are correct and internet connection is working and sharing from port 587

If you set Mail as the email client in iPhoto's General preference pane it will be just as easy as using iPhoto.
Where are you seeing the exclamation mark? Are you able to view the full version of the photos in iPhoto of those images you're having problems with or do you get the the exclamation mark there also?
What version of iPhoto and system are you running?
OT

I'm finding that songs that I have imported to Itunes are suddenly showing with "Exclamation" marks and Itunes tells me that the original file cannot be found. When I tell it to locate the file, it can't do it.

I'm finding that songs that I have imported into Itunes and played before are suddenly showing an"Exclamation" mark and Itunes tells me that the original file cannot be found. When I tell it to locate the file, it can't do it. I went to the Itunes help for locating files, but that still won't do it. It seems that somehow they are getting deleted, but not by me that I know of.
Can anyone help me?

Maybe you rename it. Somehow the path to the songs have changed if not deleted.
In Finder go to "Macintosh/Users/username/music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music" that's where all your songs located so if those songs are not there you get an exclamation mark. You can delete those entries in iTunes and re-import again.

I have exclamation marks and itunes cannot find original file?

I have exclamation marks and itunes cannot find original file. How do I locate original file?

Check you have your iTunes settings (Edit, Preferences, Advanced) to keep iTunes library organised.
Your songs should be in your music library in iTunes, iTunes Media, Music.
If they are not, start menu, type the name of a song in the box and the list should show you where that is located.

Trying to create a new playlist but several songs are marked with exclamation mark and will not transfer into playlist - any advice?

I have never had trouble creating playlists before but quite a few songs will not transfer and ate marked at the side with an exclamation mark. I know ZERO about technology so if you can help me in very simple language, I would be very grateful! I am wondering if it may have something to do with the fact that I have had to start new accounts when I have moved countries, on order to be able to use the credit card of the new country in the Itunes store of that country... I am in Aus and have bought a lot of tunes here but last year I was living in Brunei and, in order to use my brunei credit card ( as it was the only one with money in it) , I had to set it up as different to my Aus account. Could this be the issue? prior to Aus my account was in Ireland. I have paid for all these songs but it seems I cannot now use some of them... Please help!!! Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer, Lisa

The exclamation mark next to a song means it is no longer where iTunes is looking for it. iTunes won't let you add such "missing" songs to a playlist. Possible reasons for a song going missing are that you or some third party software has moved or deleted it, or a folder that contained it, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter, or a configuration file has changed making iTunes look in a slightly different place from before.
Select one of the songs with an exclamation mark, press CTRL+I to Get Info, say no when prompted to locate it, then note down the location from the Summary tab that begins file://localhost/ - please post back this path as given. Hopefully you can find the file this entry in your library is supposed to be connected to. Assuming you can please post back this path as well. These two items of information may suggest a fix through folder manipulation or a configuration change.
If things have got a little more disorganized then, as long as the tracks still exist to be found, my FindTracks script should be able to reconnect them to iTunes. FindTracks uses some fuzzy matching routines and searches for multiple potential locations. For more details see this thread. Start by selecting the tracks of a single album and then run the script. Your media folder should normally be detected automatically, e.g. as C:\Users\<User>\iTunes\iTunes Media, but you can edit the path if it is wrong or a particular batch of lost files are stored at another path. If it works as expected you can then move on to fixing the rest of the library in bigger batches.
tt2

ITunes Library music has exclamation marks and cannot locate music

Hoping someone can offer some help?
My wife plugged our iPad into the macbook to sync it with iTunes. She isnt exactly sure what she did however now everything song in iTunes has an exclamation mark next to it.
I then went to sync the iPad without pluggin it into the mac and now my iTunes library seems to have just 5 songs in it and these do not have the exclamation mark next to them.
I do have an iPod with a recent update of all the music. Would this help to restore the library? and if so how would I do this.
Thanks in advance.

If you're sure the media are gone then you can try to recover from your iPod. Purchases you can likely download again from the iTunes Store.
Some of the information below has subsequently appeared in a document by turingtest2: Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
Your i-device was not designed for unique storage of your media. It is not a backup device and media transfer was planned with you maintaining a master copy of your media on a computer which is itself properly backed up against loss. Syncing is one way, computer to device, updating the device content to the content on the computer, not updating or restoring content on a computer. The exception is iTunes Store purchases which can be transferred to a computer.
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 - only purchases from iTunes Store
For transferring other items from an i-device to a computer you will have to use third party commercial software. Examples (check the web for others; this is not an exhaustive listing, nor do I have any idea if they are any good):
- Expod (free) - http://www.headlightsoft.com/expod/ - Mac, universal for 104.+ (newer machines try de-Tune)
- deTune (free) - http://www.headlightsoft.com/detune/ - Mac, 10.5+
- Senuti - http://www.fadingred.com/senuti/
- Phoneview - http://www.ecamm.com/mac/phoneview/
- MusicRescue - http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/products/musicrescue/
- Sharepod (free) - http://download.cnet.com/SharePod/3000-2141_4-10794489.html?tag=mncol;2 - Windows
- Snowfox/iMedia - http://www.mac-videoconverter.com/imedia-transfer-mac.html - Mac & PC
- iexplorer (free) - http://www.macroplant.com/iexplorer/ - Mac&PC
- Yamipod (free) - http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/downloads/ - PC, Linux, Mac [Still updated for use on newer devices? No edits to site since 2010.]
- 2010 Post by Zevoneer: iPod media recovery options - https://discussions.apple.com/message/11624224 - this is an older post and many of the links are also for old posts, so bear this in mind when reading them.
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141 - dates from 2008 and some outdated information now.
Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/ - Information about use in disk mode pertains only to older model iPods.
Get Your Music Off of Your iPod - http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Get_Your_Music_Off_of_Your_iPod - I am not sure but this may only work with some models and not newer Touch, iPhone, or iPad.
Additional information here https://discussions.apple.com/message/18324797

Folder icon with exclamation mark and no comms with laptop whatsoever!!!

My mini ipod has taken me to my wits end. My ipod always opens with a folder icon with an exclamation mark. I can get it in to disk mode but my laptop doesn't see it whether I'm using itunes, explorer, or updater. When the mini ipod is plugged into my laptop it displays 'do not disconnect' and the circular arrows in the top left hand corner are displayed but they aren't moving. I've been all over the website but everything seems to assume I can communicate with the **** thing. Restore seems to be the preferred option but as I can't communicate with it that isn't possible as far as I can see. This happened when I tried to updated ipod software from version 1.3 to version 1.4. It's not possible to go back as I can't communicate with the ipod in order to perform this task. It's going to get lobbed out of a high building soon and replaced with a Sony......can any get me out of this hole???
mini ipod Windows XP

Further to what I've said I've been all over the discussion posts on this site, and the help pages, but I've been unable to find a suitable answer!!
My mini ipod has taken me to my wits end. My ipod
always opens with a folder icon with an exclamation
mark. I can get it in to disk mode but my laptop
doesn't see it whether I'm using itunes, explorer, or
updater. When the mini ipod is plugged into my
laptop it displays 'do not disconnect' and the
circular arrows in the top left hand corner are
displayed but they aren't moving. I've been all over
the website but everything seems to assume I can
communicate with the **** thing. Restore seems to be
the preferred option but as I can't communicate with
it that isn't possible as far as I can see. This
happened when I tried to updated ipod software from
version 1.3 to version 1.4. It's not possible to go
back as I can't communicate with the ipod in order to
perform this task. It's going to get lobbed out of a
high building soon and replaced with a Sony......can
any get me out of this hole???
mini ipod Windows XP

Exclamation mark and the message "itunes could not find your song file

Hi everyone. I've tried doing a search but couldn't find this exact problem. I hope i'm not about to annoy everyone with a question that has been asked a thousand times before.
my problem is that every now A/some song file(s).that are already in my itunes library and played fine and synced with iphones ipod app fine. well sometimes I get this little exclamation mark on A/some song(s) in the library and the message "itunes could not find your song file would you like to locate it" and when i do and it always seems to be in what itunes find box locates first anyway.......( I'm paraphrasing...........i forget exactly what it says)........the funny thing is when i try and locate the files for itunes they are exactly where they are supposed to be........ and i've been able to put the mp3 back into the itunes library in the past, but now a certain mp3 will not show up in itunes library or play. like i said I can locate it fine, i've never renamed any folders or mp3's. other mp3's in this folder play fine , but i've had exclamation marks on some of them in the past, it seems that i know of 2 folders in my music folder that always have this problem with the mp3's in them at ramdom .
does anyone know why itunes is doing this?................it happens sometimes with downloaded music and sometimes with ripped music................sometimes a single track and sometimes just a few single tracks .........it's begining to become slighty annoying........
any help would be most appreciated.

Helpful but i was reading some posts and threads about consolidate library and it seems that if the song is not in the itunes library it will not consolidate it.i've had songs in the library that i deleted from the library and i remember getting a message when i do that action if i would like to delete it from the music folder as well ( in other words trash it completly from harddrive or do i just want to delete the song from the library and still keep it in the music folder but i guess those actions have little effect if you didn't have the song in itunes music folder,, but another folder. except for the part that it will remove the song from the library. if there was a way to consolidate your music folder(s) into the itunes folder that would be cool. and still leave your itunes library with out those songs you didn't want in there, but wanted to leave in the music folder.

File with exclamation mark and cannot connect

My ipod stopped working. I had a low battery so I charged it. Now when I try to turn it on, it just churns and churns and then the file with exclamation mark comes on the screen. Also, when I try to connect it to my computer, the computer doesn't recognize it.

Unbelieveable, since last Saturday, I needed to fix up 3 iPods with similar problems from family members and friends, 2 connected with PC and 1 with Mac. I guess it will be a good idea if I can share with you all and hope that it can give you some hints when you try to fix yours before sending it for repairing.
Before you do anything I suggest that you should read the following carefully..
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/index.html
Most problems came from the iPod not being recongzied by the computer (mainly PC and I find it less often with Mac). Second issue is iPod not being charged for quite some time.
I must say that I am not an expert but I did learn something during the past experience on fixing for more than 10 iPods but none of them are shuffle.
The first thing you need to do is plug your iPod directly to the AC charger not the USB of your computer, and leave it for 2-3 hours and most of the time you will able to wake up your iPod.
Secondly, do a reset of your iPod when it hangs, it is simple just press "Select"+"Menu" keys, which will not erase your data of your iPod.
In case the above both do not manage to fix your iPod problem then you may force to do the following, but it will erase all your data therefore it is always to be wise to have a backup before your iPod got problem.
1. Reinstall the latest iPod updater after the reset
If 1 still not able to recongize your iPod by the computer then you have to put your iPod to DiskMode i.e. plug your iPod to the AC charges, do a RESET and press "Select"+"Play" keys, you will see the message "Disk Mode" in few sec. Then you need to connect your iPod with your computer, and hope that it will be recongized. If you are lucky to reach this stage then you simply need to restore your iPod updater, and your iPod should be back to normal.Please note that You may need to plug and unplug few times in order to let your iPod to be recongized.
If your iPod still not able to be recongized then you have to format your iPod while it is in a Disk Mode, you need to use the Disk Utility software (for Mac - I am not sure about PC) to erase the Partition of your iPod then do a formatting and disk verify straight after. Then you should able to reach the final stage i.e. restore the latest iPod updater and sysc your iPod with your iTune.
Additional hints which may help your during the fixing ..
1. Try to do few attempts, which could take you as long as 1 hour
2. Try to exchange cables to connect with your computer i.e. USB and Firewire
3. If you fail to solve your iPod with your PC then try to fix it with Mac and vice versa. Surprisingly, I do have experience that the iPod got recognized by my Mac after I connected it with a PC
Above are my experience and I am glad that more than 90% chance I am able to solve the iPods' problem with only one iPod Mini needed to be repaired.
Good luck and hope it works in your case

How come when I try to look at my photos in Iphoto a triangle comes out with an exclamation mark and I cannot see my photo?

How come when I try to look at my photos in iphoto a triangle comes out with an exclamation mark? Does this mean that I have lost all of my photos? Is there any way to fix this?
Thanks to all...

It means that iPhoto has broken the link/file path to the original file.
Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
2 - run Option #4 to rebuild the database.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button and select the library you want to add in the selection window..
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

ITunes. Entire music list has the exclamation marks and I can't open music because it cannot be located. I'm 67yr old and need advice please.

I'm 67 yrs old and asking for advice please.
I'm unable now to play the music in my iTunes playlists. 90% of the tunes have exclamation marks now and I can't 'locate' the music. How can I locate the music or remove the exclamation marks on my iTunes music list?

Typical reasons for missing files are, you've deleted the files, they are on a disconnected external drive, or the drive has a changed drive letter, you've moved the folder where the files live in some other fashion, a third party app has rearranged the files, or iTunes has got confused about the layout they are supposed to be in.
Generally you need to work out what has happened, reverse the action and everything will be alright again. If it is something you can't/don't want to undo, e.g. a drive letter change, then as long as you can track down the current location of the folder containing the media then my script FindTracks should be able to reconnect it to iTunes.
tt2

Help - exclamation marks and lost tracks!

Last night I tried to sync my ipod (nano) to include some more CDs I'd copied and some tracks I'd downloaded.

The exclamation marks are indicators telling you the link between the itunes item and the source file as been broken, as TA explained. This does happen from time to time. Something I do is move all my file to an external HD or to file I create and link itunes to that. This way I always know were the files go and don't rely ob the default settings that can sometimes get messed up. the connection does still on occasion get broken but I know exactly where everything is so it's only a matter of highlighting the folder and dragging it into itunes again. I also shut off the option to copy file to itunes, if I'm using an external drive that will keep everything of the mac Hd and run it off the external HD by essentially creating a shortcut in itunes but everything still operates like it would normally the only difference is that the file isn't on the MAC HD.

I have an iMac and iphoto. Currently I am having a problem with an album in iphoto. When I double click on the album all I get in the main body of the screen is a triangle with an exclamation mark and my 2 photos show at the very bottom of the window.

I have an imac and am using iphoto. Currently I am having a problem with one particular album which shows in the main part of the window a triangle with an exclamation point. The two photos are at the bottom of the main window in the same area where the "info" "edit" "create" area is. I can see the two photos but I can not get them back into the main part of the window. I can't drag them anywhere either. I can't double click or right click on either of the two photos either. All I can do is click on either one and they get a little bigger. Before I saw the exclamation point in the main body of the window all I get is two squares with nothing in them and the entire border is made up of dashes. Can someone help me?

Make a temporary, backup copy of your library if you don't already have one (Control-click on the library and select Duplicate from the contextual menu) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Screenshot is for iPhoto 9
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

I've recently moved my computer and when I've set it back up again all the songs in my library have two versions one preceded by an exclamation mark and followed by cloud symbol with an exclamation mark in it. What does this mean and how can I fix it?

I'v also moved my library to an external hard drive as I'd run out of space. I don't know if this has caused the problem.
Any advice appreciated.

Once you successfully add you iTunes library to iTunes Match, you go to Settings>iTunes & App Store on your iOS device and turn on iTunes Match. Your iTunes Match library will then appear on your iOS device.

Exclamation marks and duplicates

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