"file could not be found" but library location is correct
My problem has been posted before, but I cannot find a solution that has worked. My library has lived on a remote raid for months with no problems. The library location in the advanced tab is correct. The music that I have added to iTunes since March 18 is accessible, but all of my other music "could not be found." If I navigate to it and point iTunes to the correct path, it repairs the connection to the library, but I have far too much music to do this manually. Perhaps I lost connection to the raid temporarily on March 17, but the connection is fine now. Why won't the library reconnect?
I have tried closing iTunes, disconnecting from the raid, reconnecting, and starting iTunes again. I have tried re-setting the location in the advanced tab. Nothing.
Any suggestions short of deleting and rebuilding my library? I would be so appreciative if someone could help!
Did you did an import? The library may be available for auto-complete, but I believe you still need to import whatever you will use.
If this post answers your question or helps, please mark it as such. Thanks!
http://www.stardustsystems.com
Adobe Flex Development and Support Services
Similar Messages
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Can anyone please tell me the cause of the msg-The song" " could no be used
because the original file could not be found-and how I might correct that problem? LouI stupidly tried to copy my music files to an external drive so I could transfer them to my new iMac (old Macbook Pro is being retired). I now know I should've tried home sharing or something to transfer the music.
Anyway, the situation I am in is that I have not managed to transfer anything and I now cannot access the music on my old Macbook Pro either! I have the message "the song 'xyz' could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?". I understand that this is because iTunes cannot locate the files. When I try to locate the files I find nothing.
I have tried searching my whole Macbook Pro for mp3 files and m4a files and Spotlight cant find any! The tracks are all still listed in iTunes. I also searched the external hard drive. I definitely haven't deleted anything. So where could they have gone and is there anything else I can do to search for them? I have a feeling I am just not searching for them in the right way because I have not deleted anything.
Old computer is Macbook Pro OS X 10.6.8 with iTunes 10.4.1
New computer is iMac OS X 10.7.2 with iTunes 10.5
All I want to do is to set everything back to how it was so I can try the transfer a better way.
Please help. Thanks, Dashford. -
Definition could not be found - but library is there!
Hi,
I installed a library (as3isolib) in Flash Builder 4 and started writing code (following a Lee Brimelow's tutorial on www.gotoandlearn.com).
So, if I instantiate a new variable, the hint box is there with all the classes and methods and all. After inserting the line, the corresponding import line is also inserted automaticaly.
I believe this means the library has been added correctly to the project.
HOWEVER... the editor reports error messages all along the code biside all references to the library classes.
The very first error message on the code is "1172: Definition as3isolib.display.IsoView (for instance) could not be found".
I don't get it... Any ideas?
Thank you!
MarcosDid you did an import? The library may be available for auto-complete, but I believe you still need to import whatever you will use.
If this post answers your question or helps, please mark it as such. Thanks!
http://www.stardustsystems.com
Adobe Flex Development and Support Services -
Songs cannot be found because original files could not be found, but...
I've just imported over 2,000 songs to iTunes and had my preferences set (Edit/Preferences/Advanced tab/General tab) to copy each file to my iTunes music folder when copying to iTunes library (I thought--at least the box is checked). However, when I moved several hundred of the files from their original location on my hard drive, the link was broken to iTunes. Each time I try to open or play one of these tracks, I get the error message that the file cannot be used because the original file cannot be found. Itunes is looking for the original files in folder(s) outside of my iTunes folder, instead of in the itunes folder. Or so I think; I'm still pretty new at this.
1. What did I do wrong?
2. Is there an easier way to fix this than to delete all 2,000 songs and re-import them?
3. Is it really necessary to re-establish links one song at a time, instead of a group of songs at a time? (UGH!)
4. I want to delete these songs from the other folder once they're copied into my iTunes folder AND FUNCTIONING in both iTunes and on my iPod. Can I do that?
5. What does the exclamation point icon mean that's appeared next to some of my songs (and Why can't I find any info about it in the iTunes help file or on apple.com)? In some cases it correlates to broken links, but some disappear when I open the song.
6. What does the check box mean that's next to each song (and why can't I find an info about it in the iTunes help file or on apple.com)? (GRR!)
7. A friend suggested I drag and drop files from my iPod disk space directly into iTunes, but I have USB1 ports/drivers which are excruciatingly slow. Is her idea better than copying the files from iPod to an intermediary folder on my desktop? I've already copied everything onto my computer, and having the iPod plugged in seems to slow everything down.
I've spent two days trying to fix this and the longer I look for answers on iTunes help and on apple.com, without finding a single one, the more questions I have. Please help!happyhannah wrote:
I right-clicked on the song to 'get info' and found out that the path is 'file://localhost/users/Hannah/desktop/iTunes' etc. I remembered that I had moved the iTunes library to the desktop as not to forget to back it up.
Hmm, if the active iTunes library knows where to look for files but they have been misplaced then putting them back where it expects to find them should work. However you should only be moving the media folder not the library files, or if moving both you should shift-start iTunes and choose a new library.
Now, I have deleted the iTunes library from the (default) Music folder and have put it on the desktop with the hope that this is now where iTunes will find the original library. However, it's still not working!!! Please help!!! I really cannot lose my whole iTunes library
As long as you have the media files and a copy of the library files from your old system it really should be possible to coax them back into working order.
Are you currently connected to a library which lists your media? If so what is the path given for a sample missing file and where is the actual copy of that file now?
tt2 -
Please help - this morning I tried updating one of my old ipods for my wife (this ipod hasn't been updated in 2-3 years). I plugged it into my pc, it was recognized and the software updated. I created a new playlist and tied to sync the ipod. This ipod had never been used on this pc/itunes since the pc is only 2 years old. When I tried to sync the ipod it stated that it would have to erase all the old songs on the ipod prior to syncing. I clicked ok and it proceeded to wipe out the old ipod and sync the new playlist (~1000 songs). When the sync was complete there were only 6 songs from the new playlist (all purchased this morning from itunes) on the ipod and to my horror all ~10,000 song on my pc in itunes now have a ! next to them. Only my recent purchases from itunes do not. When I click on a song with the ! I get the error message "the song " " could not be used because the original file could not be found." How do I correct this issue - I am scared to hook my ipads or other ipods to my pc for fear of losing everything?!?!? I spent 100s of hours burning the 10,000 songs from my cd collection and do not want to have to do it again.
Any help is greatly appreciated.This "original file cannot be found" thing 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 -
i want to play songe in itunes bur all i get i "song could not be used because original file could not be found"i want to play songe in itunes bur all i get i "song could not be used because original file could not be found"
but they are on my phone and play
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Required file could not be found on IPad during sync
When I sync my IPad I get a message that states "IPad could not be synced the required file could not be found". How to I correct this?
File could not be found means that iTunes has lost track of where at least one file is or the file is corrupt. Watch the sync progress to find out which file is giving problem. Then uncheck the file in iTunes, see if the rest will transfer. Now you need to figure out where the file is or what is wrong with it.
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My partner deleted, by accident my itunes library. I have an iMac 10.6.7, Itunes 10. I use an WD passport as an external back up and retrieved my itunes library but now get the message "could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" so itunes is not recognised the exclamation marked songs, how do i get the retrieved files recognised. At times I get fed-up with Apple blocking files being used, although I like the product its restrictions are so silly!
You not only have to retrieve the library file from the backup drive but the actual music files (usually stored within the "iTunes Media" folder) as well.
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Every song in my library, both purchased or downloaded from a CD, is marked with an exclamation mark and produces a report " The song ......... could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it ?" Well, probably yes - but how ? and why necessary ? HELP !
It would help to have more background about your iTunes collection such as if you keep it on an external drive, or if you have moved or renamed anything recently. iTunes is very sensitive to you renaming or moving files or folders involved with your media. iTunes only keeps a reference to where a media file is located and then goes to look for it when you try to play it. If you have changed things since it was added to itunes then it's like me sending you to look for a friend in my addressbook but that friend has moved.
The other possibility is your computer is starting to lose files. Again, the computer uses a reference database to tell it where on the drive to look for a file. If that database gets corrupt then it starts losing files. Use Dsk Utility's first aid to verify your hard drive. -
There are about 8 songs on a playlist that are listed in the playlist library but when I try to transfer them to the playlist, it states that they can't be transferred because the original file could not be found. Then it asks, do you want to locate the file but when I try that I get a few libraries but am not sure how to locate the particular songs. Some of the songs were purchased and some were transferred from a CD. I have seen the same question asked on the help page but haven't found an answer.
Thanks.Hi dones49,
It sounds like your issue here is that iTunes can not find the files for some of the songs you have brought into it. This happens occasionally even if the songs have not been moved from the location that iTunes places them on import or purchase. When you try to use the song, iTunes prompts you to find the file, as you have seen.
To find the file, use the information in this article to navigate through the iTunes media folders -
Locate and organize your iTunes files
If you are still unable to locate the files, you may need to download them from the iTunes store again, or rip them from your CDs. See this article for assistance with downloading your past purchases -
Download past purchases
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Brett L -
I have a new hard drive as my old one crashed. Everything seemed to transfer fine except for my entire iTunes library. It shows all of my old songs, but when I click on one it states "the song could not be used as the original file could not be found.would you like to locate it".
Either how do I locate it, and I've tried every trick I know, or how do I restore all of my songs from one of two sources. I have my old hard drive backedup on an external drive which should have all of my songs, and I have most of my songs on my old iPhone 3S which I'm using as a backup iPod.The "missing file" error 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, one of its parent folders, or 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. In the case of a library moved from one system to another there are also potential permissions issues. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to Get Info, then click No when asked to try to locate the track. (Due to a bug in iTunes 12 you currently have to say No twice!) 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, a folder renamed, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions. If the difference between the two paths is an additional Music folder in one path then this is a layout issue. I can explain further if that is the case.
In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps with Get Info but this time click Locate and browse to the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links.
If another application like Windows Media Player has moved/renamed the files then the chances are that subtle differences in naming strategies will make it hard to restore the media to the precise path that iTunes is expecting. In such cases, as long as the missing files can be found somewhere, you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes. See this post for an explanation of how it works.
See also Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2 -
With Windows 7 I upgraded itunes to 11. Now in my itunes library, when I click on a song "original file could not be found" comes up. This happens with over 2000 songs, but it seems to be ones I recorded from cd's. Locate does not seem to work. Has anyone else had this problem?
Highlight a song that is supposedly missing, press CTRL+I to Get Info, say no when asked to locate the file, then look at the summary tab. Where does iTunes "think" the file should be? Where is it really? You may need to give a configuration file a minor tweak.
tt2 -
When selecting a song to play from iTunes library, I continually get an error message indicating the original file could not be found. Then asks, would you like to locate it? Does anyone know how to fix this? I'm not even able to play the songs I purchased due to this error message. Any ideas how to remedy this problem?
ThanksIt would help to have more background about your iTunes collection such as if you keep it on an external drive, or if you have moved or renamed anything recently. iTunes is very sensitive to you renaming or moving files or folders involved with your media. iTunes only keeps a reference to where a media file is located and then goes to look for it when you try to play it. If you have changed things since it was added to itunes then it's like me sending you to look for a friend in my addressbook but that friend has moved.
The other possibility is your computer is starting to lose files. Again, the computer uses a reference database to tell it where on the drive to look for a file. If that database gets corrupt then it starts losing files. Use Dsk Utility's first aid to verify your hard drive. -
I recently tranferred my iTunes library to an external hard drive. Now I cannot open songs and get the error message ' The song "***" could not not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it'. This applies to all 9742 songs!!. My iPod still syncs ok, but I can't play songs on the PC. Can anyone please help.
It would help to have more background about your iTunes collection such as if you keep it on an external drive, or if you have moved or renamed anything recently. iTunes is very sensitive to you renaming or moving files or folders involved with your media. iTunes only keeps a reference to where a media file is located and then goes to look for it when you try to play it. If you have changed things since it was added to itunes then it's like me sending you to look for a friend in my addressbook but that friend has moved.
The other possibility is your computer is starting to lose files. Again, the computer uses a reference database to tell it where on the drive to look for a file. If that database gets corrupt then it starts losing files. Use Dsk Utility's first aid to verify your hard drive. -
i-tunes could not be used because the original file could not be found.could not locate.this error occurs on most of my songs in my library and will not play even though they are in my i-pod and play with no trouble.can anyone please help?
I was not complete clear.
Since you never changed the settings in the advanced section of iTunes preferecnes, you have to chech that your music is really in the location setted in the folders reported in the advanced section. If not you have 2 ways: reset the position of this folders or in the actual disk organisation or in the pointing on the preferences.
If you press the reset button you just give to itunes its default setting as for the position of the music files: probably this will be a good choice if you have never changed any default preference.
But before I would check the folders and see if the songs are really there
In my iTune I have this, and I believe it is the default.
Users/YOURHOMEFOLDERNAME/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music
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