Ghost files (removing itunes?)

Question

Hi, I have shifted my music collection back and forth from a number of macs, and my library is all sorts of screwed up. I am curently using an old powerbook with a firewire hard drive which is storing my music. I had run itunes on this laptop in the past, and now that I am using it again with a much different music collection, it still lists the old songs that aren't in the computer any more. for many songs, they look like duplicate tracks, but when I click on them I get a message that says the origional file could not be found. There are a whole lot of these, so I had assumed that it would be simpler to remove itunes from my mac, reinstall it and load the collection on my hard drive instead of manually deleting every song. but that didn't work, and so I really have no idea what to do. I've got some duplicate songs, and I was going to try a program like duplicate hunter to sort that out, but as for these "ghost tracks" I don't really understand what is causing them. Also I have all of these tracks that have been placed just outside my music folder and labeled with odd names like "ADBK". I don't recall placing them there and I certainly didn't name them. I guess I'm basically asking how to erase itunes and start over. At this point I'm pretty lost, so any help would be appreciated.
thanks
PB 400mhz pismo Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Answer 1

Which version of iTunes are you using? Listed below are the specs for the latest version 6.0.5 which is buggy for some.
Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later
500MHz G3 processor or better
QuickTime 6.5.2 or later
256MB RAM
Combo/Super Drive to burn CDs
Broadband Internet connection (DSL/Cable/LAN) for buying and streaming music
Nike + iPod Sport Kit requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
When you moved your tunes from place to place you broke the link between the tune and the iTunes Library file. iTunes didn't know where the tune was so you get the . There is a specific way to move your tunes around as you have and keep every thing linked up. There are 2 files - iTunes Library and iTunes Music Library.xml - that keep iTunes and other apps aware of where to find things. The default location of these 2 files is HD>User>User Account>Music>iTunes. If the files are moved then iTunes will create new files. The files will have no info in them as they are new files- hence you need to add tunes back to the library so it can build a data base and remember where things are located. When doing a iTunes b/u it is a good idea to include those 2 files.
Did you ever move tunes from an iPod to your Mac? iTunes scrambles the iPod files names into what you are seeing "ADBK.mp3" etc. It doesn't change the id3 tag info and when you put that tune back into iTunes it will show you the correct info. I think the reason for this behaviour is related to music piracy prevention. It certainly makes it more difficult.
What do you mean by "ghost tracks"? Do you have the Keep and Copy options selected in iTunes prefs>Advanced>General. If you select these 2 options then iTunes will organize and place all tunes into one common area dictated by your selection of where you tell iTunes to keep your tunes: iTunes prefs>Advanced>General.
MJ