How do I stop iTunes mapping to a deleted directory?

When I open iTunes on my PC, every song title I have is duplicated - one maps correctly to the location of the song but the other maps to an old directory that has been deleted and no longer exists in the file structure. When I select the one with the broken link I get the message that says the song can't be found, which is fine. I then delete that version of the song in iTunes and that title disappears leaving only the correct one. Even if I follow this process for every song (over 10,000 duplicates!) when I then log off and re-launch iTunes, all the duplicate songs with the broken links re-appear. Is there a way to stop iTunes looking to map to the old directory? Or any other suggestions?

I decided that doing the same thing over and over while hoping for a different outcome was....insane. I opted for that other option--set up as a new device or what ever that choice is. Low and behold everything turned out just as it was supposed to. So all is ok in the world.

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I have a large CD collection. I have downloaded them to iTunes over a period of years. When I go looking for a particular song, it is often missing. I have been checking my iTunes library lately and much of the music I downloaded from MY CD collection is missing. Why does iTunes lose or delete music I have legally purchased. NOTE: I don't burn a lot of CDs. I have half a dozen playlists for CDs I have burned one time for my personal use. I have one playlist for my iPod and one for the music on my phone. Is this causing a problem? What is going on?

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https://discussions.apple.com/message/26193185#26193185
https://discussions.apple.com/message/26335620#26335620 - user ended up rebuilding iTunes library from scratch
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angelofromnsw wrote:
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tt2

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How do I stop iTunes mapping to a deleted directory?

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