How to delete duplicate files and fix borken links

Problem: Duplicate Files and Broken Links
Involves 2 IBM ThinkPads (1) one main partition (system driveC:) running Windows XP SP3, (2) running Windows 7 and with two partitions - Drive C: has the library while drive D:contains the “itunes media” folder.
Issues:
On both laptops, the iTunes media folder contains duplicatecopies of purchased songs and movies (some purchased prior to iTunes 9),imported or ripped songs from CDs, and redeemed digital copies of movies. EverythingI have tried results in broken links and duplicate files. Is there a method or aprogram which will allow me to disentangle this mess? I have spent hoursdeleting files, not using the iTunes “copy” function and so on but the problemcontinues. At times I simply run out of disc space and simply have to start theprocess all over again. I have spoken to someone in Apple’s iTunes tech supportand was told this was a “windows” problem?!?
Any suggestions or advice that would help me to untanglethis mess would be greatly appreciated. Is taking the ThinkPads to a PC repairshop the only answer? How would they fix the problem?
Thanks all, PrimeSequence.

PrimeSequence wrote:
Thanks 'turingtest2' for your suggestion. I know the location of the files, but iTunes keeps duplicating them as soon as I launch iTunes.
You know the location of your file, but it sounded like iTunes doesn't. The FindTracks script is designed to fix the broken links.
I doubt uninstalling and reinstalling will change anything. Uninstalling iTunes does not affect the contents of your media library or media folders, the files stay put.
iTunes shouldn't generate much in the way of new files just through launching it... Exceptions include artwork files for tracks it knows it has yet to scan and any downloads related to podcast subscriptions.
The only other thing I can think of would be some sort of error with the Automatically add to iTunes folder. Any files that are in there should be moved to their normal locations within the media folder layout, not copied, and then added to the library. I suppose the processing order could be add, then move, and if for some reason the move fails then next time you start up iTunes they could be added again. So do you have any files in the Automatically add to iTunes folder? If not is there any other pattern you can see to this duplication? Do you have any software that tries to add files to iTunes automatically?
Actually, and in a similar vein, does this duplication happen on both machines or just the Windows 7 one? Vista introduced new "default" locations for user profiles plus a bunch of symbolic links that automagically redirect attempts by older software to look for things in the default XP locations. As a result your Music folder, for example, can appear at multiple locations within the tree of folders on your C: drive. I suppose it is just possible that some form of recursive nightmare could be going on there.
FWIW it is much easier to manage a self-contained library where the media folder is inside the library folder.
tt2

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How to delete duplicate files and fix borken links

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