HT201413 I cannot access any of my music with my Windows 7 PC after I update iTunes. I keep getting the error message " The song 'ABC' could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?", for the 1800 songs that I h

My music library worked fine on my new PC until updated iTunes software. Now I cannot access any of my music anymore. What's happening here?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Lisa

Select a broken track and press ctrl-i to Get Info. Look on the summary tab for the location where iTunes "thinks" the file should be. Where is it really? Post back the two locations and I can suggest the best approach.
tt2

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I am having trouble dating to version 3.6.14. I am running Linux/Ubutu OS and I get this error message:/tmp/p7x3vko2.part could not be saved, because the source file could not be read. Please help. Thank you , Deb

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Solved for me.
I set the owner/permissions of my profile's mozilla folder's (and all the files in it) to read/write access, and the problem disappeared.
in linux:''
* cd /home/myusername/.mozilla
* chown -cR myusername:mygroup ./
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'''Never do that with root privs (nor with sudo)'''

TS3694 When trying to update or restore my Iphone I get an error message saying...could not be restored because firmware file is not compatible. What is this and how can it be resolved?

When trying to restore or update my Iphone 4 it errors out with message:..."could not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible." How do I resolve this?

Ask him if he has 'jailbroken' the ipod touch. Some jailbreaking firmware resets it to Ipad firmware and so it is very difficult to restore as itunes simply doesnt recognise it for what it is. It's Apple's solution to try and stop mass jailbreaking.

When i try play a song i get this message " the song could not be used because your original file could not be found, would you like to locate. I tunes works on my iPad

OSX 10.9.5

I am getting this same message. I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac. Perhaps they did not transfer something critical? I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle.
I have the same issues with my downloaded movies but my apps all seem to be fine.
Even more confusing - it seems to allow random songs to play and download on my Macbook and other devices. But most of my music - whether downloaded from iTunes or my CD collection comes up with that message about the original file.
Should I get new geeks to locate these files on my old mini-mac?

I keep getting an error message: Backup disk image could not be accessed

Does anyone know how to fix this message?
The backup disk image "/Volumes/....." could not be accessed. (error -1).

Hello Dawnellk,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
For more information on this, take a look at:
Downloading past purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519
Previous purchases may be unavailable if they have been refunded or are no longer on the iTunes Store.
Best of luck,
Mario

Error: Original file cannot be found, would you like to locate it?

My computer crashed, so I bought a new laptop. I have everything backed up on an external hard drive. I tried to transfer everything from the external drive to my new laptop, and now all of my music appears to be listed in itunes. However, when i try to play a music file I'm getting an error that says the original file cannot be found, would you like to locate it? Any ideas?

Select a broken track and press ctrl-i to Get Info. Look on the summary tab for the location where iTunes "thinks" the file should be. Where is it really? Post back the two locations and I can suggest the best approach.
tt2

I have a new computer that downloaded all of my playlist. but i cannot play all songs. i get a error that say "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it? but it does not help to resolve.

i installed itunes to my new computer and transfered all my playlist from the older computer. the software came with the new computer hp link up. the problem
comes in where i want to play a certain song on a playlist and this error pops up "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found.
would you like to locate it? which is of no help.
is there a solution to this problem?

The file path for these songs IS NOT correct per your iTunes Library file.
See: http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=listmias for an Applescript to locate these files for re-adding.

On some of my files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" Then when I click "Locate", I get nothing.

I'm really dumbfounded on this one and it's driving me bonkers!!!! On some of my music files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
This began to happen when Chuck made playlists2burn on2CD-and then he would delete the playlist; sending all the song files into oblivion. Certain songs have a ! right next to the file name, and as I stated before, i get that error message:
"The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
So I click on "Locate". No help. I get a menu with folders that say "catroot" and other folders which names I cannot remember, but I scroll PAST the file folders, & it's just a bunch of ".DLL" files.....I don't understand what any of the names of the folders mean...it's frustr8ing-coz this is my 2nd iTouch, my 1st one got stolen & I can't afford2buy my music back at this time & i NEVER before had a single problem with losing song file locations.
              Is there anyone out there who has been through this frustrating game of chasing your tail?....<that's how I feel>
If so I would be ever so gr8ful if maybe someone with the knowledge would be so kind as 2 tell me how/where 2 retrieve these songs & how to put everything back where it belongs, I would be 4ever gr8ful !!!
I can't afford 2 replace the songs just like I'm unable 2 buy back my old music from my stolen iTouch....man that was an awesome collection-someday I'll be able 2 afford 2 do that & I would like 2 have all the new music that I paid 4 but cannot find when I got my new iTouch....that would just be wonderful.
             I hope someone sees this post that can help me retrieve these files....losing $100.00 of iTunes is a REAL BUMMER!!!!!!
                                                  ThanQ SO very much!
                                                                         [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] .
                                                                                           You can also find me on Facebook, my given name is Tiffinie Trimmer, &
                                                                                            that's my Facebook "handle". ThanQ 4 taking the time 2 read all of this!
                                                                                            hope 2 get a reply someday....I'll B checking all my emails & my Facebook, as well
                                                                                            as marking this page in my FAVORITES so I can find it fast! Take Care!!!

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

TS1718 Why do I get this message: The song "title" could not be used because the oringinal file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

Why do I get this message: The song "title" could not be used because the oringinal file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

John Black3 wrote:
Many of my songs in my iTunes Library no longer play. I get this error message: "The song xxx could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
this usually happens when a user moves or deletes files in the finder - a sure way to upset iTunes.
did you move or delete files in the finder ?
I cannot locate the song.
if you let iTunes manage your library, all your content will be in <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music/iTunes/iTunes music (or media)/music. did you look there ? tried a spotlight search ?
if the files are really gone, and have been purchased from the iTunes store, see Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store.

I tried to play my iTunes and suddenly get an error message that says "The song (name) could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it now?" It happens on all my tunes and each one I select ends up with a "?"

I tried to play my iTunes and suddenly get an error message that says "The song (name) could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it now?" It happens on each tune I select and a "?" appears beside the song. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

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

When I try to listen to a song I purchased last week, I get the message, "could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it?" What do I do to find it?

When I try to listen to the songs I purchased from iTunes last week, I get the error message, "could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it?" What do I do to fix this problem or locate the song?
Thanks!

I am getting this same message. I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac. Perhaps they did not transfer something critical? I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle.
I have the same issues with my downloaded movies but my apps all seem to be fine.
Even more confusing - it seems to allow random songs to play and download on my Macbook and other devices. But most of my music - whether downloaded from iTunes or my CD collection comes up with that message about the original file.
Should I get new geeks to locate these files on my old mini-mac?

Song could not be used file not found would you like to locate it?

I receive the following message when I try to play a song from my library in Itunes:
This song could not be used because the origional file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
The songs that were purchased from Itunes play with no problem but all the others have this message. There are thousands of songs stored and it would be impossible to do this for every song. Any reason why this happed and any suggestions on how to get these songs to play without locating every file?

What worked for me was to delete all the songs from my library (but keep the files!) and then drag & drop the folder containing all the music files into my library: See: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6471379#6471379

Continually get pop up box "The song "song title" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"

Continually get pop up box "The song "song title" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"

Hey xxCreepyFiaxx,
First, I would try the following suggested steps for when you don't see content in iTunes after updating:
Quit iTunes.
Download and install the latest version of iTunes.
Use the Finder (Mac) or Windows Explorer (Windows) to go to the iTunes folder that contains the iTunes library files:
Mac OS X
/Users/username/Music/iTunes/
Microsoft Windows Windows XP and Windows 2000
\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
Microsoft Windows Windows Vista and Windows 7
\Users\username\Music\iTunes\
Drag the iTunes Library file from the above location to the Desktop.
Open the Previous iTunes Libraries folder in the iTunes folder.
Locate the file named iTunes Library YYYY-MM-DD where YYYY-MM-DD is the date you upgraded iTunes (Year-Month-Day).
Drag this file to the iTunes folder (the enclosing folder).
Rename this file to iTunes Library.
Open iTunes.
You should now see your missing content in iTunes.
via: No content shows up in iTunes after updating
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967
If that doesn't resolve the issue, then I'd go through the steps in here:
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
Have a good one,
Delgadoh

Error code; original file could not be found, would you like to locate it?

when i try to transfer songs from my library to my ipod shuffle, i get this error message (error code; original file could not be found, would you like to locate it?). Then an exclamation point(!) in the first column it appears next to the song in the library.
When i go to the folder mymusic/itunes/itunesmusic folder, the song is there, but why is there an exclamation point next to the song in the library? And how do I restore all these songs, and what causes this?

Sounds like your iTunes .ITL library file got corrupted.
What are the iTunes library files?
There are some posts around here by Buegie on how to fix that...

"original file could not be found, would you like to locate it." error

I recently bought my first MAC and imported my Itunes library onto it using my 3G 40GB ipod. When I try to play some songs in Itunes on the MAC I get the "original file could not be found, would you like to locate it." error message. The songs are on my IPOD and able to played from my ipod, yet they will not synch or transfer to the MAC.
What can I do other than reload the songs from the original cd's?
Thanks in advance.
Sean

Click on this earlier post of mine and read ALL the info listed before trying any fix.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5351732#5351732
DIXIE

HT201413 I cannot access any of my music with my Windows 7 PC after I update iTunes. I keep getting the error message " The song 'ABC' could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?", for the 1800 songs that I h

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