Is there any simple way to find items in the library that are missing?

Question

That is, library entries that point to a missing file?
Thanks, MZ

Answer 1

I think you'll find definitions of simple vary...
FWIW iTunes Folder Watch doesn't modify anything unless you ask it to. iTunes creates an XML file which can by quizzed by 3rd party apps. One of the features of iTFW is to read this file and scan your folders to confirm that each file referenced exists. You can review the list of dead tracks and decide what to do, e.g. manually remove them from iTunes, restore from a backup etc.
That said there is an iTunes only solution to your question:
1. Create an empty playlist called "Found".
2. Select the Music source, use CTRL-A to select all items.
3. Drag this selection onto the "Found" playlist and wait with your mouse button held down while iTunes counts how many items there are. Release when iTunes catches up with you.
4. Create a new Smart Playlist called "Not Found". Rules are *Playlist is Music* and *Playlist is not Found*.
Any files with broken links won't have been copied into the manual playlist and hence will be "Not Found".
Going back to the original discrepancy between numbers of tracks in iTunes & on your iPod it's also worth noting that it is sometimes possible to create more than one library entry to the same physical file. In this instance only one file is ever copied to the iPod. This can also trigger files that sync on every connection. iTunes & iPod may also count music videos differently.
Lastly, I think the "The iPod cannot be resynched. The required file cannot be found" error is not related to media files that might be missing but more to do with iTunes having trouble accessing the iPod itself.
tt2