ITunes: "File not found"

I have been having a problem for quite some time with iTunes and I can't seem to get an answer as to how to resolve it. On many of my songs listed in the iTunes library, when I click on the song I get an error message to the effect of "File not found. Would you like iTunes to try to locate this file?", and when I say "yes" to this, I get my "iTunes Music" folder (where my music files are stored) and I have to search around and find the file (which I am usually able to do) and then it plays. However, when sometime later I may try to play the song again, I get the same error message and have to go through the same process. Can anyone explain why this may be happening and how I can prevent it from happening again? What is the simplest way to store your music files on your hard drive to ensure iTunes captures everything and does not have difficulty locating files? Many thanks for your help and advice!

This really shouldn't happen. There are no setting in iTunes to prevent it.
If you want to do a bit of detective work, you find out where iTunes this the missing file is located.
If you want to try this, identify a track or two with exclamation marks.
Open iTunes Library.xml with WORDPAD. (it's in the iTunes folder)
Use search to look for the track or album name. If you know the actual file name you can use that but watch out for spaces, the space character is represented by %20.
WHen you have found a track or album you need to scroll to the line starting:
<key>Location</key>
This contains the path and file name.
Is it correct, or something different?
That might give you clue about files being moved or renamed.
If it is all correct them something odd is happening with iTunes.
Message was edited by: polydorus

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Songs that I have purchased are missing in iTunes (file not found/exclmation point), and do not show up in the iTunes Store for download.

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Since most of these songs have been purchased through iTunes through my account, my reaction was to go to the iTunes store, log in with my account, and re-download them. Problem is, all of these songs instead ask me to purchase the song, instead of displaying a "cloud" logo. Therefore, it appears that I have to re-purchase these songs, which does not sound correct.
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1. How can I re-download these songs and why doesn't iTunes Store recognize that I have already purchased them?
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1. iTunes won't offer cloud downloads for songs that it "thinks" are in your library, even if it "knows" the files are missing. If you've exhaustively searched for the missing files and there is no prospect of repair by restoring to them to their original locations, or connecting to new ones, then delete that tracks that display both the missing exclamation mark and are of media kind Purchased/Protected AAC audio file. Don't hide from iTunes in the cloud when asked, close iTunes, then reopen. You can download from the cloud links or iTunes Store > Quicklinks > Purchased > Music > Not on this computer > All songs > Download all.
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Hello redatitude,
Not being able to access the iTunes Store sounds frustrating. I have located an article that will help you, take a look at the heading titled "Troubleshoot issues in Windows."
Can't connect to the iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1368
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i recently replaced the external drive that housed my itunes library and now i'm having the same issue with items not being found.
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If you are having issues updating or reinstalling iTunes on your Windows machine, you may find the following articles helpful:
Apple Support: Trouble installing iTunes or QuickTime for Windows
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1926
Apple Support: Removing and reinstalling iTunes and other software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923
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tt2

"File Not Found" when addCourse through iTunesU web service.

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url = uploadURl on above
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contentType="text/xml"
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fileName,
data,
contentType);
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reader = new BufferedReader(reader);
char[] buffer = new char[16 * 1024];
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I'm having a similar "File Not Found" error, but it's happening for any API request other than GetUploadURL. I'm sending a POST request to the GetUploadURL, and that part is working correctly, as I get a URL such as the following:
https://deimos2.apple.com/WebObjects/Files.woa/Upload/wvu.edu/X_1372071795_4d9433be.4c3fdd3d.4c3fdd3e/%22Chris%20Scharf%22%20%3Ccbscharf%40mail.wvu.edu%3E%20%28cbscharf%29%20%5B3258 7%5D/0046eaaaf078cf5d6b60f18926106a50a5050cf8f9c91a7608074e6d2949a8759017969ece
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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ITunesUDocument>
<ShowTree>
<KeyGroup>most</KeyGroup>
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</ITunesUDocument>
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