ITunes folder missing...

I've just reinstalled iTunes on my girlfriends pc. Now, when i try to start up the program, a box apears with the text:
The folder iTunes can not be found or created.
The above is translated from danish, so the english text could be a bit different, but the context should be the same...
Any one know what i did wrong?
Regard Dybdal

Hello,
I don't think it's anything you did incorrectly. Try the steps in this document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1866
If that doesn't resolve it, or if you have trouble with those steps, hold down your Shift key when opening iTunes. You should be prompted to either choose or create a library.
First, select "choose library" and choose the iTunes Library.itl file located in C:\...\My Music\iTunes\. If that file doesn't exist or you are unable to select it, cancel out and start over.
This time, select "create library" and let iTunes set up a new library data file for you. When iTunes is opened this way, your music will likely not be in it, so what you want to do is click your File menu and choose Add Folder to Libary. Choose the iTunes Music folder located in C:\...\My Music\iTunes\ and this should relist your media in iTunes.
CG

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... and the third case:
If you have folders that are labeled as "iTunes" but their content doesn't appear in your library within iTunes itself, add these to the library by any of these methods:
select File > Add Folder to Library... then navigate to and select the folder(s) containing the "missing" albums/songs
drag and drop these folders from Windows Explorer into iTunes
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Once you've been through these steps its probably worth running the Consolidate Library process again to make sure everything's in the right place. Once you've checked that to be the case, you can delete any stray "iTunes" folders that are outside the hierarchy rooted in the folder where your database and your standard iTunes Media files are located.
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Moving files and folders around yourself never fixes anything in iTunes - in most cases it'll only make things worse by creating (more) broken links
A couple of turingtest2's valuable user tips also apply here:
Make a split library portable describes the optimal layout for an iTunes library, easing the processes of moving it between computers and maintaining a backup of it, as well as the steps needed to bring a library into that shape
Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy describes a suitable/recommended method to create and maintain a backup ... when you've gone through the effort to make your library just exactly perfect you don't want to lose it all as the result of a virus, hard disc crash, or other fatal failure!

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Chris CA wrote:
How do I find out where iTunes thinks missing files are?
The exclamation mark means ITunes doesn't think they are anywhere.
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I'm not a newbie. I know quite a lot about iTunes. You sound like you don't though because if you did you would know that this is not true. If you "right click - get info on a song" (pressing cancel to the Locate popup) "then view the SUMMARY (not info) tab" you will see "Not Available" where the file location usually is. I wouldn't have asked this question if I hadn't gone through the steps already.
Thanks for trying though. Next time, please try the advice before you give it.
I add dozens of songs at a time to my library all the time and there is no Earthly way for me to constantly remember where they were before
You should not have to remember anything about where they were.
I agree.
Are you always moving them around?
When I install a new hard drive. Yes. I generally keep everything organized and I let iTunes keep the folder organized but several years ago I used windows media player to organize my media.
Frankly I don't know HOW the recent songs/videos/etc. go missing. But some do. Maybe I accidentally move a folder without realizing it. Mistakes happen. Then I need to move it back but since I didn't know I did it in the first place I can't possibly be expected to remember where I moved it from.
Do you have iTunes prefs -> Advanced Keep ITunes music folder organized ticked and Copy files to iTunes ... ticked?
*OF COURSE!* Again, I'm not a newbie.
I have several hundred playlists with these files
Why would you have several hundred playlists?
I don't mean to sound rude but you sound like an Apple fanboy. Are you trying to tell me how I should use my own program? The answer to the question is I am a salsa instructor/DJ and I am constantly adding songs and videos to my library. Every month I have various salsa events, classes and performances that I do. I use my iPhone for the music. I need to maintain the playlists because students/teachers/studios/clubs/bars/churches/etc. call me back and want a repeat of the great salsa night I gave them a year ago. Naturally my playlists are highly organized into folders. So, I still have them and I need them.
Apple has its own ideas about how people should use its stuff but everyone is unique and our needs therefore are unique too. Apple doesn't realize this and still wants us to do things "the Apple way" even though "the Apple way" only works well for people who want their hand held through everything. This is why I say you sound like a fanboy. You don't know my situation and question if I need hundreds of playlists. I do.
I just need an answer to the question.
Thank you for your reply though. It gave me hope, for a time.

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