ITunes keeps trashing 'itunes library.itl'
iTunes was working just fine under my WinXP Pro system, with the latest windoze patches. I'm running 7.02 of iTunes. It could sync with my iPod just fine and it played my music fine on the PC.
Suddenly about a week ago, I started getting popup windows when I started itunes, saying: "the file itunes library.itl does not appear to be a valid itunes library file". It then tells me that it renamed the library file as 'damaged' and is rebuilding the library.
After going thru this for days, I did an uninstall of itunes, erased all the itunes directories and rebooted. I then did a clean install of iTunes 7.02. After spending hours getting my library setup with my playlists and cover art again, I thought I had it fixed. But, rebooting just found the same problems all over again. This morning, it couldn't find a good copy to use, so it started with an empty library!
There are no other .itl files in the 'previous' folder or anywhere else in 'my music'. This is driving me crazy - I can't stand having to constantly recreate everything, only to have iTunes throw it all away?
Does anyone have ANY suggestions???? I'm willing to try about anything... (Please don't give me juvenile comments about converting to a mac...)
A lot of people seem to be getting this problem and no one has come up with a satisfactory explanation for it.
Is there anything unusual about your configuration - external drive, network, v large library?
About all I can offer is to suggest you make regular backup copies of you library so you can restore it if the proble recurs.
The library files are in:
My Documents\My Music\iTunes
Close iTunes and wait about 30 seconds.
Copy iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml somewhere else e.g. into the Previous iTunes Libraries folder.
To restore, with iTunes closed drag the current itl and xml file from the iTunes folder to the desktop, then copy the backup iTunes Library.itl into the iTunes folder. The xml file isn’t necessary but can come in handy if the library needs to be recreated and the itl file is causing problems.
Similar Messages
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My iTunes won't open! It keeps saying 'The iTunes Library.itl is locked on a locked disk or you not have write permission for this file.' Please Help!
this may happen on external drives if:
The external drive was hotpluged (removed) without going the correct "eject" way
The iTunes library (database) got corrupted
First Aid for external drive
Close iTunes
Unmount (eject) external drive the right way.
Mount drive again
Go to Workplace -> right click external drive -> choose "clean up" This will force the filesystem to rescan the file structure of the drive and rebuilding the file system table and journaling file.
After the tool shows "done" (could last some time depending on size of drive) restart iTunes
If your iTunes library is on your internal drive, this may happen
The system was not shoot down correct, e.g. "pulled the plug"
The iTunes library (database) got corrupted
First Aid for internal hard drive
Close iTunes
Reboot system
Go to Workplace -> right click external drive -> choose "clean up"
After the tool shows "done" (could last some time depending on size of drive)
Reboot system, restart iTunes
If none of the above fixes your problem, post here.
Lupunus -
I can't open my Itunes keep receiving error message- The iTunes Library.itl file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "i Tunes" folder in the "Music" folder. I have even tried removing and reinstalling iTunes and it still does work because I continue to receive this error message. Please Help!
Anyone can help to advice how to solve this issue ?
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Itunes was working fine until i plugged in my 6th gen shuffle. itunes wouldn't read the pod and it kept showing an error message telling me i needed to uninstall and reinstall itunes. So i did. Now, itunes won't open up. i keep getting the same message, " The file "itunes library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes. HELP!!!
Problem solved by doing the following:
Open PC/Mac and search for iTunes Library.
From the list, select the most recent version of iTunes Library. Save this to a folder.
Delete iTunes from your computer.
Install latest version of iTunes.
When I opened the new version of iTunes, everything was there as before.
I didn't need to import the saved version of iTunes Library. Maybe this happens automatically????? -
just downloaded itunes when u try to open library keeps coming up itunes library itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes,please help !!!
You posted in the iTunes for Mac forum, by the way.
Troubleshooting iTunes installation on Mac OS X - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2311 - read section on Opening iTunes for information about running multiple copies of iTunes. -
ITunes Library.itl keeps disappearing when iTunes starts
I just updated to iTunes 10.8.0.40. Now my iTunes Library.itl file keeps disappearing.
When iTunes starts, I get a message that says, "The iTunes Library.itl file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder inthe "Music" folder."
I copy a backup from the "Previous iTunes Library" folder and then iTunes will start. However, the file disappears again as iTunes is starting. Right after it disappears, iTunes displays a message that says, "Checking iTunes Library..." followed by "Updating iTunes Library..." Then I get a message that says, "The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. A folder was specified instead of a file."
The process repeats endlessly. How do I stop iTunes from deleting the iTunes Library.itl file as it starts?I fixed this by removing iTunes and installing MediaMonkey. Most of the music I have in iTunes has been ripped from my CDs and MediaMonkey found all of those MP3's within a couple minutes. The last time I had to rebuild my iTunes database, it took two days because I couldn't figure out how to stop it from analyzing the volume. The few albums that I bought through iTunes, I will burn to a CD and re-rip. Despite the name, MediaMonkey seems to be a much better program for managing music and runs significantly faster on my little HP mini.
This is the fourth and last time I'm dealing with the problem of iTunes deleting my database. Good riddance iTunes. -
How do i install Itunes on my windows(7) PC? i followed the guidelines issued outlined by Apple in KB TS5376 but i keep getting the message, the file "itunes library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes. what steps must i follow to install?
If you've already installed the latest version then the message may be a sign of a corrupt library. See Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash.
tt2 -
My computer keeps saying "The iTunes Library.itl file is locked, or you do not have write permission for thsi file." I am running iTunes 10.5 on a windows 7 computer. PLEASE HELP!!!
sorry, i don't have the answer, but i think i have the same problem if i may expound:
I did a windows 7 update.... and today i tried to modify some song info in iTuens... I selectd an album with 12 songs in it, right clicked for "Get Info" tied to update album info including year, album artist, etc... but it would not take. I checked the security setting in the windows folder and confirmed i had admin rights etc...still no go... -
I accidentally uninstalled Quicktime from my computer so my Itunes was not functioning. It told me to uninstall my Itunes, then reinstall it. Which I did.
Trouble is, now it comes up with 'THE FILE "ITUNES LIBRARY.ITL" CANNOT BE READ BECAUSE IT WAS CREATED BY A NEWER VERSION OF ITUNES'...which I believe is because before I uninstalled my original Itunes, I had not completed the recent update to the newest version of Itunes, whereas the one I just installed is the latest one.
So THEN, I download the previous version of Itunes (iTunes 10.2.1(x64)) but when I try and run it, it comes up with the message that the thing '...IS NOT VALID WIN32 APPLICATION'.
Now I'm stuck and have absolutely no idea what to do. Please help!When iTunes updates, it should create a backup of your library file before updating.
You may be able to get back by using this article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967?viewlocale=en_US
When doing this, drag BOTH iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Library.xml to the desktop. You will need the xml file if the method above doesn't work.
In that case try this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451 -
I have a windows 7 64 bit os . Downloaded and installed iTunes for 64 bit os.Try to open ,it tells me , The file
"iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes . Any suggestions ?zepel has it, but perhaps some more detail will help.
Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash
Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.
See iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.
When you get it all working make a backup!
tt2 -
Help!!
Hello Whit1erj,
It sounds like you are not able to access your iTunes library. With the error message you are receiving, you will want to first locate the iTunes Library.itl file. These are the default locations for this file on a Windows computer, but if you dont find them here, you may need to search for the file:
Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
Windows Vista: C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes\
Windows 7: C:\Users\username\My Music\iTunes\
Windows 8: C:\Users\username\My Music\iTunes\
You can find the full article about iTunes file locations here:
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
Once you locate the iTunes Library.itl file, you can make iTunes point to it using these steps:
Steps to create or choose a different iTunes Library file
If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
If you are using Windows, hold down the Shift key and from the Start menu and choose All Programs > iTunes > iTunes.
You should see one of the following screens:
Then you can select Choose Library and navigate to the location of the iTunes Library.itl file. You can find the full article here:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1589
Thank you for posting in the Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M. -
My itunes keeps popping up with this; the itunes library .itl file cannot be found or created
i found my itl files and even when i click on them it still pops up with that message what do i do?
Hello EliCooper,
It sounds like when you open iTunes, it says your iTunes Library.itl file cannot be located. If you know where this is located, you need to point iTunes to this file to avoid the error message. I found an article with the steps to choose your iTunes Library.itl file:
Steps to create or choose a different iTunes Library file
If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
If you are using Windows, hold down the Shift key and from the Start menu and choose All Programs > iTunes > iTunes.
You should see one of the following screens:
Once you get that dialogue box, you can click on Choose Library and navigate to your iTunes Library.itl file.
You can find the full article here:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1589
Thank you for posting in the Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M. -
File "iTunes Library.itl" HELP!!!
OK, so I tried 2 be slick about this iTunes thing, and I did a System Restore on my comp. Reinstalled iTunes 6.0.5, but now I can't open iTunes, and I keep getting this message: The file "i Tunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes"
WHAT SHOULD I DO???? I'M ABOUT 2 LOSE MY MIND!!! Do I need to undo the System Restore and go back to iTunes 7 or what???Recreating the iTunes Library file
Follow these steps:
Quit iTunes.
Locate your iTunes folder.
For Mac OS X the iTunes folder is stored in one of the following locations:
/Users/username/Music
/Users/username/Documents
Note: You may need to check both locations.
For Microsoft Windows the iTunes folder is stored in
\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
Open your iTunes folder.
Drag the iTunes Music Library.xml to the Desktop
Drag the following file from your iTunes folder to the Trash:
Mac OS X: "iTunes Library" (in versions of iTunes prior to 4.9 this was called "iTunes 4 Music Library").
Microsoft Windows: "iTunes Library.itl" (in versions of iTunes prior to 4.9 this was called "iTunes 4 Music Library.itl")
Open iTunes.
From the File menu, choose Import.
Tip: Do not add any music into iTunes at this point.
Navigate to the iTunes Music Library.xml file on the Desktop.
Click Choose. -
Help! I 'm using an old G4 powerbook, Mac OSX 10.5.8, iTunes ver 10. I have multiple iTunes libraries on an external drive. Everything was fine for a while, then all of the iTunes library files, i.e. iTunes Library.itl, xml, itdb, artwork folder, Media folder, etc mysteriously disappeared! Only the music files remain (thank god) So now when I start iTunes w/option key to choose a library, I can't choose any of them because iTunes won't recognize them. Because all the library stuff is missing. So can I re-create the library files? (I don't care if I lose my ratings)
Or should I create a new empty library on the external drive, then manually move all the music files to the Media folder in the new library?
I tried some stupid ideas like creating a new library just to start iTunes, then going into prefs and advanced, then under iTunes Media folder location, selecting the location of the old library on the external, to see if iTunes would then find all the music which is still there, but no workee.
I'm out of ideas, and I searched the archives.
Help! anyone?
ScottI don't know if this is me adding files to iTunes when the external wasn't connected
it is.
is it OK to just keep deleting that library on the Air?
i wouldn't - at least not until i
mount the external
point iTunes media folder location back to the external via preferences > advanced
consolidate my library via file > library > organize library
The ntfs hasn't seem to be causing any problems, but I've always wanted to know.
in order for your Mac to write to NTFS drives, it needs some help by installing e.g. the NTFS 3G driver. apparently that or something similar is installed on your Mac already. preferably, it would be formatted for Mac but then windows machines would need to have e.g. MacDrive installed to recognize the drive. -
I just installed iTunes on my new laptop. When I click on the desktop icon I receive a pop up that says "The file iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes". I have no idea what this means or what to do about it. I can't even find a file on my computer like the one referred to in the pop up. I am currently considering keeping my old laptop if it is the only way for me to continue to access iTunes. What should I do to fix this?
What version of iTunes are you using? An .itl file is something that Windows uses, or very old versions of iTunes on Mac. The library file on Macs is now .xml and has been since late iTunes 4.
Is iTunes running ok without any problems after you OK that message? If it is, then you may be able to ignore it if you can't account for why you're getting it. But make sure you take backups in case something happens in the future.
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