ITunes library gone! Can it be recovered?

Question

Having spent most of last weekend sorting out my sons ipod - I now have a problem with mine!! Only a hour ago my library was there - and I just went back and it's gone! completely! No where to be found! Pligged in my ipod and system tells me that it's found new hardware!! Then itunes openas and says that this ipod it linked to another library (not so). Everything still on ipod - so in fear of lossing that too I unplugged ipod - searched and searched recycle bin etc and found nothing. Any suggestions? I have been searching the postings as I recall last week reading a similar problem but regret I cannot find it now - so I hope I don't offend anyone by repating a similar question. Many thanks. SM

Answer 1

Once I plug in my ipod will I be able to rebuild playlists?
Just want to be clear so I ddon't direct you the wrong way and have your library messed up more, but did you add the "xml" file by dragging to itunes and it loaded all your songs in without the playlist or did you add the actual music files/songs to itunes and don't have playlist?
Now - how do I back this up to prevent it happening again.
It depends on what you have handy to backup on, like an external harddrive or a CD/DVD burner (DVD is better since they hold more info than a CD you end up with less disc)
do you recommend updating to version 7
THis LARGLY depends on what you want. I mean theres ALOT of really cool neat handy features in 7. THat said tho SOME, NOT ALL BUT SOME people have issues with it. Usually long as your system and windows is up to date and you have things backed up and have scanned and removed malware/adware you should be OK.
I can only talk from experience, but for me I've not had any issues on my old 5-6 year old test machine. I can't say if you will have issues or not.
Again not all, but most posting here with issues about iTUnes 7 I have helped have one of these reasons why there having issues
1) have not updated there system and windows.
2) have malware "Fudging" things up
3) was impatant with the "Gapless scan" itunes does on first setup, cancelled it or forced itunes to shut down and not have a fudged up system because they could not wait.
4) Didn't have there antivirus disabled during install or didn't manually remove itunes and qwuicktime completely before the install (Yes apple doesn't say to do this but in some cases when I helped them clean out itunes and quicktime, then reinstall itunes 7, everything worked fine)
Message was edited by: pac_80