ITunes Media Files can't be located (although they are there)

I have an odd problem with my iTues library. For some reason, most of the files (movies, music, and podcasts) can't be found. I then have to manually go and pick the locations (which isn't feasible since there are way too many... and it isn't even smart enough to find other titles on the same album after I picked one...). All the files are exactly in the folders they would be expected at though. It is really weird.
The only thing that is unusual about my setup is that I have my library on an external harddrive.
Oh, and all my album covers and other art I assigned manually is gone too.
How can I fix this either manually or by means of a third party product (it seems in general that there s a great need for a third party product to fix and edit iTunes libraries... I have also ended up with duplicate entries over time for some reason...).
Thanks for your help
Markus

What happens to me is that I load cd from my 250 cd player to my Itunes. When I click on it sometime thereafter, I am returned the message the the file can't be found.
This is constant. It's frustrating, because I have search for the file again. For those mix tapes without information, Track 01 and Track 02 etc., I have to figure out which one is missing or fill in the information over and over again.
Can anyone help. I'm tired of reloading the cds.

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After upgrading iTunes - some files can't be located !!!

I've upgraded iTunes just recently
before updating, i had no problem playing my Robbie Williams music
now - all of them have the '!' + Can't be located when i try playing them.
90% of the music have plays fine though !
Technical:
I've opened the "iTunes Music Library.xml" and found my non playing music:
wont play:
file://localhost/C:/Users/[MyName]/My%20Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Music/Robbie%20Williams/The%20Ego%20Ha s%20Landed/02%20Millennium.mp3
will play:
file://localhost/C:/Users/[MyName]/My%20Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Robbie%20Williams/The%20Ego%20Has%20La nded/03%20No%20Regrets.mp3
the difference is the "Music" folder... a folder i've never used !
i've tried doing a seach-replace to correct the error - but somehow iTunes will revert my change everytime i open iTunes !!!!!
W-T-F !
HELP !

XML is an industry-wide standard. Your comment about Apple devleopers is extremely funny.
Apple didn't formulate it!
The ITL is proprietary, on purpose.
If you are bent on editing the XML file instead of moving the files to the folder where itunes is looking for them, understand 3 things:
1) itunes does not normally use the XML file to populate its library. It uses the ITL. That's why your edits are never showing up.
2) If an ITL file does not exist, itunes creates a new, blank ITL file to use. itunes won't open without an ITL file.
3) If an ITL exists that itunes can't use, it then looks at the XML file as a backup.
If you want to edit your XML file and have itunes use it, then you need to damage the ITL file.
Close itunes.
Open the ITL file in notepad, select all the data in it, and hit delete. Save it as a 0-byte file.
Open itunes. It will creat an ITL file by using your edited XML file, since hte ITL file cant be used, but exists.
This will lose your Date Added metadata.

ITunes saying - The song "XYZ" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? I have my songs all located on a 2TB hard drive and it still says it has 150GB on it but can't find them and they are there???

Help!
Opened iTunes to play some music on the computer tonight and its coming up that the songs cannot be located for virtually all of my iTunes library??? I store my iTunes library on a 2TB hard drive and its always worked fine but I ran iBoostup software earlier today and its hasn't worked since then although I have to admit I haven't tried it for a week. It was a free app to clean up files on the apps store.
When I click on the 2TB hard drive under the iTunes link it still comes up 150GB is in the file but it just can't find the songs???
Can anyone help?
Cheers!

The links below illustrate how your iTunes should look if you use default settings in preferences. If you don't use those settings then you have to know what you're doing.
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605
The above links also illustrate the Media folder and its subfolders. Look for a file in there in the logical structure by folder artist and album. If you're lucky, linking one file will get an offer to link others and it iwll all come together again.
I see you are running OSX 10.5.8 it would help to know which version of iTunes you use now and which one you used before.

HT1391 about 30 out of 80 songs that I purchased play on the computer the 80,the orignal file can not be found so they are unable to play

I purchased about 80 songs from i tunes eveything was working great,then all of a sudden about 50 of the purchased songs would not play ,a box came up stating that the orignal can not be found and if I wanted to search for it.What do I do now ?

If only some of the songs on an album are giving you the authorisation message, that suggests those song files are damaged.
If your country's iTunes Store allows you to redownload purchased tracks, I'd delete your current copies of the dodgy tracks and try redownloading fresh copies. For instructions, see the following document:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store
Otherwise, I'd report the problem to the iTunes Store.
Log in to the Store. Click on "Account" in your Quick Links. When you're in your Account information screen, go down to Purchase History and click "See all".
Find the items that are not playing properly. If you can't see "Report a Problem" next to the items, click the "Report a problem" button. Now click the "Report a Problem" links next to the items.

Lost files, can't find them but they're there!

all my files have disappeared from my powerbook g4 but the memory use implies they're still there
on pcs in the past it's been possible to turn the clock back so to speak and restore the computer to it's state at a previous date, ie you mess something up bad but just tell the computer to pretend it's yesterday and it resets to it's status then
anyone know if there's a similar function on the powerbook g4 or os x 10.3.9? or even any other way i might retrieve the data. i would have just written it off as lost but the memory status suggests the information is still there
any help will be greatly appreciated

Try "Data Rescue II" in trial mode and see if it sees your files. If it does, assess whether saving those files is crucial or whether you can live without it.
The software is $99 and is available as an instant download and you can get up and running right away. You can also get it via mail order (I think downloading costs less, since no box or disc), and also at the Apple Store and other Mac software resellers.
It saved my behind after I had a disk go "bad" due to a login/console issue. Best $99 I ever spent. I tried TechTool Deluxe to repair the drive first (which did more damage), and then DiskWarrior, the tried-and-true solution (and it couldn't do anything for me because of the damage TechTool Deluxe did), and with both not working... Mac OS X's Disk Utility couldn't do anything either... Data Rescue II got all my files.
Trouble is with this method, you can't just get started again. You have to reinstall the OS, all your apps, etc. Using TechTool Deluxe or DiskWarrior is supposed to fix the directory issues and let you get up and running like normal. Which I had hoped for, but it didn't happen that way.
So, rescuing the data was the best route, since the only solution for my problem was to reformat the drive and reinstall everything. And without Data Rescue, my files and everything would have gone with it.
[http://www.prosofteng.com/products/data_rescue.php]
[http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?find=D ata%20Rescue%20II]

I have just synced my iphone4 it has only synced part of my music not all of it saying they can't be found although they are in my library

i have just synced my iphone4 but it has only synced part vof my library saying it cant find songs.

You can turn off in-app purchases on the iPad via Settings > General > Restrictions > In-App Purchases 'off' - depending upon the iOS version on the iPad you might also have a Require Password setting on the Restrictions screen which you can set to 'Immediately'
There is a copy of the iPad manual here, which you can download : http://support.apple.com/manuals/ipad/
And more info about restrictions : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4213

Like an idiot I changed the location of my iTunes Media File in the Advanced section of my Preferences - now half my songs won't play as they can't be found....I know they are there as I played these songs yesterday.....help !!!....

Like an idiot I changed the location of my iTunes Media File in the Advanced section of my Preferences - now half my songs won't play as they can't be found....I know they are there as I played these songs yesterday.....help !!!....
.....what folder do I need to reset it to so I can play my entire library??
Frankie C

You can also reset the location fo the media folder in the advanced tab.

Where can I find my movies saved in itunes media file

I have followed itunes' suggestion to back my movies in itunes media files, now I can't watch them because apparently itunes can't find the original file. When I try to locate these files they do not appear under the itunes media files. Help me please.

What are you talking about?
Perhaps if you explained your situation, then someone could help.

Itunes seems to be unable to locate original file to play songs. Songs are in the itunes media file and playable direct from file. Preferences/advance file location is correct. Some files are playing and others aren't with no obvious pattern.

Itunes is unable to locate original file when attempting to play music. Songs are in the itunes media file and playable direct from there. Preferences/Advanced file location pointer is correct. Some songs play but most don't. I did move files around a bit in an attempt to share music with another account on same computor, however this did not work so have returned file to original location. Please help, I am way outside my feild in this one. Ta.

I have solved the problem. i think when I moved the media file back out of public to my account, I put it back into the wrong place and ended up with a media file inside a media file, inside another media file!! So I moved it again and fixed!! Now I just need to work out why i can't share with another account user of same computor.

Have two albums in iTunes that say can't find file location but they are on iPod nano and will play on nano but not in iTunes

I'm trying to play two albums using iTunes but they say the files can't be located and won't play. The albums are on my iPod Nano 3rd Gen. and will play there. Syncing my iPod and computer doesn't resolve the problem. How do I get the albums from the nano to the computer?

Hello, FayAnnR.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
Here is an article that I would recommend going through when iTunes indicates that a file can not be located.
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1408
If the media was purchased from iTunes, I would recommend deleting the missing media and either transfer purchased from your iPod or download them again via the third article below.
How to delete content you've downloaded from the iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5772
iTunes Store: Transfer purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1848
Download past purchases
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519
Cheers,
Jason H.

I purchased a song on itunes and its file can not be located. its in my library but i cant play the song

I purchased a song on itunes and its file can not be located. Its listed in my library but can not play. A message pops up that read. Can not locate file then it gives me an option to locate. When I click locate it opens a box. Dont know what to do after that

Hi TKCDM1!
You should try to get this purchase onto your iOS device by using the suggestions in the following article:
Downloading past purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519
Thanks for being a part of the Apple Support Communities!
Regards,
Braden

My music library is not visable in itunes however i can see it in windows explorer in itunes media file how do i make available to itunes library?

My Music File is not visable in itunes however I can see i in windows explorer in the itunes media file under music how do i make it visable again in itunes?

Drag the music from the iTunes media Folder into iTunes.
Use iTunes to Add Folder to Library. Use the ALT key, followwd by the F key and then the D key (that's File/Add Folder to Library) and navigate to the folder and select.

My old computer crashed and deleted my iTunes media file with all my playlist. However, my iPod has the playlist I lost on the computer. How can I replace (reverse synch?) my iPod media information back onto my (now reinstalled) virgin iTunes media folder

My old computer crashed and deleted my iTunes media file with all my playlist.However, my iPod has the playlist I lost on the computer. How can I replace (reverse synch?) my iPod media information back onto my (now reinstalled) virgin iTunes media folder?

Yes it's possible to sync music back from a iPod back into iTunes that (I assume) wasn't purchased on the iTunes Store.
Apple allows iTunes Store purchases on devices to be reversed back into iTunes, just not cd rips and stuff like that. For that it's a one way trip to the device from iTunes.
I likely can't suggest such software here, but if you visit iLounge you can ask what is the latest software that works for your platform.
Really it only takes a mere few minutes to backup your iTunes Library and stick in a few cd/dvd's or a external drive. iTunes even has a menu command for it to make it oh so simple. Please use it and backup all your data.
Hard drives fail, computers burn up, thieves steal, stuff gets forgotten. Plan for something happening because it will.
Good Luck

Help with transferring ITunes media files to external HD

Hi!
I'm trying to free up space on my MacBook by moving all my ITunes media files to an external HD.
I followed the support instructions which told me to go to ITunes preferences, advanced, and choose a new location for the files. I did that part and files were copied across to the external HD. However, the next step is to move the original files from my macbook into the trash. I've gone to home/music/Itunes to delete the originals, but they don't seem to be exactly the same as the ones copied across to the eternal HD..? For instance, the size of the ITunes folder is different, and inside the folder some files are not there, and all the music is not there either (in the external HD copied location).
I'd just like to know I'm going to be deleting the right files before I do it, so if anyone can help that would be really appreciated.

For instance, the size of the ITunes folder is different, and inside the folder some files are not there, and all the music is not there either (in the external HD copied location).
Then the first thing to do would be to consolidate your new iTunes library as well: Open your new iTunes Library in iTunes and
Open iTunes Preferences:
Mac: Choose iTunes > Preferences.
Click Advanced.
Make sure the option to "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" is selected.
Click OK.
Choose File > Library > Organize Library.
Then check if now your music is included in your new Library.
To see where iTunes stores a song, select the song in the iTunes Browser and control-click (or right-click) it and from the pop up menu select "Show in Finder".
If you see that the songs are inside the new Library, you can delete them from your old library.
The structure of your Library depends on your iTunes Version, so I can't tell you where to look - please post the version of iTunes you are using and the OS:

Still losing iTunes media files

I recently discovered that about 500 of my 2000 songs couldn't be found in iTunes. I finally figured out how to get them all back from my time capsule, but this is a continual problem. Today, I find 11 titles missing! How is this happening? When I click on "locate," the finder window that pops-up doesn't help. When I click on music > iTunes, I just get "open iTunes to populate this list". ITunes is open, but I don't see anything here. So, I have to go to my normal finder, click on go > users, etc... then I can find my iTunes files.
I discovered something unusual today. When I "get info" on the files that can't be found, they are located at "file://local host/Users/" etc... But the ones that can be found are just "Users/" etc... What's up with "local host"? Interestingly, only one or two tunes from a CD are at local host/Users/ and the rest are at Users/ but they were all ripped at the same time.
So, I have three questions:
1) Is there a better way to get to my iTunes media files?
2) What is local host and how did this happen?
2) Where is my music going?
BTW, I am NOT EVER going into iTunes media to delete or move anything around. I didn't even know that folder existed in my finder until 2 days ago, because you have to know about "Go" to get there. I do edit genre and abum titles in iTunes, but that shouldn't be the problem, right?
Thanks.

There's your problem -- it's bluegrass music (I'm an Appalacian old-time musician myself )!
I'm getting the feeling that your iTunes database file is corrupt (library.itl). Try this. Start iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (you can switch back to your old library doing the same). Create a new, test, library. Drag a few of those problem files to the new library and see if they still misbehave. Also make sure there isn't anything funky in the file names such as / or \ or ~ or things like that.
If they behave then you may be faced with having to rebuild your library file. This isn't onerous except you're basically starting from scratch as if you just added everything brand new.
You can also try this. Delete the files from iTunes but do not let it trash the actual file (maybe drag a copy somewhere just to be safe). Now drag the offending files to the "Automatically add to iTunes" folder and see if it gives them the proper location name.

ITunes Media Files can't be located (although they are there)

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