ITunes Resets Default Folder

Why is it that every time I install a new version of iTunes I have to reset the default location to where my music is causing a 15min library update?
Why doesn't apple get the fact that some users DO NOT store their music in the default windows location?

I think i've figured it out...
If you load the library your using and select 'Keep music organised' & 'Copy music to iTunes folder' in preferences, then go to 'Advanced' and select 'Consolidate Library'.
This then copies all missing music to the iTunes folder you have selected in Preferences and once done you can delete the initial folder on your HDD. (Check it has worked first though!)
This means its fine to add music on the go if you use an external HDD and then just select 'Consolidate Library' the next time you plug the external HDD in and your away!
Hope this helps!

Similar Messages

How do I stop iTunes from defaulting back to library C:\USERS folder

My iTunes library is stored in a NAS network drive. Everytime I lose connection to the LAN, iTunes always tries to be smart and default back to my C:\USERS\USERNAME\iTunes ... folder.
Is there anyway to stop this behaviour. It is annoying to find out that iTunes has been copied all my new music files to my local drive until my local drive get filled up.

I've had the same problem. The solution of not losing contact with the LAN is not an option for me. I have almost 400G of music. I keep it on my Time Capsule but my primary computer is my MacBook.
Surely I should be able to open iTunes when I'm not within range of the Time Capsule with my iTunes music folder not defaulting back to the iTunes folder on my Mac HD? There must be a way to prevent the default?
Sometimes I want to buy music from the iTunes store while I'm at work or import CDs I've purchased while on vacation. Will my iTunes music folder always default back to the Mac HD? Every time I have to change it back it takes me almost 45 minutes to reset it.

I have transfered my library my library to a NAS drive. How do I stop Itunes from creating the default folder on the local drive?

I've transferred my Itunes Media Library to a NAS drive, and pointed Itunes (using the advanced preferences tab) to the relevant folder on the NAS drive. I have done this to free up disk space on a computer I primarily use for work but which I use both at home and at work. The NAS drive is at home. (To clarify, I am not expecting Itunes to function at work, only at home when access to the NAS drive is available).
Under certain circumstances Itunes will start-up at work and when it does it will create the folder structure for the Itunes Media Library in the default location (on the local drive) instead of looking for the location I have specified (the NAS drive) which it should not be able to find when I am at work and telling me that it can't find it (which would be fine).
How do I stop Itunes from recreating the default folder structure and defaulting the file path to the standard media library location on my local drive? Every time this happens I have to re-point Itunes to the NAS drive location, which often requires me to reconsolicate libraries which is tedious and time consuming. It seems that in the process of one of these consolidations I have lost some of the media files. They are still in the library (ie. visible in the Itunes window) but Itunes can't find the media associated with that file - identifying them with an excamation mark "!".
Any help with this would be appreciated, as I have read several forums and threads, and despite trying several different approaches I have been unable to address the problem, which appears to be exacerbated by the laptop being remote from the NAS drive.

angelofromnsw wrote:
Can I put the ".itl" and other database files on the NAS, and if so where would I put them? I'm thinking that if the library file is only available at home then the ITunes library won't get corrupted at work when it can't find the media, in the event that I accidentally start up itunes eg. while opening an attachment or disc that can be read by Itunes.
iTunes will start up and you will have an empty library.
Can I put the ".itl" and other database files on the NAS, and if so where would I put them?
Yes.
Quit iTunes.
Copy the /Music/iTunes/ folder on the NAS.
Move the /iTunes media/ folder currently on the NAS into the /iTunes/ folder you just copied to the NAS.
Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the NAS.
You can delete /Music/iTunes/ folder on the internal drive.
If you launch iTunes while NOT comnnected to the NAS, iTunes will recreate the /Music/iTunes/ folder and you will have an empty library.
WHen you are again connected to the NAS, just do step 4 above.
Do you know what the advantages and disadvantages are of having the database files like the ".itl" files stored locally versus on the NAS?
Keeping everyhing together inside the iTunes folder makes it "cleaner" and simpler to manage everything.

Can I merge or combine 2 "album artwork" folders? I have saved music onto an external server from 2 computers but the artwork that I have manually imported remains in the default folder in the music/itunes/album artwork folder on the respective PCs. Thx

Can I merge or combine 2 "album artwork" folders? I have saved music onto an external server from 2 computers but the artwork that I have manually imported remains in the default folder in the music/itunes/"album artwork" folder on their respective PCs.
i.e. artwork uploaded on one PC won't apppear on the other PC because it is saved locally...
I'm confident that i won't beable to just merge the 2 because thy'll have the same folder names.
On the same note: can I have iTunes create these files on the external server/Hard drive also so that either computer can use them at the same time?
(like I have my library- can the other files be saved remotely)
Thx

i'm using iTunes 10 BTW

Itunes library default "no artwork" default thumbnail image (can the picture of the folder be changed)

Modifying the Visual Appearance of the iTunes Library:
Can the Image of the Default Folder Thumbnail for Any Missing Artwork in the Music Library be Changed ???
If so... How ???

Any suggestions?

Best way to integrate system Music & Movies folders with iTunes' default folder structure?

I understand that OSX has system folders that can't be moved (Music, Movies, Documents, etc.). These folders are the only ones that get their specialized icons in the sidebar. I like those icons as they make choosing the right folder easier (even though I can read).
MUSIC:
Isn't there something very un-elegant to have my actual music files buried 4 layers deep in OSX's folder structure? By that I mean, I'd like to click on my (system) Music folder and see my music. But OSX and iTunes have schemed to make users have to deal with Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music. It's weird, right?
I am aware that the iTunes library location can be altered via Advanced Prefs, but I like having Music, Podcasts, Movies, etc. be on the same folder level, if that makes sense. If I point iTunes to my (system) Music folder, then my other media will be down below in the iTunes Media folder.
MOVIES:
Likewise, if I let iTunes manage my files, movies go to the Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Movies folder. I don't let iTunes copy everything into the Media folder (as I don't want to eat HD space with duplicates), but that's still where it wants movies to go when it organizes. Similar to the Music folder issue above, how can I make use of my (system) Movies folder given this setup?
I know that I can just remove whatever folders I want from the sidebar and put in the ones that iTunes uses, but then I lose out on the icons and I end up having permanent folders in my Home folder that don't even get directly used for the media files they're supposed to hold.
Thoughts?

first of all, to get rid of the duplicates, you tell iTunes to consolidate Library.
I think you may be missing the idea of what iTunes does for you. If you have content, like music, that you want to find the file of, you right click the name of the file in itunes and then "show in finder" . For things like iChat, you can simply drag and drop your music into the chat window from itunes, just like it was finder. iTunes organizes your media for you so you don't have to go looking for it.
The same thing goes with videos.
There is no reason to have two of the same files on your computer. Think of iTunes like finder, only it plays media too.
Not everyone uses itunes. Things like quicktime player, after you do a recording, will save the content into your videos folder. They're not on itunes but it uses your video folder to save the recordings. This is just one example of how your video sidebar icon folder will still be useful.
Delete the backups you have of your media unless they're in a format the itunes doesn't support, like lossess formats such as Flac, because it is pointless and wasteful to have two of the same files for music and video on your computer.

Default Folder settings?

I wanted to use an external hard drive for my music, to which I connect via a network. However, each time I have tried to open iTunes with this setting, the folder resets to the MyDocs/MyMusic/iTunes folder.
How can i get this to stop recurring? Or is it just a feature that I'm going to have to get by--either using the default folder (which quite frankly doesn't offer a large enough storage space) or do I have to connect to the hard drive via the USB instead of network?
I just updated both the iTunes and iPod software, so everything should be up to date there.

Try connecting via USB, at first. That wil rule out a network problem.
And remember, if you ever turn it off, iTunes by design, defaults back to the default place.

I redirected iTunes to an external drive and moved my iTunes library and folder, but my hard drive is still low on space. How can I be sure that my music is all on the external HD ONLY, especially with the new iCloud technology?

I redirected iTunes to an external drive and moved my iTunes library and folder, but my hard drive is still low on space. How can I be sure that my music is all on the external HD ONLY, especially with the new iCloud technology? It doesn't look like I created any more space by doing this, AND I totally lost all my iTunes playlists. I'm not sure if because I added old library materials manually if this messed up my playlists, or if the new location is just not reading my moved library. In any case, I followed step by step instructions and found a few holes and thought I'd just "figure it out" but I guess I'm not as smart as I thought since I'm still scratching my head many hours later.
Thanks for any support ;-)
Eaglerocker

Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the 'iTunes Library.itl' file in the moved iTunes folder.
If this is to a new computer and you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.

Can I set a default folder in Acrobat?

Most of my PDF files are in one location. I would like to be able to set that location as the default folder in which Acrobat will look when I want to open a file.

You can not reset the default, but you could place a short cut to the folder in the default folder.

Advice re-installing iTunes when music folder pre-exists on C: drive

Hello....
I recently had my work laptop rebuilt and am now experiencing issues re-installing iTunes.
Prior to the rebuild, I had my entire iTunes contents (all media, library files and other content) on my C: drive & this all worked perfectly.
I asked my work IT team to backup my media folder (actual music files only) and leave it where it was on the C: drive which they kindly did.
When re-installing iTunes it defaults the media file/library file location to my H: drive (online/offline home drive - this is a network drive that backs up, hence iTunes not allowed as company policy). This is fine, and at this point I re-imported the existing music from the C: drive location via the "add folder to library" function. All good.
However, when I change the default media folder location in iTunes from H: to C: & follow the migration process for moving the media file contents (and checking "keep files organised" box & "consolidating files in library etc) and then removing orignial files from H: drive (copying library file to new C: location), itunes re-opens, without any music files present, and reverts back to the H drive location.
I have re-installed numerous times, re-followed the process etc but above keeps happening.
Will the migration method only work if the music is in the same H: drive location to start with?
If so, are there any alternative methods when the music already resides in a different locaiton to the default media file location?
Any help/advice or pointers would be appreciated.
(PS - Windows 8, Latest iTunes).
Thanks in advance.

Apple's article HT1589 - iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one covers using shift while starting iTunes to switch libraries. The standard path to the library is <User's Music>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl. I'm guessing your user profile is stored on H:. You should be able to move/copy the entire iTunes folder to, say, C:\ as C:\iTunes and shift start to connect to the library database at C:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
With luck the library was in the correct shape for being moved around, otherwise I have a tool for repairing broken links if iTunes can't manage it.
tt2

ITunes Resets to local Drive Space when External Hard Drive not mounted

I have a large shared network drive where my son, my wintel box and I all have media placed on. All our computers are networked and authorized for each others music.
The problem is iTunes will default the 'iTunes Music folder location' to a local drive space if the external drive / path is not immediate available when iTunes is started (user:Music:iTunes Music vrs Eternal HD:Music:iTunes Music). This will sometimes will happen on boot, I have login mounting the external drive but that authorization / process once in a while times takes longer than starting up iTunes mostly due to an iPod connected to that computer. Since iTunes is not seeing that external drive (it isn't available yet). So the effect is iTunes defaults 'iTunes Music folder location' to the local music location - but - maintains the full library list (ie 10,000 question marks).
I have each computer maintaining it's own libraries on their respective drives which index to the music folders / files on the external (this is an itunes default to maintain the local library one each computer).
So ... How can I force iTunes to maintain the 'iTunes Music folder location' ?
(can the default location be changed ?... plist or some other file, or is this hard coded - or write a script to hold up iTunes to launch until after the external Hd is mounted)

I am sure that some will cringe at this
Note (my opinion) : I found when sharing with a Wintel box and Apple boxes it is better to use just smb. Mixing the smb AND afp arises to hang up problems and the afp is the side that seems to hang up the most. (that hurt me to type, I blame Finder - another story)
So - the script I use is fairly straight forward - Open Script Editor:
tell application "Finder"
mount volume "smb://[ip address of hard drive]/[drive directory you wish to mount]" as user name "[username]" with password "[password of said user]"
end tell
I recommend compiling the script (don't forget to save a copy you can also edit too - save as script). To compile a script : Save as Application, Run Only, No Start Up Screen. Since this has hard code Username / Passwords in the code - make sure you are happy with who will be running this script. So with the goal is to auto run when you start up, I tend to feel let it go ahead. If you wish to use afp (ie you are only sharing between macs - change the smb to afp in that code).
Next is to add this to your start up. Sys Pref > Accounts > Login Items
Just add the compiled application script to your user(s) login item.
Now for the - well, ugly part. Remove the iTunesHelper from the list.
Using Finder, Find iTunes - Show Package Contents, find iTunesHelper (it is iTunes:Contents:Resources)
Drag iTunesHelper into the Login Items (it should be listed now at the end of the list). Why this help I really can not tell you - I only have an idea of why - I have noticed that when my iPod may be plugged in when I reboot that iTunesHelper starts later in the sequence.
I did play around with changing the start up info on the unix side, for the brave only I would suggest. But - you can hard code a little better auto mounting a volume / hard disk / folder there on boot up. I did with to stay in the Mac GUI and AppleScript was just plain simple. The script can be modified to test if the volume is mounted etc time out try again etc etc etc... I kept it simple and straight forward.

How to maintain default folder view (broken when leopard clients connect)?

hi there,
we run 10.4 tiger server and have the problem that if 10.5 leopard clients connect to the share their changes to the folder view become the new default for everyone connecting after them. with 10.4 clients the default folder view is looked to the settings of the admin.
is there a way to bring back this feature with 10.5 clients connecting? lock the default folder view of shares?
this question was asked before by andy lowe (http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1571877&tstart=45) but never answered.

It's "show view options" in English. Also obtained by typing CMD+J
Those only apply to the top-level folder. Each folder you open uses whatever you've elected to use as the defaults. Select a folder, CMD+J, set the view as you desire, click on Use as Default button. That setting will be used for all windows that you open in the future that have never been opened previously. All other windows that you opened will retain whatever view you previously selected for them.
If you want to reset everything to one view, close all open Finder windows, launch the Terminal app (/Applications/Utilities/), copy & paste this command into the window that pops up,
find ./ -name ".DS_Store" -depth -exec rm {} \;
hit the return key, quit the Terminal app, restart, open a Finder window, CMD+J, set up the view options as desired, click the Use as Defaults button, and close the view options window. Now, every Finder window you open will have this view.
Once you sort this out, see:
Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
Mac 101: Mac Essentials,
Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts,
Anatomy of a Mac,
MacTips, and
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Snow Leopard Edition.
Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:
Quick Assist,
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides,
Take Control E-books, and
A guide for switching to a Mac.

Lacking sufficent privilges to make ITUNES the default Audio player.

Never had any problems until updating to this latest version of ITUNES but it now gives me the "you lack sufficent privilages" message whenever I try to set ITUNES as the default player for audio files in preferances.
I've set my permissions on MY DOCUMENTS/MY MUSIC and all sub-folders/files to full control for everyone and yet this problem persists.
I have went into program access control and set ITUNES as default and it acts like it is setting it as default but when I open ITUNES it asks me if I want to set it to default player I check yes and it promply tells me I lack sufficent privilages to do so.
I am of coure running as an ADMIN account.
I am running XP PRO with all latest updates and patches
SPYBOT S&D
SpywareBlaster
AVG anti-virus
AD-AWARE SE
COMODO Firewall
I have tried changing things with all of the above security items turned off on 2 differant ADMIN level accounts and the result is the same...no joy
My computer has Two ADMIN level accounts on it and a VISITOR account with limited privilages...could the limited Privilage account be causing a problem as it was added after my original install of ITUNEs (version 6.whatever) and was already installed on the computer when I installed the current upgraded version.
Since ITUNES installs it's startup ICON in the ALL/USERS folder could the fact that the one account has limited privilages prevent allowing the change to be made on all accounts??
If anyone has the solution please respond...this version should be called LOONEYTUNES cause that is where it is driving me!!

It makes and keeps all the changes I make in preferances with the exception of making ITUNES the default audio player. The only solution or work around has been to go and right click on say a MP3 file select file/open with/select ITUNES check the box always open with this program box and then it will open the Mp3 files with ITUNES.
It kinda gets what I want done I suppose, but I, like the Dyson vacuum guy on TV believe things "should work as they as supposed to".
As yet ITUNES Ver.7 has been a disappointment, as long as windows XP has been around and as widspread as the usage of ITUNES is on windows platrom machines, IMHO there is no excuse for these kind of compatability issues.

Tracks ripped in iTunes with default settings cut short on iPods

I have a WIndows PC running XP (which I keep up to date).
I rip CDs I have bought using iTunes with default settings (so creating AAC files). My iPod library is held on a networked storage device.
All tracks play fine in iTunes.
Quite frequently, when I sync the ripped CD to an iPod, one or more tracks will cut short when played on the iPod, usually near the beginning (they generally play for less than 30 seconds).
The tracks always cut off at the same point.
The problem occurs consistently across 3 separate iPods (i.s. same tracks, same point).
I have tried resetting iPods, removing artwork as suggested by some threads etc.
The only way I have found to resolve the problem is to re-rip the CD (or at least the faulty tracks). Usually this fixes it, although sometimes I have had to re-rip more than once.
I have not found similar problem reports (those I have found tend to be people ripping to MP3 format), which seems strange if this is an iTunes bug.
It has occurred to me this might be an issue with the data being written to the storage device which is connected via ether to router.
Any thoughts?

You're welcome. Glad it worked out.
Amazing day yesterday. The Earth shake was very powerful, lasting for over a minute. Fortunately and amazingly, we had very minor damage.
Please mark this post "solved". Helpful for others looking for a solved solution to a similar question, also helpful for me. Aloha from Big Island.

Itunes cant find folder %APPDATA%\

I had a problem with my computer when backing up the harddrive. It had to clean out some stuff and it ended up cleaning out Quicktime and it told me to uninstall intunes and reinstall it. i went onto apple.com and tried reinstalling it but it popped up that itunes couldnt find folder %APPLDATA%\ so i installed Quicktime with no problem and tried downloading itunes but it popped up again.
HELP PLEASE!!!!!!

I am having the exact same problem as Ravi. I recently upgraded to iTunes version 5.0 and now the program will not even open. It hangs for about a minute and then the error box pops up with:
"The folder "iTunes" cannot be found or created, and is required. The default location for this folder is inside the "My Music" folder."
I have checked on the location of iTunes. It is in the right location but what is wierd is that when I click on the "My Music folder in the Explorer Window, my machine hangs for about 30 seconds before showing the contents. Then when I click on "iTunes" folder, the machine hangs indefinitely. It simply will not show me the contents of the folder. Eventually it gives me an error:
"Request cannot be performed because of an I/O device error."
I just reinstalled the iTunes 2 days ago hoping it would fix the problem, but no luck...I also tried the Tweak UI program, but to no avail...my machine hangs when I try to pick the "My Music" folder in the final step of the process.
Has anyone else had this problem?

ITunes Resets Default Folder

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