Itunes won't open, missing or damaged .itl files

okay, when i open itunes, i recieve the error message that says, "Itunes has stopped working".
I uninstalled itunes, quicktime, and all other apple software, deleted itunes and quicktime app folders and basically anything tracing back to them. Then i reinstalled itunes and received the same error.
if i hold shift while opening itunes, i cannot find any itl files ANYWHERE on my cpu. i have searched everywhere. is there a way to install those files again? when i reinstall itunes, those files don't come back for some reason.
at this point, i have read through hundreds of forums dealing with these types of issues and found no solution. any idea what is going on? if anything, how can i "reset" or "start over" my windows user so that i can reinstall for the "first time"? any help is appreciated.

I'm having the same issue, however the following must be noted, I successfully did the update on my Acer 5100 Laptop running Windows XP SP2. The only difference between my Acer and the Desktop (where itunes 7.5 will not install) is that the laptop is a newer techonolgy.
Afraid this has to be taken into consideration. If your sporting an older pc then you like myself are running the risk of NOT being able to support future upgrades, and APPLE, MICROSOFT know this but won't really send you a newsletter telling you to upgrade your PC
You will figure it out on your own after stressing yourself out!
Sad but true reality to face my fellow PC users.
Message was edited by: hot247sxm

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Itunes won't open - get message that .itl file cannot be found or created

My HP laptop with windows just crashed, and I'm trying to get everything back to working order. I reloaded itunes and it seemed to be working fine. Then at some point, I went to open it and received the messsage:
The itunes library .itl file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "itunes" folder in the "Music" folder.
I uninstalled and reinstalled itunes several times, to no avail. The program won't open and I continue to get the same error message.

Check the permissions in that folder and make sure you have full read/WRITE privileges.
Patrick

Itunes won't open because it says the file was created by a newer version

I just got a new hard drive for my computer and the new operating system but now my itunes won't open and it says something about how the file can't be opened because it was created with a newer version. Help!

Which operating system version?
iTunes 10.7 - http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
iTunes 10.6.3.25 - http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1575

ITunes won't open... says the file 'iTunes Library.itl' cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes.

Every time i click the shortcut or the app in the start menu it comes up with that message :/ i have tried replacing the shortcut and opening one of my songs. I just updated iTunes to the latest version and I don't know what to do? Thanks for any tips x

This error prevents iTunes from launching. The library file was modified to work with the newer iTunes version, so it is no longer compatible with the previous version. The good news, however, is that Apple does backup the iTunes library file into a subdirectory that you can use to revert back to the previous version.
To recover a previous version of the iTunes Library.itl file, use the following steps:
Open up your My Documents\My Music folder.
We will first backup the current version. Rename iTunes Library.itl to something like iTunes Library.itl.bak.
Go into the My Documents\My Music\Previous iTunes Libraries folder.
You may see several files that start with iTunes Library and have a date included in the name. Copy the newest file in the folder.
Go back to the My Documents\My Music and paste the file from the previous step.
Rename the new copied file to iTunes Library.itl.
Your library should now be restored to the previous version of iTunes, and you should no longer receive the message.

ITunes won't open, I get this message: The iTunes Library .itl file is locked, on a locked disk or you do not have write permission for this file.

iTunes won't open.
I get this message: The iTunes Library .itl file is locked, on a locked disk or you do not have write permission for this file.

This may indicate a corrupt preference file with iTunes trying to open the wrong location. Try holding down shift as you launch iTunes then choose the correct file, normally <User's Music>\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl. See iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one.
tt2

TS1717 My Itunes won't open and I am getting message "the file "iTunes Library .itl" cannot be ready because it was created by a newer version of iTunes". Any suggestions?

My iTunes won't open and I am getting message "the file iTunes library .itl"cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Anyone have a suggestion?

I don't know why this error occurs, unless you have attempted to downgrade iTunes.
This method should get you up and running again.
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

My iTunes won't open on my laptop. Error message says The file "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Help Please!

My iTunes won't open on my laptop. Error message says The file "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Help Please!

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.
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After an iTunes update failed to install iTunes won't open and I get lthe folloowing error messages. Program can't start because MSVCR80.dll is missing, and iTunes not installed correctly. please reinstall iTunes. Error 7( windows errpr 126)

After an iTunes update failed to install, iTunes won't open and I get the following two windows. Program can't start because MSVCR80.dll is missing from your computer, and iTunes not installed correctly. Please reinstall iTunes. Error 7 (windows error 126) When I reinstall I get the same messages and ITunes won't open.

Click here and follow the instructions.
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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!

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

.itl file is locked error after installing new build - iTunes won't open

After upgrading to the new build itunes won't open. I receive an error message "The iTunes Library .itl file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file." When I check permissions I have full control. I tried uninstalling all apple components - iTunes, Quicktime, apple updater - rebooting and then reinstalling but the same error message comes up when I try to start itunes.

Even after uninstalling the .itl file remained in my itunes music folder. I deleted this file after uninstalling again and then reinstalled and the issue was resolved.

TS1717 My itunes won't open - it says: 'The program can't start because MSVCR80.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem' I have tried un-installing then re-installing itunes and I still get the same message??

My itunes won't open - it says: 'The program can't start because MSVCR80.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem' I have tried un-installing then re-installing itunes and I still get the same message?? Can anyone help?

I have the exact same problem.
I have uninstalled the program, rebooted and downloaded the update again. Same problem, same message.
Please, where is that missing MSVCR80.dll? I don't remember misplacing it.
I'm a Windows 7 user.

ITunes won't open and my iTunes Folder is missing

My iTunes wouldn't open so I tried removing iTunes and Quicktime along with my iTunes folder, and now iTunes folder won't come back after reinstalling iTunes. Also iTunes won't open still. Any help would be great, thanks!

i have re-installed / maintenance install and the magical itunes folder in my music has re-appeared, itunes alas will still not open and still claims this folder in my music is not there. i have also deleted that src folder thing mentioned on the support page as a possible problem so that folder is not the cause of my current troubles.
marcassa

Invalid Library File - ITunes won't open - AT ALL!!!

hi, need some help! ITunes won't open, at all. Have followed Apple's advice to recreate library (by locating library.xml and moving it to the desktop, while trashing the ITunes library.itl file)ITunes still doesn't open. Connecting Ipod to laptop does nothing either! Any advice would be great!
3G Windows XP

Hey try this out:
Turn Norton 2005's Personal Firewall OFF, (turn it OFF Permanently until your ready to turn it back on) then click CONFIGURE.
Under the PROGRAMS tab remove any reference to Apple iTunes or iTunes or iTunes Helper Module or anything related. and reboot.
After coming back go back to Norton 2005's Personal Firewall, click CONFIGURE. Under the PROGRAMS tab click ADD at the bottom, a SELECT A PROGRAM
window will pop up. Add the following files one at a time, iTunes.exe, iTunesHelper.exe, QuickTimePlayer.exe, qttask.exe, QTInfo.exe. The last 3 are found
in your Quicktime folder where that is in your system. Click OK. Turn Norton 2005's Personal Firewall ON, and try starting iTunes again.
This worked for me. It seems the Quicktime files were never automatically entered into my Norton 2005's Personal Firewall allowable programs listing. Adding them
manually should help. I also noticed that from my previous version of iTunes the program listed in the Firewall was named Apple iTunes and not iTunes after I upgraded to 6.
Let me know if this works out.

ITunes won't open after update; MacBook Pro, Mac OSX 10.6.8, iTunes version 11.1.5

iTunes won't open after update - help, please; MacBook Pro, Mac OSX 10.6.8, iTunes version 11.1.5.

i had a problem similar to yours and better yet, i have the fix for it. i downloaded maverick 4 months ago and was without itunes ever since. all itunes icon did was bounce. itunes would never open and whats more, is when i would try to update it, i would get a "thank you for downloading itunes!" page , but the download would never work. so i scoured the net for solves. nothing that worked. <4 months later> then last night i took a new approach. i decided even though maverick would not allow me to uninstall itunes, i would find a way to uninstall itunes. then i would reinstall back to 11.1.5 i was successful and heres what i did.
step one-
Back up your iTunes Library.itl file, found under ~/Music/iTunes
(even tho i didnt, i only had 3 artists in there at the time. and they didnt get erased but i advise you back up just in case.)
step two-
download itunes 10.7 from apple. i used this link Download it from Apple here
(i pulled the link from Aarons website (awesometast.com). you download 10.7 however you want but i used the link above and have had no issues).
although im not sure you need to do this step ( you may be able to download 11.1.5 itunes without 10.7, i did because i was following intructions from http://awesometoast.com/downgrading-to-itunes-10-7-from-itunes-11-on-osx/
step 3-
open Terminal
step 4-
enter in these 3 commands hitting return after each line. 1st line nothing seems to happen, 2nd line nothing seems to happen and 3rd line gives you a warning and requires password to continue. when i did it, my password didnt appear as i entered it and i hit return without looking, so i entered it in again, although im not sure i had to the 2nd time.
killall iTunes
killall "iTunes Helper"
sudo rm -rf /Applications/iTunes.app/
step 5-
drag off and dump the itunes icon (which now has the ? shadow in it) off your dock.
step 6-
install 10.7 itunes you downloaded earlier. (not sure if this part is neccesary. you may be able to just download 11.1.5 but i downloaded 10.7 because i was following Aarons steps.) itunes now works.
step 7-
go to apple and update to 11.1.5 itunes. install it. open it and you have itunes 11.1.5 in perfect working order. assuming you have a decent internet speed for the downloads, the whole process takes very little time.
with those steps above, you can solve itunes just bouncing and not launching issues and also the "thank you for downloading" and nothing downloads issue. enjoy. also i would like to give a shout out to http://awesometoast.com and thank Aaron for the knowledge that enabled me to get itunes back into my life.

Another itunes won't open problem

for the past week, itunes won't open. i last downloaded from the music store on 5/7. i also updated windows with the current new microsoft windows updates. i've done system restore as many times as it would allow but can't seem to go back far enough. i keep itunes on a removeable hard drive and am thinking about putting itunes on my permanent C drive and importing the library (can this even be done?), then uninstalling it from the removeable drive and re-installing and exporting it ... but is there something easier than that? oddly, when i first did system restore, tried to open itunes, was told there were files missing, reinstalled itunes and it still wouldn't open and i would get an error message during the quicktime install to make sure it is installed properly in the computer. so i uninstalled and reinstalled quicktime 7, but for some reason, i also have a 32 bit quicktime program in my add/remove program list, but it never gets removed by the new installs, even the standalone quicktime. it appears the itunes open is aborted by something and i get a "send error to microsoft message". the line the error is occuring in cannot be found when i search for it on my hard drives. the itunes library exists on the removeable drive, but i cannot play anything from it. i have tried several things listed in these forums including checking permissions several ways, going into the msconfig, reinstalling itunes, reinstalling quicktime through both itunes and the standalone. i do use my computer to remotely connect with my heavily firewalled business server. could it have done something to my home computer? i have turned off my internet security, done spyware and virus scans, and still can't find anything. any other ideas out there?
PC Windows XP Pro

hiya!
reinstalling quicktime through both itunes and the
standalone.
do you get an error message when you try doing a QT
standalone install? if so, what does it say? include
error message numbers if you're getting any.
love, b
no error message at all on either install and says it is installed fine. when i try to open quicktime it says it's loading forever but never opens. the closest thing to an error message is when i check the microsoft send error details and it refers to a line in a systems local folder. unfortunately i am not at home and cannot send you the detail.

Itunes won't open, missing or damaged .itl files

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