Itunes xml file corruption

I'd like to ask the community if anyone else is having trouble with corruption of their iTunes XML library file?
Back on October 20th, my iTunes library completely imploded: roughly one third of all songs stopped playing, all my Digital Copy movies refused to play. I had just upgraded my iPad to iOS 6 and pretty much everything imploded. The solution was to basically delete the iTunes XML files, re-install the software and then re-import all my uploaded music.
Yesterday, I connected one of my iPod Classics and saw the same error messages that started the first round of trouble: there were 7 files that iTunes claimed it could not sync with my Classic because they were the "wrong format". I checked each in turn and they turned out to be from 3 of my 650 or so albums. In each case I could click on the iTunes entry and nothing would play: no error was reported.
In each case if I pulled up the track information, I could see that the references for these 7 songs had been corrupted. So for example, the track "We Didn't Start The Fire", from Billy Joel's album, "Storm Front", had "Song Information" that said it was actually located in /iTunes/Crowded House/ - no album name or song name were included. Every one of the 7 "wrong format" songs had corrupted "location data" like this. The choice of the tracks that were corrupted appears to be largely random. However, I have noticed that corruption only seems to occur when I add new material to my iTunes database.
The first instance was a complete meltdown and required a clean re-installation of iTunes - literally hundreds of song entries were corrupted. This time around only 7 seem to have been impacted [though i concede it could be more].
I tried asking Apple support for help and although they were able to walk me through the repair process, they have been unable to explain why this corruption is taking place. I wonder if anyone has any ideas? For what little it may help:-
I am running iTunes 10.7(21) on a Mac Mini (OS/X 10.7.5(11G63)) with the 2.3GHz Core i5 and 8Gb of RAM.
My iTunes Library "XML" file is in my local home directory [default location], but because it's now well over 200Gb in size, all the music files for iTunes are stored in a QNAP NAS [works fine, local Apple folk helped me configure it].
It's difficult to triage exactly what's happening without having access to something like XMLspy and being able to work through the iTunes XML file piecemeal, but it does look like something during the "add songs to database" process is corrupting that file, and, interestingly, it adds new content fine - it's existing entries that get corruption.
My music library is not *that* big: the XML file is 15.2Mb on disc, iTunes is currently holding 659 Albums an about 7827 songs.
Does anyone else have ideas as to what might be causing this? It seems to be a relatively recent development, and since I rebuilt the database completely 6 weeks ago, this most recent damage is definitely a recent thing.
Suggestions gratefully received.

The XML file is a readable subset of the data in the main library file. If the library database becomes corrupt the easiest approach is to restore an earlier version.
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.
The images are from Windows XP but you get the idea. Your Mac library file may omit the .itlextension.
See MusicFolder Files Not Added and Super Remove Dead Tracks for tools to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.
When you get it all working I'm told Carbon Copy Cloner can do the equivalent of this Windows based backup tip.
tt2

Similar Messages

ITunes xml file corrupt

I'm far from a genius when it comes to this stuff, but there's something seriously wrong with my file "itunes library.xml". I only know because I tried running Doug's applescript to eliminate duplicate files from iTunes and the results contained files that were previously deleted. I looked at the xml file and see that there are a whole bunch of songs included in the file from a directory that no longer exists. Do I have any options except starting from scratch with iTunes? Thank you.

Quit iTunes.
Delete the iTunes library.xml.
Restart iTunes. The xml will get rebuilt.
iTunes does not use this file.
It is created only for other apps to use.

Multiple iTunes XML Files?

Hello everyone. I have a problem. I want to move my iTunes library over to my external hard drive. DO NOT post a link on how to do this. I have read all of them. The problem is that I have multiple iTunes XML files. Not just one. I don't know what to do. Can i delete them? Can i combine them or something???

It is difficult to understand your question as the the number of xml files does not seem to be related to your question. If you have a complex question then you need to explain it fully with your current iTunes set up.
The simple answer assuming a default iTunes set up is.
1. Ensure all your music is in the iTunes Music folder in the iTunes folder. Consolidate if it is not.
2. With iTunes closed, Copy the iTunes folder to the external drive.
3. Hold down the shift key (Windows) and start iTunes, keep holding the shift key until you are prompted to choose a library. Naviagte to the iTunes folder on the external drive and choose iTunes Library.itl.
If you ever start iTunes with the drive disconnected it will default back to the internal drive and you have to do another shift key start to connect to the external drive.

Importing itunes xml file..

Since the other day, about every 1 in 4 times I open itunes, it will stall, then say "importing itunes xml file" before giving me a message that it's a damaged file and then allowing the program to pop up with all the default first-time playlists etc. Why is this happeneing? What can I do to fix this?

Heya. I'd first make sure you're running the latest version of iTunes:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
That alone could be the issue. Always have a current backup of your files when experimenting with the XML file as well.

Corrupted iTunes xml file. HELP!

Somehow my xml file got corrupted. So, whenever opening iTunes now, I get an error message about this and then there is no correct sync to my AppleTV. furthermore, it is creating directories in my AppleTV window (duplicating them i mean). My AppleTV now reports no files on it, etc.
I have searched for an xml file in iTunes in programs director, but no luck. anyone know what to do? seems like i need to destroy corrupted file and start over, but really not sure what to do. tried uninstalling and re-installing iTunes, but this did nothing. thanks!

The central file to everything is the library.itl file in your Music > iTunes folder. Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to that file. If you're lucky then it will be the one you need. If not then it is hard to determine where the file might be. Normally an update should not affect something like the iTunes library but if your file directory was having issues (did you verify with Disk Utility first?) then who knows? This is why one backs up before installing system software updates.
If you have a backup then let us know. You may be able to rescue a copy of the iTunes Library.itl from that and replace the bad copy in your iTunes folder.
Since your media are scattered about it may be a painstaking task adding them all again but it may come down to that. Again, back up...

Help!! Aperture corrupting my itunes XML file

I am experiencing a weird problem with my itunes music library seemingly being corrupted by Aperture, Apple's image processing application. The file path to my music file is being overwritten in the itunes music library XML file with a file path to one of my photos stored in Aperture! Has anyone experienced this issue? And more importantly, does anyone have a solution to the problem.
Here is what's happening:
1. I click on a music file in itunes to play it. Nothing happens - no music plays, no error message is displayed.
2. I open the itunes XML music library.XML file to see the path that itunes is using to locate the music file. I notice that the location key for the music file has been overwritten and now points to a random jpeg file that I have stored in my Aperture library.
Here is what the XML entry looks like for the music file. Note the path referenced in the location key. It no longer points to the audio file in my itunes music directory. Instead it points to a jpeg file in my Aperture library.
<key>1167</key>
<dict>
<key>Track ID</key><integer>1167</integer>
<key>Name</key><string>Hash Pipe</string>
<key>Artist</key><string>Weezer</string>
<key>Album</key><string>Hash Pipe (CDS)</string>
<key>Genre</key><string>Alternative</string>
<key>Kind</key><string>MPEG audio file</string>
<key>Size</key><integer>1152</integer>
<key>Total Time</key><integer>185704</integer>
<key>Track Number</key><integer>1</integer>
<key>Year</key><integer>2001</integer>
<key>Date Modified</key><date>2007-06-15T17:36:27Z</date>
<key>Date Added</key><date>2008-03-13T21:02:47Z</date>
<key>Bit Rate</key><integer>192</integer>
<key>Sample Rate</key><integer>44100</integer>
<key>Comments</key><string> </string>
<key>Persistent ID</key><string>285E19D7CE6E8007</string>
<key>Track Type</key><string>File</string>
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Users/ericwhalen/Pictures/Aperture%20Library.aplibrary/Glacier% 20Pix.approject/2007-06-15%20@%2009:27:19%20AM%20-%201.apimportgroup/IMG8045/IMG8045.JPG.apfile</string>
<key>File Folder Count</key><integer>6</integer>
<key>Library Folder Count</key><integer>3</integer>
</dict>
Has anybody seen this behavior before?
Thanks,

The file path to my music file is being overwritten in the itunes music library XML file
Okay but iTunes does not use the iTunes library.xml.
It is created for other apps to use the iTunes library.
What is the problem you are having?

ITunes library file corrupt after updating?

Just the other day I updated to the latest iTunes software. This is the first time I've tried to use it and it keeps freezing (the swirly rainbow icon) until I eventually have to give up and force quit. My iTunes library is on an external hard drive which has admittedly been taking longer and longer to boot up each time I connect it, I don't know if this is related.
After doing some research on here I created a new test iTunes library on my hard drive and it worked perfectly, so it must be a corrupt library file? I followed the advice on an old thread and replaced the corrupt library file with an older one from December.
It worked....but here's the complication. Since that last backup in December I started using iTunes Match. When I opened the older library file, I saw that iTunes Match wasn't turned on, so I turned it on and it was saying that none of my library had been uploaded to iCloud except for iTunes purchases. I quickly exited, because frankly I couldn't bear the thought of all my library having to be uploaded to iCloud again (it took days and days...and days!). The music is still on the iCloud, but if I open that older version of my iTunes library it doesn't seem to think that it is.
Any idea what I should do?
Thanks for your help

hmmmm. perhaps try running a chkdsk over the drive on which your iTunes library file is stored:
How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP
does that find/repair any damage? if so, do you still get the same message from your itunes?

Wrong path changes in Itunes XML file

hi there,
My Itunes library (9.0.2) is stored locally on my macbook, although actual files are on a network attached storage that I access through AFP. This share is mounted automatically when the mac starts. Everything was working perfectly fine until a few days ago (no major change to the library or mac), when my iphone synchonization started to report impossible to read on the device files.
After a few more investigations, I pinpointed some of the missing files, which were not missing but were replaced by other files (absolutely not linked to my media files).
the <key>Location</key> in the xml file was, for example
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/David/docs/Me%CC%81dias/src/elodie2.jpg</string>
where it should have been something like
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Volumes/David/media/music/albums/Damien%20Rice/9/09%20-%20Accid ental%20Babies.mp3</string>
Does anyone have a clue about what went wrong and how to circumvent this in the future ?
Thanks in advance

Oliver:
The simple answer is yes. Any changes you make to your RSS feed file (xml file) will eventually be updated by ITMS. Usually ITMS updates feed changes within 24 hours. However, the most recent changes I made in my feed files took almost 8 days before ITMS refreshed my listing.
One issue is clear. If you make changes to your image file, there is a high probability that when ITMS updates your database record, your listing in ITMS will show the broken link image for awhile. I've changed my image file twice, and each time, my ITMS listing showed the broken link image. Eventually the new image shows up, but it does take a long time for this day and age.
Good luck!

ITunes.cab file corrupt??

I've previously upgraded my iTunes to the latest version, and after I booted my computer to complete the installation, my iTunes won't open. It says "the cabinet file 'iTunes.cab' is corrupt and cannot be used" and it won't open. If I go back to apple.com to reinstall the program, my options are to 1. repair and 2. remove. Clearly, I don't want to remove iTunes, but when I select repair, the same error message comes up. What do I do??

It says "the cabinet file 'iTunes.cab' is corrupt and cannot be used" and it won't open. If I go back to apple.com to reinstall the program, my options are to 1. repair and 2. remove.
The iTunes.cab is used during the installation process. iTunes uses advertised shortcuts ... so prior to launching the program, a check is run against the installation database in the iTunes.msi to make sure all the registry entries and files and whatnot that ought to be there on the PC are actually there. If some files/registry-entries/whatnot aren't there, iTunes does a repair install to replace them. Presumably, the damaged iTunes.cab is interfering with that process, causing the launch error message.
By way of reconnaisance ... try heading into your Add or remove Programs control poanel and attempting to uninstall iTunes. Do you get an error message? if so, what does it say? (Precise text please.)
If, on the other hand, iTunes does uninstall, try reinstalling it. Does that reinstall go through okay? if not, what error message do you get then?

Why doesn't Sonos recognize iTunes .xml file?

My iTunes path and Sonos path are identical (and therefore share the same library, which has no problems) however my iTunes playlists (.xml file) are in the exact same location but are not recognized by Sonos. Any help is appreciated!

Hello gail6068,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
First please try the troubleshooting steps in the article below:
iPod classic Troubleshooting Assistant
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/classic/
If the issue persists, then follow the steps in the following support article.
iPod: Appears in Windows but not in iTunes
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1363
Take care,
Alex H.

ITunes xml file search/ access {on user's computer} ~ step 1

Building a RichMediaAnnotaion (RMA) JukeBox.
This will be hosted in a PDF.
Tools: Flash CS5.5 & Acrobat X Pro
The Juke Box will read the User's iTunes Library.xml file
(once JavaScript affirms it is present, i.e. User uses iTunes).
Of many steps, I am researching a JavaScript to locate (gain access) to
said iTunes Library.xml files (both PC / MAC).
In this file-search objective the four (4) locations are known; iTunes Library.xml (see below).
Thanks in advance for your help...
This is Step 1... the current goal;
How to construct a full script to address all known locations (4).
1) enable search when PDF page is entered
2) search for the appropriate iTunes Library.xml file
3) if found pass path to "JukeBox" script (in development, future Step)
4) else... stop
iTunes Library.xml locations;
Mac OS X:     /Users/username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.xml
Windows XP     \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.xml
Windows Vista     \Users\username\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.xml
Windows 7     \Users\username\Music\iTunes\iTunes Library.xml
That is the current task at hand......
Thanks for your feedback!
~ ~
As a reference, further researching Steps are noted below:
display Artist list
          drill down to said Artist songs
Display Album Artwork / when available, else JukeBox images.png(s)
Play music
Any an All insight is greatly appreciated.
D~

JavaScript embedded in a PDF cannot read arbitrary files from a local hard drive, neither can a SWF.

Ipod_control\itunes\temp file corrupt

hey, please someone help me. My ipod is working but i can not update anything. when i connect ipod on my computer its says, "ipod_control\itunes temp file is corrupt and ureadable please run the chkdsk utilities".
i did everything. i run the chkdsk, i removed all ipod files from computer and install ipod software again but still no luck. ANy idea???

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
If you restore your iPod and the problem persists, see this...
Da Gopha: What to do if Windows displays an "iTunes.exe - Corrupt File" message
btabz

ITunes Library file corrupt or unreadable -- unable to be saved

When I open itunes, I have to import my library everytime... and it says that the library file is corrupt or unreadable and cannot be saved. Can anyone else with this issue, please?

hmmmm. perhaps try running a chkdsk over the drive on which your iTunes library file is stored:
How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP
does that find/repair any damage? if so, do you still get the same message from your itunes?

\iPod_Control\iTunes\Temp file corrupted -- what now?

I'm using my new iPod with iTunes 7.0.2.16 on Windows XP.
For the first few days I used this iPod, it synchronized just fine when I connected it to my PC via the USB cable.
However, yesterday I got an error message at the end of the synch. It read:
Windows -- No Disk
There is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into drive E:
Then, after I pressed Continue, I'd get what appeared to be an iTunes error, stating that the iPod "cannnot be updated. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable."
Finally, today, after getting that iTunes message, a different warning box popped up in the lower right corner of my screeen. It read:
iTunes.exe -- Corrupt File
The file or directory \iPod_Control\iTunes\Temp file is corrupted and unreadable. Please run the Chkdsk utility.
Now, from what I can gather, the chkdsk utility is a command line Windows utility that I might not even have on my PC, and don't really want to mess with.
Does anyone know how I might have gotten into this mess, or might possibly get out of it, without messing with the innards of Windows?
Are the three error messages, described above, somehow related?
Would downloading the latest version of Itunes and installing it be a solution?
iPod Windows XP Windows
iPod Windows

Running chkdsk is not "messing with Window's innards." It's just a command line utility that checks and can correct directory issues on a drive.
Click on Start and go to Run (this is with your iPod connected, of course.).
In the Run prompt type "cmd" without the quotes, and hit okay.
At the command prompt, type the following:
chkdsk E: /r
and then hit enter. The computer will scan the iPod disk and fix any directory mistakes it can. When that is finished, eject the iPod and disconnect it, then reopen iTunes and reconnect it. Hopefully it should be working fine after that.

MailActivationAgent MailAccount XML File Corruption

We're looking for feedback on how to solve or workaround a problem in which BPEL MailAccount XML files become corrupted when the BPEL server is restarted.
The issue affects the BPEL MailAccount XML configuration files which reside in $ORABPELHOME$/domains/$DOMAIN$/metadata/MailService. We have noticed that these files occasionally become corrupted (content missing, 0 byte filesize) which causes the BPEL processes which reference them to fail. Looking at the date/timestamp of the corrupted files, we noticed that they are last written to at the same time as the BPEL server is taken down which suggests that the files are being corrupted during server shutdown.
What appears to be happening is the following: we have a BPEL process which uses a standard MailActivationAgent to listen for activity in email accounts specified in the MailAccount XML configuration files noted above. The activation agent polls these configuration files at regular intervals to pick up any changes that have been made to them. The agent opens the files with write permission since it may rewrite content back into the file (e.g. it may transform plain text passwords into encrypted form). If the BPEL server is taken down while the activation agent has these files open, the files are not saved and closed safely before the agent terminates and they can be corrupted as a result.
The following XML fragment from the bpel.xml file shows how the activation agent is configured:
<activationAgents>
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</activationAgents>
Environment:
Solaris 10 / SunOS 5.10
BPEL 10.1.3.3
Any suggestions as to how to solve or workaround this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
Have you solved the problem? we're interested in knowing the results because we have a similar sort of requirement to build .
We're having a different type of problem though. The bpel get initiated for all mails in that account (including old mails) and then it deletes them. Did you had any issues like this or do you have any suggestions for us.
The interval is set to 60 seconds and we're testing it on Bpel 10.1.2 with outlook express account (POP3).
thanks in advance

Itunes xml file corruption

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