ITunes Zero KB files
Hi all,
On a regular basis (every few weeks or so), I discover some mp3 files that were always fine before, but suddenly have the tag "Stream" in the column "Size" in iTunes. When I go to the actual file in Finder, the size of the file is "Zero KB". Which of course means that these files can't be played by iTunes anymore. Fortunately I regularly make copies, so I always have been able to restore them.
A few weeks ago this happened to 40 or so CD's. You can imagine I wasn't amused. I restored all damaged files and double checked that all files were fine before making an extra backup of all my music (physical copy). The last few weeks, all seemed fine. I checked almost every day with a saved Spotlight search if there were any Zero KB mp3 files, and the issue seemed solved, — there never was any.
Until today. This morning I discovered that again 4 files had "Stream" as size in iTunes, and the files were indeed 0 KB. When I went into my Time Machine backup, travelling 2 weeks back, I discovered... that the same 4 files also were empty there! Although I'm sure everything seemed fine in iTunes at the time of the backup and also in the days that followed. Even yesterday, when adding some CD's to the iTunes library, there weren't any Zero KB files reported.
This really starts to be very, very annoying. I don't trust iTunes anymore. I've got a 100+ GB library of music in iTunes, which obviously can disappear at random at any moment. Because even after looking at all the logs in the Console, I can't figure out what's happening. There simply is no record of this behaviour.
I contacted Apple Support, but they didn't have a clue. Therefore, you are my last resort. What can be going on here?
And is it possible that files, once backupped by Time Machine, get corrupted afterwards when the source file gets screwed up at a later point in time? (I know it shouldn't be the case, but I observed it myself.)
Of course, the iTunes issue is the bigger one, and I really want to get this solved. I don't want to use another media program, and I don't think it should be necessary.
Any insights?
Thanks in advance,
Henk.
I can tell this has you all puzzled as well, considering the huge amount of responses...
Let's make things even worse.
A thing I forgot to mention (and which makes it even more mysterious): this only happens to CD's that belong to artists whose names begin with a "B", "C" or "D". But then not necessarily for all CD's of that particular artist; and not all artists whose name begin with "B", "C" or "D" have one or more CD's/songs "emptied".
For instance: I have 9 CD's of Bruce Dickinson in my iTunes Library. 5 of them were gone, the rest was still there.
Yesterday 4 songs of a Black Sabbath CD were gone ("Stream", "Zero KB")... but the other 6 songs of the same album were there!
Some CD's of Celtic Frost were deleted, some CD's of Crimson Glory also... but the CD of Chickenfoot was untouched.
Well, as said: an addition to make things worse. But maybe this triggers someone to a hint in the right direction of this issue.
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What to do if Windows displays an "iTunes.exe - Corrupt File" message
Greetings fellow Podders, Resident Furball here...
It is about time that I produced a single post for all the chkdsk issues that we've been discussing since November 2004. The Apple KB article seems to cover the major points succinctly, but we need to address the more serious variations and flavours of the problem.
<hr>
What to do if Windows displays an "iTunes.exe - Corrupt File" message
Many users are coming across this seemingly distressing error message in Windows when connecting their iPods. As described in Apple KB Article 300554, the message reads:
iTunes: iTunes.exe - Corrupt File
The file or directory \iPod_Control\iTunes\????????? is corrupt and unreadable. Please run the Chkdsk utility.
and the ????????? can be anything (eg. sysinfo, Temp1, DeviceInfo etc.).
<hr>
Don't panic!
If you do see this, don't worry, and don't panic. Contrary to what the error message reads, this issue actually has very little to do with iTunes. The iPod_Control is the key to this - because this folder doesn't even exist in iTunes... it's on the iPod!
...so! Installing and uninstalling iTunes really won't do you much good at all... it's the iPod that needs attention.
<hr>
What's causing this error?
To be honest, we don't know. We saw a massive number of reports of this issue back in November 2004, because iPod Updater 2004-11-15 contained a firmware bug that corrupted iPod system files when the Pod entered Deep Sleep.
But this firmware bug was corrected in iPod Updater 2005-06-26.
Of late, we have seen a resurgence in chkdsk errors on Discussions. Some of these are caused by the old buggy firmware that people still have. Some of the errors are more serious and are hardware and operating system-related. But we have still to pin down the exact cause of this error.
<hr>
Okay, so what do I do if I see this error?
In short, as Apple have recommended in their KB article:
Restore your iPod, using the latest iPod Updater.
Follow the instructions carefully. Ensure that you download the iPod Updater. Ensure that you install it, and then ensure that you run it with the iPod connected and follow the prompts to the letter.
The broad majority of the errors are painlessly fixed this way. Of course, it does mean that your iPod will be wiped, so make sure that you have your music/data backed up, and/or present in iTunes so you can resynchronise it when you have finished Restoring.
<hr>
Okay, I've Restored, but the error is still coming up
Are you sure you've Restored? Quite a number of folks are assuming that just downloading the iPod Updater is enough. It's not. And neither is downloading iPod Updater, and installing it on your computer. It needs to be implemented on the iPod, according to the iPod Updater instructions.
Okay, so if you have Restored your iPod, and you are still getting this error, then you have a variety of options available.
Chkdsk errors that are not fixed with a Restore are most likely down to two things:
1) A physical issue on the iPod itself
or
2) An issue on the computer's operating system
Here's where it gets woolly. There are a variety of things you could try...
Format the iPod in Windows
This would usually have the same effect as a Restore, but a deep-level format in Windows is something that Apple have recommended in the past, as a last resort to completely wipe the iPod before performing a Restore with iPod Updater. This process wipes the iPod.
To do this:
1) Enable Disk Mode on the iPod. You can do this either in iTunes (which is best), or manually on the iPod itself.
2) Open My Computer and locate your iPod
3) Right-click the iPod and select Format
4) Leave the parameters set at their defaults, and ensure Quick Format is unchecked
5) Hit Format
6) Then Restore your iPod as normal.
Run the Chkdsk utility
You could run the chkdsk utility on your iPod. But Restoring your iPod has the same effect as running chkdsk. Chkdsk does not wipe your iPod.
1) Enable Disk Mode as above
2) Determine the drive letter of your iPod from My Computer
3) Go to Start, Run
4) Type cmd. Hit Enter to take you to the Command Prompt.
5) Type chkdsk /f X:, where X is the drive letter of your iPod. Hit Enter, and any corrupt files are found and corrected.
Run Windows ScanDisk
ScanDisk is the Windows version of Chkdsk. It does not wipe your iPod.
1) Enable Disk Mode
2) Right-click the iPod in My Computer, select Properties
3) Select Tools
4) Select the option to scan the disk for errors
Try changing the Drive Letter of the iPod
Sometimes Windows confuses the drive letters, and this can cause the iPod to be adversely affected. Try the instructions detailed in Apple KB Article 93499 to change the drive letter of the iPod. This does not wipe your iPod.
Try changing Hardware Policies for the iPod
The Hardware Policies in Windows have been known to affect the way in which the iPod connects, synchronises, and disconnects. This does not wipe your iPod.
1) Enable Disk Mode so the iPod appears in My Computer
2) Right-click the iPod in My Computer
3) Select Properties
4) Select Hardware Policies
5) Select Optimize for Performance (instead of Optimize for Removal)
6) Restart your computer.
Contact Apple for a replacement iPod
Some chkdsk issues have been caused by faulty hardware. As a last resort, contact Apple Support by phone to report your issue, and/or request an iPod Service.
If you explain that you have followed all these steps, you should have a strong case for obtaining a replacement iPod.
<hr>
Thanks!
Thank you to everyone for their continued support, kindness and excellent troubleshooting skills here on Discussions. There are countless people that I am deeply grateful to for their assistance in handling this issue. Rest assured folks, you have made me the Discussions Furball that I am today.
Happy Podding folks!
Kind regards,
Gopha.
<hr>
References
1) The Original Corrupt iPod File thread from 2004. (Credit: AbbyM)
2) Our Summary and Index threads to consolidate the chkdsk issue at the height of its reign of terror.
3) Chkdsk is fixed by iPod Updater 2005-06-26.
4) Different flavours of chkdsk.
5) Happy Birthday chkdsk!.
6) Apple Level 2 Technical Support officially close the chkdsk casefile. (Credit: Apple Level 2)
7) Chkdsk can be fixed by changing the drive letter of the iPod. (Credit: daisysnroses, jchiu8)
8) Chkdsk can be fixed by changing the hardware policy. (Credit: Bruce Finn)
9) Chkdsk caused by faulty hardware. (Credit: Kiwi_Bloke)iPod Updater 2006-03-23 has been released
iPod Updater 2006-03-23 includes iPod Software 1.1.1 for the new iPod and new iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod nano.
iPod Updater 2006-03-23 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2006-01-10 for all other iPod models.
What's new in iPod Updater 2006-03-23:
- Volume limit
- Bug fixes
I have been trying to ascertain from Apple Support Level 2 as to whether the latest iPod firmware improves or provides better resolution for the chkdsk issue. If anyone has been using iPod Updater 2006-03-23 to resolve their chkdsk woes, feel free to post in here just to say how things worked out for you...
Kind regards,
Gopha. -
Still unable to download itunes to my pc. Tried with IE, Mozilla and Google Chrome. Keep getting an error message :"Windows cannot open itunes.exe the file is corrupt contact support."previous itunes files were wipped out by "disk cleaner." Any help??
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Scan SSL in Privacy Control Settings. Turning it OFF solved the problem and all the PDF files that previously would not open now open just fine. This issue has been sent to Bitdefender for them to review. If you use a different antivirus program and are having this issue try locating the Scan SSL setting and see if turning it off solves the problem. -
Have tried to connect and sync my iphone 4 to my computer in itunes but this message keeps coming up The itunes Library .itl file is locked on a locked disk. or you do not have write permission for this file.
I have tried both suggestions, unfortunately neither fixed this for me. Hoping there's another possible fix. Thanks in advance.
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I am trying to backup my Itunes onto my external hard drive. I am at the step where I on Itunes, click on File ->Library ->Organize library. I am suppose to check mark both boxes there, the first being "Consolidate Files" & the second being "Reorganize files in the folder 'Itunes Media'. I am able to checkmark the first box but It won't allow me to check mark the second box, why? How can i fix this? Please help!
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Normally dragging content from to a new location on a different drive will result in a copy action which is what you were supposed to do. At a guess you somehow managed to move the iTunes folder. Then when you started iTunes it created a new blank library for you assuming it had just been installed rather that raising a warning.
Close iTunes. Rename the iTunes folder on the internal drive as iTunes (Empty) then copy the iTunes folder from the external back into the User's Music folder. Start iTunes. All should be well.
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tt2 -
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Make sure that you have closed all programs that might be using the iTunes library.itl file. I would hit CTRL + ALT + DEL buttons and enter the Task Manager - from there end any unnecessary program running in the background.
Next try to start iTunes again. If it fails, restart PC, do the same with Task Manager and try to open iTunes again.
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