"keep folders organized" feature duplicated my itunes library

I recently downloaded and installed the latest version of itunes for windows vista. During the installation, I was asked if i wanted itunes to keep my folders organized, or if I wanted to do it myself. I chose to have itunes keep my folders organized. I then closed itunes. The next time I opened itunes my library was duplicated, thus causing my library to double and preventing my ipod to load new songs, saying there is not enough space due to the duplicate songs. I looked at each of the duplicated song's info and noticed that one of the files is located in the folder "itunes library", while its duplicate is located in the folder "itunes music". I then went to both of those folders and noticed the "itunes music" folder holds a folder for each individual artist and their respective albums, while the "itunes library" folder just has every individual song file, listed alphabetically. Should I just delete one of these folders, and then remove the dead files from my library, thus removing the duplicate entries? And if so, which folder do I delete?

If you want iTunes to keep it organized in artis/album format, then delete the other folder that has +every individual song file, listed alphabetically+.
I'd try it on just one song first, to make sure you have it straight.

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Unable to 'Keep Folders Organized' and a consolidate library

So I recently upgraded to iTunes 5.0.1.4 and I'm having a problem with the 'Keep Folders Organized' feature. Simply, it isn't. Keeping them organized, that is. Here's the set-up:
My computer's HD is too small, so the music is all stored in a shared folder on my server. I mapped the shared folder (\\servername\music) to the drive letter 'm'. In iTunes, the iTunes music folder is set to 'M:\'. 'Keep Folder Organized' is checked. In iTunes 4, when I would edit a song ame via iTunes, the file name would be updated accordingly. Since upgrading, the filename stays the same. Same for album names/folder names. Uh... Amy ideas, anyone?
On a side note, I tried consolidating my library, thinking this might help. It didn't. Instead, wherever a song name, artist name, or album name had changed, it made a duplicate of the file, named correctly and with the correct folder hirearchy! Example, I updated the album name and then consolidated the library. I now have both:
Artist/New Album Name/Song Name.m4a
-and-
Artist/Old Album Name/Song Name.m4a
Luckily, I tested this on a small subset of files, so I only had to clean up a few folders. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had applied this to all 80 GB of music!
Any ideas anyone?
Erik

MacMuse -
Seconding what Ian said, you rock!
Ian -
I would have used my Unix skills to take care of the problem, except I recently migrated my file server from FreeBSD to Win2k3!
On a side note, do you map your video files to 'V:\'? =)
Everyone -
Another work around that I have discovered is to add 'Network Place' pointing to the shared directory, and then when setting your library location, choose:
Desktop->My Network Places->ShareName
iTunes will see it as:
'\\ServerName\ShareName'
And keeping the folders organized, consolidating the library, etc will automagically start working again!
Apple Engineers -
Seconding what Ian said, this seems easily fixable. Probably should be fixed, as I can see people using external HDs to store their music collection running into the same issue!
Thanks everyone for their responses!
Erik

I keep getting the following message The iTunes library cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the iTunes folder in the music folder.

I keep getting the following message The iTunes library cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the iTunes folder in the music folder. All of my playlists have disappeared and I am trying to recover them however I now can't even open iTunes!

Hi crazymaiden,
I have two articles for you here that should be able to help you troubleshoot this issue with your ability to launch iTunes:
Troubleshooting iTunes installation on Mac OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2311
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451
Take care, and thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities.
-Braden

I keep getting dialog box saying " The itunes Library file cannot be saved. You do not have enough access privileges for this operation" I am the only user on this computer and only one library! how do i change access privileges please?

hi I keep getting the dialog box " The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. You do not have enough access privileges for this operation"
How do i amend this as i only have one account and one library. I cannot save new work or delete duplicate files

A belated reply, as the problems itunes has have discouraged me from using it much. If you uncheck the "read only" box, it doesn't stay that way! Next time you use it, the box comes up checked.
I'm still having that problem, even when I open iTunes as administrator.
I've yet to see the answer to this problem. I use itunes mostly to download audiobooks, and I'm ready to download more, and want to save them!

When I bought my Mac Air OSX Version 10.9.2 my daughter helped me migrate the contents of my previous macbook. But in the process seems to have duplicated the iTunes library . The start up disk is almost full and plus it doesn't my iPhone. Please help!

When I bought my Mac Air OSX Version 10.9.2 my daughter helped me migrate the contents of my previous macbook. But in the process seems to have duplicated the iTunes library - How do I get rid of one. The start up disk is almost full and plus it doesn't synch properly with my iPhone 4S. Please help!

Hello nicky:
You should run repair disk from your software install DVD before you try anything else. The crash may have damaged some of your directories - and a possible cause of the "missing/not missing" tunes.
Barry

I keep getting this error message "The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occurred (-50)" I'm not at all technical, so a simple response would be appreciated. Thanks

I keep getting this error message "The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occurred (-50)" I'm not at all technical, so a simple response would be appreciated. I have already downlaoded the latest iTunes software and reinstalled it but the problem remains and I am unable to add additonal music to my library.

make sure the media folder in iTunes > Preferences > Advanced is not blank or out side of your c dirve

I'm trying to sync my old ipad to itues on my laptop but it keeps saying ipad synced with another iTunes library what can I do I don't want to lose these photos?

I'm trying to sync my old ipad to itues on my laptop but it keeps saying ipad synced with another iTunes library what can I do I don't want to lose these photos?

You can only sync an ipad to one computer at a time.
You can look to something like dropbox, upload your photos there, then do the sync and since your photos are backed up it won't hurt if they are deleted.

How can I keep a backup copy of my iTunes library with tracks not coded and scrambled

I have about 80GB in my iTunes library and would like to keep a backup copy of all the music in folders under composers, without them being scrambled or any the numbers which are automatically placed in front of each track, which is what happens if I drag and drop them from iTunes. How can I achieve this?

Thaks for trying but this isn't relevant. I'm not refering to CDs or importing material. I have an iTunes library with nearly 20,000 tracks in it. It is also backed up with a straight copy of the entire works.
What I want to do is back up the whole lot in a package containing only the music under it's name and it's original track numbers. I can show best what I mean by dragging and dropping just two piano concertos out into an external folder.
e.g.
if this how they apper in my itunes play list
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 - 1. (Allegro con brio)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 - 2. (Adagio)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 - 3. (Rondo_ Molto allegro)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 - 1. Allegro Con Brio
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 - 2. Largo
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 - 3. Rondo_ Allegro
What I get when I drag these out into a folder on an expernal drive (or even on the desk top of my iMac) is this
01 Beethoven_ Piano Concerto No. 2 - 1. (Allegro con brio).m4a
01 Beethoven_ Piano Concerto No. 3 - 1. Allegro Con Brio.m4a
02 Beethoven_ Piano Concerto No. 2 - 2. (Adagio).m4a
02 Beethoven_ Piano Concerto No. 3 - 2. Largo.m4a
03 Beethoven_ Piano Concerto No. 2 - 3. (Rondo_ Molto allegro).m4a
03 Beethoven_ Piano Concerto No. 3 - 3. Rondo_ Allegro.m4a
You can imagine what a mess this is when I drag 20,000 tracks into an external backup folder. All the track ones (several thousand of them) of every piece in the entire collection will be listed first. And then all the track 2s.
I can't sort that out.
If there is a solution I think it possibly lies in the iTunes preference options. There is one, but I daren't try it for fear of unscrabbling the whole iTunes library and completely throwing all the play lists, folders and everything into a total unsorted mess. I refer to the tick box in the iTunes preference folder 'Keep iTunes media folder organised (places files into album and artist folders and names the files based on disk number, track number and song title)'
If I untick this would I unscramble years of carefully sorting disks as I imported them?

New computer-keep getting iphone synched with another itunes library

So here's the situation.
I got a new computer the other day and put Itunes on it. I hooked my iphone up to it and authorized my new computer. Seemed like everything was fine, that was until I went into devices and clicked on music. I then went to synch music and then hit apply and get the whole "the device is synched with another itunes/library, do you want to erase the iphone and synch with this itunes library.
I still have my old computer (Which is in pieces on the floor) and realized today that I didn't deauthorize it. Am I in trouble here?

As far as your iPhone is concerned, it is a new iTunes Library. Let it go thru it's steps (including making a backup and restoring from the backup) and all should be fine.
You can authorize up to 5 computers, so you are fine if you're under this limit. When you do reach it, you can deauthorise all computers (even without having access to them), then authorize the one you are using. So you are not in trouble here, either.
Learn how to authorize or deauthorize your computer with your Apple ID.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420

How do I delete songs from iTunes Match while keeping them in my computer's iTunes library?

So I know I'm not the only one with this problem, but I can't seem to find an answer specifically relevant to my issue. I have a playlist on my computer entitled "Christmas Music" in which I store all of my holiday songs (about 64 songs out of over 6,000). Now that the Christmas season is over, I no longer want to listen to these songs, so I have unchecked them all in my iTunes library. However, because I am subscribed to iTunes Match, the songs all still play when I have my music shuffled on my phone—iTunes Match apparently doesn't care whether they are checked in your library or not; it will still sync them across all your devices and play them during shuffle mode regardless.
The solution would be for me to somehow remove these particular songs from iCloud so they no longer play in iTunes Match. However, I would still like to have the songs in my iTunes library so that I could listen to them again in the future during the appropriate time of year. I can only seem to find instructions on how to delete the songs permanently from both my iTunes Library and iCloud, when all I really want to do is delete them from iCloud.
Is there a way for me to do this that doesn't involve permanently losing any of my songs? Please help.

Instead of removing the music from the cloud or the iTunes library why not shuffle your music using a Smart Playlist which excludes the holiday music, or tracks that are not checked. For example, use this very simple Smart Playlist:

ITunes keeps asking me to choose (locate) iTunes library after I transferring all my stuff to my new iMac

In Match I got a new iMac and transferred everything from my old iMac to the new one. After that iTunes sometimes ask me to locate the iTunes library and I do that every time. But almost every time i open iTunes it asks again (not always). Sometimes I also get a popup saying something like, its not been able to save preferences. Also if I want to convert a recording to a mp3 file I go and change the import preferences and next time I open iTunes I have to do it again (almost every time - sometimes it is saved). iTunes 11.0.4 - Mac OS X 10.8.4
Regards
Hjortur

Solved - I am using "Shortcuts" for keyboard shortcuts and I used "alt" in combination with "ctrl" and an F-key to open iTunes. Since "alt" is used to hold down while opening iTunes to choose a diifferent librery I think that is what happend.

My itunes keeps popping up with this; the itunes library .itl file cannot be found or created

i found my itl files and even when i click on them it still pops up with that message what do i do?

Hello EliCooper,
It sounds like when you open iTunes, it says your iTunes Library.itl file cannot be located. If you know where this is located, you need to point iTunes to this file to avoid the error message. I found an article with the steps to choose your iTunes Library.itl file:
Steps to create or choose a different iTunes Library file
If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
If you are using Windows, hold down the Shift key and from the Start menu and choose All Programs > iTunes > iTunes.
You should see one of the following screens:
Once you get that dialogue box, you can click on Choose Library and navigate to your iTunes Library.itl file.
You can find the full article here:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1589
Thank you for posting in the Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

I keep losing the music from my iTunes library. Help please!!!

For some reason when i shut my iTunes down the next time i open it all of the songs have gone from my library. I can restore them from my itunes music folder but i do not know why this is happening and its really starting to annoy me. Any help please?????

That happens when the itunes database file doesn't get saved properly. By design, if itunes can't find a valid database file, it makes a new blank one.
iTunes Library.itl is the name of the file.
Is this on a Sony Vaio? There is a well-known bug with some bad sony software that erases the itunes database file. There are also problems with some ant-virus/security software packages not letting itunes save that file.

Is there any way to keep folders organized without having to reorganize?

I download a lot of mixtapes and am very organized about my music. If it helps I always manually add my music into iTunes and have the music I've purchased and uploaded from CDs seperated from the music I get online. I'm constantly finding new artists and make a folder for them. Every time I open Finder and go to the folder containing all the artist folders I constantly have to clean it up and arrange them by kind and name. Some of the mixtapes have never been opened but I have them in case I ever want to hand them to a friend or want to find new music. When I create a new folder it's always at the bottom despite everything else being organized alphabetically and by kind. Is there a way to for my music to stay organized withough having to constantly select all and arrange it? Like if I create a new folder with the letter B I want it to automatically go where all the B folders are without having to move it on my own. Thanks!

The software "Big Folder Machine 2" should do all of what you want.
EDIT: I think I misread your post. If you just right-click and arrange by name, it will do it. There is no need to select every folder.

Artists names duplicated in iTunes Library

I'm still using iTunes 6.5 on my system. I haven't upgraded yet and I don't know if I'll do. However, I have a question. Why do I have multiple listings for the same artist if only the album (CD) or source changes. For example, I may have three (3) listing for The Eagles for each album (CD). Shouldn't I have only one (1) listing for the Eagles, with all of the albums (CD) listed. IT's crazy, because when I want to select an artist, I have multiple listings instead of one.

You may have the artist name typed in multiple ways. For example, extra spaces may not show up or not be noticed, but iTunes will take each different name literally as a different artist. The solution, usually, is to select ALL the songs by the same artist at the same time. Now do a Get Info which you will be a get info for all of them at once. If the artist field is blank, then that confirms that you have alternate spellings (only fields that are the same for ALL the selected files will be shown with their filled in values). At this point, simply type in the artist name once in that field and hitting OK will apply that single spelling to ALL the selected files. You should now have everything under a single artist.
Patrick

"keep folders organized" feature duplicated my itunes library

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