Keep losing itunes library (TC & ATV setup)

I tried posting this in the Time Capsule section but never got any replies...
We have our Time Capsule hooked up to our Home Theater, along with ATV. I use my Macbook to run itunes. Several days will go by between using itunes at all & then I go to open it on my macbook & it tells me it can't find my itunes library.
What causes it to "drop" periodically?

copy all the music from external hard drive to internal hard drive...
erase or delete previous library and then add a new library
thank you

Similar Messages

ITunes keeps losing my library every 2-3 days!

iTunes keeps losing my library every 2-3 days. Completely erasing all songs and playlists. This is incredibly annoying and forces me to redo it all AGAIN.
Any way for me to solve this problem?

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. Note that in iTunes 11 an "empty" library may show your past purchases with links to stream or download them.
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.
Alternatively, depending on exactly when and why the library went missing, there may be a more recent .tmp file in the main iTunes folder that can be renamed as iTunes Library.itl to restore the library to a recent state. Look for a recent .tmp file that is similar in size to the .itl files in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder. If it has happened repeatedly you may want the earliest such file generated since the last iTunes upgrade.
If applicable, 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!
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
I've noticed more of these missing library posts of late and a common factor to most since I started asking is AVG Anti-Virus. It seems in some cases it might be at least part of the reason why the library file disappears. Try excluding the iTunes folder from any AV scanning process.
tt2

ITunes keeps losing my library

Hi folks! I just added a time capsule to my home and moved my itunes library to it from my 2011 iMac. Every time I close and openTunes it asks were the library is located, what gives? Thanks in advance for the help!!

That's the problem with using networked drives, they have to be turned on, fully mounted and awake when iTunes starts or you have to restart iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the library.itl file in the iTunes folder on the external. Make sure the Time Capsule is on and fully awake before starting iTunes.
By the way, if using the Time Capsule for backup, it is a bad idea to keep your iTunes library on it too. What happens when the Time Capsule drive fails (it will some day, unexpectedly)? Where's your backup for your library?

Keeping my iTunes library in a Airport connect Hardrive

I want to keep my iTunes library on a hard drive that I have connected to my Airport wireless network. When I do this in the default configuration iTunes cannot access the library until I go out to the shared drive, connect to it, and browse into it to the point where it is now mounted.
Is there a way to have a shared drive automatically visible either through some automatic authentication or some other setup option for the hard drive. Basically, can I automatically have this drive mounted in some way.
Thanks
MikeK

Hello MikeK & Scubonics,
Hopefully I can be of some help.
Have you put a check mark in the box for 'Remember this password in my Keychain' when asked to authenticate? Also, have you put a check mark in the box in the Airport Disk Utility for 'Automatically discover Airport Disks'?
Mondy

Can I keep my iTunes library solely on an external drive?

I have the macbook air with 128gig HD. I currently have a Windows laptop with a bigger HD housing my itunes network with all of my music and digital copies of movies. I've been using this computer as my primary laptop since I bought it (love it too much) and was considering taking the library over to this computer. Unfortunately with all the movies, it takes up a huge amount of HD space. I have a 500gig external drive. Can I have my itunes library on that, and plug it in when I want to sync or use itunes? Or does it all need to be on the actual computer's HD.
(Fingers crossed a cloud-based storage system somewhere in NC makes this all irrelevant later this year)

Hey
No problem keeping your itunes library on an external drive, just follow the instructions here to move it
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
In future make sure your external drive is connected and detected by your computer before opening iTunes.

Itunes keeps losing my library on an external hard drive

Several issues of which I can find no answers.
I have 600 CDs I have ripped. Due to space constraints, I have them all on an external hard drive. I can view all the contents of the hard drive through Windows. Yet when I click the song in Itunes library, Itunes can't find any of them. If I open up the song through windows, Itunes displays a duplicate song title in the library, and plays that, but no others. I've tried restarting Itunes with the external hard drive on. I've tried restarting the computer with the external hard drive on. I've verified my "Itunes Music Folder Location". When my Ipod syncs, it deletes EVERYTHING, since Itunes can't find these files. Every time I want to add a CD to my Ipod, I have to re "add folder to library" for 600 cds worth of music. This takes days to accomplish, after Itunes analyzes song volumes. Then I have to manually upload album art because about 80% of the CDs I have, Itunes can't find it. It takes me about 3 days of hard processor crunching and adding album art just to sync my Ipod to add a new CD.

I had the same problem. I had to move my iTunes and all my music from my main HD to an external. Even when I pointed iTunes to the external HD it messed up the whole lot. It said that it couldn't find any of my tracks and there where (at the time about 9,800) so I wasn't too chuffed. The only way I could get round it was to delete iTunes from my main HD and reinstall it on the external HD. That has worked for me. I am not saying it will work for everyone. Thankfully I haven't had a problem since, plus I've backed up my external to DVD's just in case.

ITunes KEEPS losing my library, it's insane!

Gah! I'm HATING iTunes right now, and I'm a die hard-mac user!
Every single day, I'll start up itunes, all will be well.. I'll hit quit.. A few minutes later, I'll open it again, and oh! iTune slibrary corrupt!
It's driving me nuts...
I'm doing backups every day now. A few minutes ago, it crashed, I restrored it, all was fine, I shut it off, I reopened it, and it was corrupt! What the heck!? I'm going nuts here guys, does anyone have an answer?
I'm on 10.4.8, using iTunes 7.0.2.. Surely there's a solution to this, right?

Surely there's a solution to this, right?
I'm tended to say "Yes", but it depends on the cause of the troubles you're having.
A corrupted library ('iTunes Library' file) can have a few causes.
When you quit iTunes, it still will be busy for a number of seconds (depending on your library size), writing a new 'iTunes Library' file.
Any interruption will cause this operation to be incomplete and cause a corrupted library.
You also might have problems on your HD, which usually can be repaired using Disk Utility.
I would suggest running DU from your Tiger (OS X 10.4) install disk and verify/repair the HD first using the instructions at 'Try Disk Utility' in this article.
M
17' iMac 800 MHz, 768 MB RAM, 200 GB HD, DL burner Mac OS X (10.4.8) iTunes 7.0.2

Mac Mini keeps losing iTunes authorization

I have a Mac Mini that keeps losing its authorization to play new iTunes content. Each time I try to use it, I have to deauthorize it and then reauthorize it to play the content
My iTunes content is stored and shared from another PC. So when I fire up the Mac Mini, I select my shared library. Then when I try to play new content, that's when it tells me the computer is not authorized to play the content. After deauthorizing it and then reauthorizing it, the new content will play.
This problem only occurs with new content that has been downloaded since the last time I used the Mac Mini. Existing content plays just fine.
Does anyone know what the problem might be?
Thanks!

This normally happens when your neighbor and you are using the same WiFi channel. Try changing the default channel in System Preferences -> Network.

Time Capsule disconnecting, losing iTunes library each time

Running Comcast line into router into Time Capsule along with an ATV. Using Macbook about 10 feet away from TV set up. iTunes library & files are on the TC. Everything was fine the 1st month or so but now I keep getting a service connection interruption on the TC which then causes iTunes to lose my library. I can't even seem to get through the long process of importing back in now without a TC interruption.
Incidentally, we also started out with perfect use on ATV but now Netflix is pausing frequently with everything we watch, despite the time of day. And really off topic...our iphones are acting crazy after 2 years of no problems. Phone won't come out of extended network, calls won't go through, & text messages are failing.
While I know none of these issues are connected, it sure seems like there is some sort of cloud over our apple home. lol

Jolly Giant wrote:
you can have it mounted automatically at start up if you add it to your +login items+ via system preferences > accounts > login items.
JGG
Jolly
Do you have to do this for all users on a machine or is there a central setting?
Kirk

Hey everyone! i have a external hardrive i keep my itunes library of songs on and it wont sync with my ipod touch inless i copy and paste it into my ipod device when thats conected. i dont want all the songs on there only checked ones. help plz!!

im having trouble with syncing my ipod touch with my itunes library that i keep on a external hardrive. when i plug up my external hardrive that has all my songs on it, it doesn't sync to my ipod correctly. i have to copy and paste the songs to my ipod device when its connected. i dont want all the songs on there and i want to be able to manually control whats on my ipod. and id like to take some songs off of the ipod also but i want them still in my itunes library though. i usually check the songs i want on the ipod but it isnt working that way maybe because its a external hardrive?? i never had a problem with past ipods with my library on itunes but i ran out of space on my computer and had to transfer all of the songs to my external hardrive. please someone help me!! i thought it would be simple! but it isnt the case! i plug up my hardrive then my ipod, i press sync and nothing gets transfered unless i copy and paste them to the ipod. even though it says ipod syncing in progress! this is really confusing! please help me!! sorry if this is jumbled up and confusing..

Correct. When you update via iTunes all synced media that is not in your iTunes library will be lost.
As IO said before:
You can redownload most iTunes pruchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store
I do not think it included audio books.

ITunes keeps trashing 'itunes library.itl'

iTunes was working just fine under my WinXP Pro system, with the latest windoze patches. I'm running 7.02 of iTunes. It could sync with my iPod just fine and it played my music fine on the PC.
Suddenly about a week ago, I started getting popup windows when I started itunes, saying: "the file itunes library.itl does not appear to be a valid itunes library file". It then tells me that it renamed the library file as 'damaged' and is rebuilding the library.
After going thru this for days, I did an uninstall of itunes, erased all the itunes directories and rebooted. I then did a clean install of iTunes 7.02. After spending hours getting my library setup with my playlists and cover art again, I thought I had it fixed. But, rebooting just found the same problems all over again. This morning, it couldn't find a good copy to use, so it started with an empty library!
There are no other .itl files in the 'previous' folder or anywhere else in 'my music'. This is driving me crazy - I can't stand having to constantly recreate everything, only to have iTunes throw it all away?
Does anyone have ANY suggestions???? I'm willing to try about anything... (Please don't give me juvenile comments about converting to a mac...)

A lot of people seem to be getting this problem and no one has come up with a satisfactory explanation for it.
Is there anything unusual about your configuration - external drive, network, v large library?
About all I can offer is to suggest you make regular backup copies of you library so you can restore it if the proble recurs.
The library files are in:
My Documents\My Music\iTunes
Close iTunes and wait about 30 seconds.
Copy iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml somewhere else e.g. into the Previous iTunes Libraries folder.
To restore, with iTunes closed drag the current itl and xml file from the iTunes folder to the desktop, then copy the backup iTunes Library.itl into the iTunes folder. The xml file isn’t necessary but can come in handy if the library needs to be recreated and the itl file is causing problems.

How Can I Keep My iTunes Library Syncronized to My Laptop

I have my music files stored on a NAS share. On my desktop system, my iTunes library points to the NAS share. This works pretty well. I have a second desktop point to the same NAS share. I recently got a laptop and want to somehow have my music available on my laptop even when offline or away from my home. I thought about using some software to sync the music files to the laptop on some sort of schedule, but is that the best option? Is there some other way to accomplish what I want?

Hello MeggiePie86,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. Before you go through the process of importing your music from your iPod, check to see if the music is already on your computer. Check in the Following path C:\Users\username\My Music\iTunes\
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1391
If there is media there, then import that into your iTunes library.
Adding music and other content to iTunes
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1473
If you need to transfer your music back from your library, you can transfer purchases that have been made through iTunes. This article will assist with that process.
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848
You can alternatively download previous purchases directly from the iTunes store.
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519
Regards,
-Norm G.

How do i sync my itunes library with ATV gen1?

I am trying to sync my itunes library with my Generation 1 Apple TV. The directions I found on the Apple site said to go to the Summary tab under Apple TV in Devices in itunes. No such tab exists, only Setting and Photos. Can anyone help?

Welcome to the Apple Community.
I'm not sure where you are looking but the first step to sync your library is performed from the Apple TV. Settings/Computers/connect to iTunes and follow on screen instructions. You can then go to iTunes on your mac/pc, select the device and set up your sync options.

I'm getting a new computer & I want to keep my iTunes library ... how?

This weekend I will be upgrading to a new PC. With that naturally there will be fresh Windows XP to install iTunes on.
Before reading any further please note that this is not about backing up my music - i have all my music stored on another harddrive.
My problem is that a lot of music on my iTunes is from independent 'underground' artists that release their music in mp3 format online. That is - I spent hours and hours and hours with my iTunes manualy changing album covers, songs titles, artist names, genre descriptions etc... I like it all to be nice an neat.
So now... what do i do to transfer my library list(album covers, songs titles, artist names, genres) to the new computer?
I basically want to turn iTunes on the new machines and see the exact same list I see right now - and I want the new iTunes on the new PC to see where the music is on my computer (as in the D: harddrive directory, which will not change) ..just the way i see it now
I'm really afraid I will not be able to do it - and that will mean hours upon hours of work i will have to do over X_X
... please help
-[seb]-

How to Copy and Move (Clone) your Music Files from One Computer to Another
This is the conceptual framework with related and important links. Apply and adapt it to your specific situation and equipment resources.
The safest, quickest, and most optimal method to move your Library to a new computer is to actually clone the entire ‘iTunes’ folder (directory) structure, rather than just copying just the song files. By copying the entire ‘iTunes’ folder and all sub-folders, you capture not only the music files, but the all-important ‘iTunes Library.itl’ database file (usually located in the ‘iTunes’ folder), which contains all the data about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). See: What are the iTunes Library files?
Install iTunes on the new computer. Then go back to your old computer and move (copy) the "iTunes" folder which usually resides inside your "…\My Documents\My Music" folder from the old computer to the exact same place (both Drive Letter and complete Path) on the new computer. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will look and behave exactly the same way it did on the old, Play Counts, Ratings, Comments and all!
NOTE: It is usually safer moving files between computers with the same version of iTunes!!
iTunes Files to Copy and Move to your New PC
1) All music files in their current folder structure (usually located in and under the ‘iTunes Music’ folder)
2) The Library database file: ‘iTunes Library.itl’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
3) The Library XML file: ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
4) Any XML playlist files you created for Playlist retention
5) The two iTunes.pref files (optional)
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer Inc\iTunes.pref
6) The XML file of Ratings, Play Counts and Last Played attributes saved from the main Library and created by Otto’s SaveRatings script (also optional, but recommended):
“Download this: http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/SaveRatings.zip . It's a program, just run it like any other program. Run it on the machine where you're copying the info from BEFORE you move the files to the new machine. Click the "Save Ratings" button and it'll create a ratings.xml file. Now when you move the files, move the program and this file as well. Then after you make your new iTunes library, run it again and click the "Restore Ratings" button. Voila, all your information is back in the Library. Well, most of it anyway, it's not perfect. It'll tell you what songs it couldn't figure out though, and there's usually not very many.”
Here's a list of methods to copy and move your music files from one computer to another:
1) Use an External Hard Drive (ExHD) to move the complete files and Folder structures from one computer to another (my preferred option). You can clone’ the entire ‘iTunes’ folder structure in one very easy step. Also great to have available for complete backups of your Library. External hard drives now run less than $100 for 200-250GBs of storage. See This Link
2) Directly connect the two computers....
- 2a) Connect them through a Router &/or Network
- 2b) Directly connect using an Ethernet cable: Straight for using at least one Mac; or Crossover for PC/PC Instructions here.
- 2c) Connect them via a USB-to-USB Network Bridge. Example here. There are various types out there (use Google).
....Then copy the files from one computer to the other.
3) Use the iPod as a transfer device, as this extensive Apple link explains. It will be a bit easier if your iPod has a larger capacity than your music collection, otherwise you will need to perform multiple copy/move transfers. This well written process also works fine while using any other data transfer medium (ExHD, Flash Drive, DVD, CD, Zipp, Jazz, etc.).
4) Burn several DVDs (at 4.7GBs each) with your music data files and folder structure, and load them onto the new computer. Re-writable DVDs are more cost effective (if your DVD drive can manage these types).
5) Burn 6x more on CDs (at 700MB each) than in #4 above and load the files and folders on the new computer. Re-writable CDs are more cost effective (if your CD drive can manage these types).
6) Use a larger USB Flash drive (1GB - 4GB) to move the files and folders. Best if the flash drive is larger than your Library, otherwise you will need multiple copy/move transfers.
These are links to various additional instructions on performing the transfer (read them all, but some listed steps may not be required depending on your specific situation):
Switch from PC to Mac Using the iPod
hudgie: Migrating iTunes for Windows to a new PC
How to copy music between authorized computers

Is it possible to keep my iTunes library in an external hard drive?

I have just noticed that my fairly new iMac computer's hard drive is almost completely full.
Is it possible to transfer my iTunes library to an external hard drive (that I have plugged constantly into my iMac computer), and still have full functionality of all of my purchased songs in iTunes?

br121 wrote:
I have just noticed that my fairly new iMac computer's hard drive is almost completely full.
Is it possible to transfer my iTunes library to an external hard drive (that I have plugged constantly into my iMac computer), and still have full functionality of all of my purchased songs in iTunes?
absolutely, yes.
follow these instructions

Keep losing itunes library (TC & ATV setup)

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