Locating broken file locations

Recently, I purchased an external hard drive because my startup disk was full due to a large music library. During the time my startup disk was full, I downloaded a bunch of songs on my iPhone. Usually, when I would startup iTunes on my Mac, the songs I downloaded using my iPhone would automatically download into my iTunes on my Mac. Since buying the external hard drive and completely moving my iTunes library to it, those files I downloaded during the "full startup disk" period say they are broken and cannot be located. How do I locate these songs and ensure they are moved into the external hard drive?

How exactly did you move your library? Many people think they are moving their library but they only move their media, but for iTunes there is a big difference. The exact sequence of steps you did will help in figuring out what is going on. I am guessing you didn't really move your whole library but managed to instead move some of it at one time and leaving the other part behind.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.
The simple solution might be to delete the broken links and re-download the items you purchased.

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Broken file references

I have been trying to "fix" my broken file references using the link "iTunes: Moving your iTunes Music Folder" but when I get to number 8 "Click Create" there is no "Create" button for me to click. If I hit "ok" it has my new folder listed under iTunes Folder Music Location. However, when I click "ok" it goes to Updating Music Library". I never get a message that says "Changing the location of the iTunes Music Folder requires updating the location of each of the songs in you music library. This update will not move or delete any of your song files."
I have retried this several times. What am I doing wrong?!
I have iTunes version 6.0.4.2.

I have been trying to "fix" my broken file references using the link "iTunes: Moving your iTunes Music Folder" but when I get to number 8 "Click Create" there is no "Create" button for me to click. If I hit "ok" it has my new folder listed under iTunes Folder Music Location. However, when I click "ok" it goes to Updating Music Library". I never get a message that says "Changing the location of the iTunes Music Folder requires updating the location of each of the songs in you music library. This update will not move or delete any of your song files."
I have retried this several times. What am I doing wrong?!
I have iTunes version 6.0.4.2.

Re Download Music From iTunes (Broken Files)

Hello,
I just bought some songs from iTunes store. But I got a broken files (the last 20 seconds of the song is not working). How can I re download it? Thanks!

Delete the current copies and then download again (free) from your purchased history. If the problem persists contact iTunes Store support staff through the report a problem links in your account history.
tt2

Finding broken files

after changing computers I seem to have a bunch of broken files
I seem to bump into them when I'm syncing my 30g ipod
how can I find them?
I want to either be able to copy the contents of the list that comes up while syncing or
find all the files that are broken in my library

Well, either someone chose a different letter, or the drive letters were assigned from above by an IT department (and ordinary users are locked out of mapping new drives).
It's possible to map the same share twice, if you have the power to do so. So just remap V: to the same network share as Z: and you're good to go, for your own purposes. I'm not sure how you could set it up to cover the rest of your question (so that anyone else opening the file would not get the missing links dialog) without relinking everything yourself. I suppose it'd be scriptable.

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There could be a lot of reasons for a broken thumbnail.
One suggestion is for you to check to make sure you are saving the file with a valid extension in the file name ... something like .jpg or .psd or .tif would be examples of valid extensions (of course, there are others). If the file name has an invalid extension, then you might get a broken thumbnail.
Another possible reason for this is that you have used two periods in the file name. Something like Boston.May2009.jpg is invalid.

How to remove firefox setup3.6.8exe which did not complete downloading? Icon remains as broken file

Began download of firefox setup 3.6.8 exe. It stopped, did not complete. Icon remains on desktop as "3.6.8.exe Part, Broken File. Cannot uninstall and clear it. Can delete the icon, then it reappears when computer reboots. How can I remove the partially installed setup file? And get rid of the icon?

Try this to delete the file:
* Open the Task Manager (XP:Ctrl+Alt+Del; Vista/Win7:Shift+Ctrl+ESC) and go to the "Processes" tab.
* In the Process tab, right-click on the Explorer.exe process and select "End Process".
* In Task Manager, use: "File > New Task > Browse" and browse to the folder containing the file and delete the file via the right-click context menu.
* Start a new explorer process via " File > New Task (Run)": explorer.exe
See also:
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/ - UNLOCKER 1.8.7 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB
http://www.emco.is/products/move-on-boot/features.php - MoveOnBoot
http://www.emco.is/products/move-on-boot/screenshots.php

HT4914 missing tracks (broken file limatching iTunes?

I have some missing tracks (broken file links) in itunes, will these sync with iTunes match?

Reply to self: I ultimately did speak to a sympathetic iTunes support staff. But, I figured it out just by talking iot through with him. For reasons that remain unknown, large swaths of my library were "hidden" by Windows. Unhiding and clicking to apply to sub-folders does not function as intended. The Microsoft support personal left it with clicking on every single file and unhiding. But I did ultimately unhide everything by using the HIDDEN parameter in Windows Search, which makes available all files for group clicking "Off" the hidden feature. Unfortunately. major library damage already incurred before all this was figured out. Albums missing tracks, etc. With a folder by folder comparison to several backups, I managed to re-create the basic file structures. I also cleaned the hard disk by shifting old Music backups off the drive so that now there is 769 GB used, 1.16 TB free of a 1.81 TB available hard drive. Rebuilt the library using the latest download available 9/25/2012. Have gone through the shifting of the directory structure out of iTunes/iTunes Media to just iTunes. A shift which I approve of but a warning would have been nice. Have gone through the varisous corrections to Compilations, Music Videos, Audiobooks which are clearly tagged incorrectly as iTunes cannot rebuild to previous specs. And now I am stuck with ERROR, ITUNES LIBRARY CANNOT BE SAVED, -50. Continuing to iognore the message results in a "Not Responding" iTunes, with a required force shutdown. I have used the File, Library, Organize feature several times today. Weeks of effort and I am right back where I started. Steve would be turning over in his grave, where's Apple's perfection? Customers are begging for alternatives and I've just joined their ranks. I want and love my media library but my life is not structured to this type of time committment.
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Broken file connections - lots!

I am a relatively new user to LR and I moved a few hundred images on my Mac without realising that it should have been done through LR. I now have a few hundred broken image links. The tutorial seems to indicate that I must re-connect them one by one. Is this true or is there a ya I can connect multiple images in folders?

It really depends on exactly what you did. If, for example, you moved individual images from lots of dirreent folders to different folders then yes, doing image by image is likely what you have to do (though checking the "Find nearby missing photos" box might help some).
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Broken file paths

All my files are no longer playable in iTunes--they all have the exclamation mark. Please help me. I have no idea what went wrong. I have selected the correct library when starting iTunes, and I have made sure that iTunes is looking in the right folder. When I try to play something, it says something about a server and I need to play the local file. The files are all on my computer!
I am using a 24" iMac with Snow Leopard and the current version of iTunes. Please help me!

Try this -> iTunes Track CPR v1.3
"This script attempts to locate the files of so-called "dead tracks"--iTunes tracks designated with (!)--that you assume are not actually missing but are still located in the iTunes Music folder in their "iTunes File Order" (Music -> Artist -> Album -> file.xxx). Any correct files found will be added to iTunes and will replace the "dead track" in each playlist it appears in (except Smart Playlists). Most tag data will also be rescued. Tracks whose files cannot be located will be ignored. Additionally, a text file report is generated that lists successfully resuscitated tracks and the tracks which couldn't be revived."

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Hello,
I mistakenly deleted the NAR files associated with two cinemagraphs that were on my phone while deleting some photos using my desktop PC. Is there anyway to remove the files from the cinemagraph app itself? When I launch cinemagraph it shows the 2 cinemagraphs that I deleted the associated NAR files on the display. However, I cannot open the files because it state they may be damaged. Is there a way I can delete these cinemagraphs from the phone so they will not show up in the cinemagraph app.
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Solved!
Go to Solution.

The images should also be in the phones camera roll where you should be able to delete them. Locate the images then use the select button to check each image you want to remove, then hit delete.

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This is causing me real pain, and I don't know what it is that is broken.
Since the update to Mountain Lion and updating to the latest versions of the iWork apps on both my iMac and my iPad, when I try and copy a keynote file into either my Dropbox or SkyDrive account (there are reasons for using these, so don't say, use iCloud please) whereas before the file would copy across whole, what I now get is a folder with all my inserted media (video/photos) and a broken up template. The file is not transferring across whole.
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It sounds like the "Package" bit isn't being set. Suggestion (1) is just routine housekeeping, run disk utility and make sure the disk is good and the permissions are repaired. Suggestion (2) is a workaround : zip the keynote file and put that in dropbox. Take it out of Dropbox then unzip to use, zip and put back in dropbox to sync. It's not as convenient but it should workaround the problem.

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I am presently running my MacBook Pro with Mac OS X Yosemite. I have owned several previous Apple laptops prior to this one and each time I simply move all my files, settings and applications using the tranfer program bulit into the Apple Software. Although this was the easiest method to upgrade to a new laptop, it also brings a lot of extra junk with it.
Is there a program that will look for unused Preferences, broken and orphaned files?
Thanks

I am presently running my MacBook Pro with Mac OS X Yosemite. I have owned several previous Apple laptops prior to this one and each time I simply move all my files, settings and applications using the tranfer program bulit into the Apple Software. Although this was the easiest method to upgrade to a new laptop, it also brings a lot of extra junk with it.
Is there a program that will look for unused Preferences, broken and orphaned files?
Thanks

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Hi,
I ran software update for the first time in a few weeks yesterday ... and now my file sharing is broken. I have 2 USB drives shared from my mac mini running Leopard and I access them on my MBP (running Leopard and Win XP). I couldn't connect to either drive after the restart, but everything is the same in System Prefs > Sharing. None of the shortcuts I used previously work, and trying to access the mac mini by IP address yields nothing either (although it is pingable).
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andy

I know this doesn't solve the problem but I'm having the same issue trying to connect to my iMac G5 PPC 10.5 from my Intel MacBook running 10.6. I got frustrated and did a Time Machine restore from about a month ago and it worked like a charm. Once I did my System Updates on the iMac though... No dice. So it's definitely the update- I know for me at least knowing what the problem is helps some. May just be a glitch in the update in which case all you can do is wait...

Broken file system permissions

Sigh. Another day, another borken set of adobe permissions.
After the fiasco of trying to upgrade Acrobat Reader 709 (and
all the associated broken registry permissions), I notice that
Adobe has now broken the flash player permissions.
Go check out flash9b.ocx or flash9d.ocx. Try and uninstall
them. Enjoy the fun!
*WHY ON EARTH HAVE YOU DONE THIS*?
Total insanity.
For those that *really* want to remove the product, run
cacls %systemroot%\system32\macromed\flash\flash9b.ocx /e /p
everyone:f
attrib -r %systemroot%\system32\macromed\flash\flash9b.ocx
The installer will then properly clean up the files.
Adobe - any chance you could ask your packaging team to stop
screwing with permissions that they do not understand and more
importantly do not need to change!
Mike

Step 1
If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since your last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Boot into the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
b. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
c. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
The easiest way to deal with the problem is to boot from an external drive, or else to use either of the techniques in Steps 1b and 1c to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.

Locating broken file locations

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