Lost Access to iTunes Library

Question

Hi 
I have lost access to my previous Itunes Library.... If this topic is already covered please point me to the thread as I searched under various Library posts and they are all either to do with backing up to an external HD, transferring to a new PC, restoring from an iPod or iPad, or repairing corrupted files....  but not how to recover from basic stupidity and operator error! I’m a beginner as you will see!
I was trying to load some movies from my PC onto my iPhone4  to watch on vacation.... to free up space I first removed most of my music and Apps from the iPhone by unchecking the boxes and syncing to make room.... intending to restore them on my return.  Next I tried (but failed) to work out how or where to copy the movies from my PC to iTunes so as to be able to sync them to the phone. There was a Tab called “Films” but this only had some of my camcorder clips and I could not find how to load my movies into it. I mistakenly thought (I now realise) that I should try creating a new “Library” – which I would call “Movies” – to which I might be able to copy my movies to then sync to my iPhone.  I guess I was confused as to what a “Library” was.... !
So I followed the instructions to create a new Library:  Shift key –  iTunes –  “Create New Library” – called it “Movies” and OK. It worked as when I now open iTunes the interface is called “Movies” - but of course it is empty.  However this is now the default Library that opens and I cannot find my previous iTunes library with my music, Apps and Playlists.  I looked in MyMusic and can see the new (empty) “Movies” Library listed....  and another under “iTunes/Previous iTunes Libraries” where there are 19 Libraries listed by date from 2006 onwards – the most recent being two months ago. When I open them they are all called “Movies” and the  Playlists are the default ones – not my personal ones.    I can see all my Apps listed separately under “Mobile Applications” so they are all still there.... I can see the .itl and .ixl files - but when I open them they are both showing the new empty Movies Library.
So where has my previous and most recent Library ("John's Library") with all my old Playlists, Apps etc gone?  How can I find and restore it as the default Library that opens – instead of my new “Movies” one ? I tried Shift/open iTunes/Choose Library but it is not listed. (In my new (empty) “Movies” Library under Edit/Preferences/General I can see details for configuring “John’s Library” but no way to access the data)
And – when I do -  what SHOULD I have done to get my movies onto my iPhone – and is it to “Films”?!!!! I have iTunes 10.6.1.7 on a PC with W7.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Double-clicking on an itl file simply opens the last library iTunes was opened with. To change back to your original library you need to use the shift-start-iTunes method, then browse to the correct folder and file.
Under Edit > Preferences > General tab change your language from English UK to English US, then close and reopen iTunes, to have the sections of your library change to Movies and TV Shows instead of Films and TV Programmes. (That particular bit of localisation is a silly idea if you ask me.)
tt2