Missing files of purchased tracks

I have a 24"iMac with updated OS and iTunes 10.1.I . I also have a 4 yo iBook. I have synched my iPod and iPhone to both of these at different times. My problem now is on my iMac. I have 97 files that are missing with the explanation "The song could not be used because the original file couls not be found. Would you like to locate it?" The attempt to locate these file failed These songs still exist on my portable devices but not in my iTunes library. What gives? How do I retrieve these?

to transfer purchases from a mobile device to iTunes on your computer, one usually connects the device and right-clicks or (ctrl-clicks) the iPod in the iTunes Source list, then chooses +transfer purchases+ from the shortcut menu that appears.
if that doesn't work, you could try e.g. PhoneView or [iRip|http://thelittleappfactory.com/irip/?gclid=CMnaiefNwKQCFUODDgodgh4oMg].
JGG

Similar Messages

IPod won't sync purchased tracks (.m4p files)

My iPod will no longer sync songs I purchased from the iTunes store. The albums do not appear anywhere, and playlists do not contain purchased tracks. I noticed this after the last iTunes update (the version that introduced full screen cover flow). Everything else is working - I can sync podcasts and music ripped from CD's.
There are several other changes in my iPod that I believe to be related;
* I can't update the version; instead a see message that "Only Macintosh-formatted iPods can be updated" (my iPod is Windows formatted but I now use it on my mac).
* I cannot restore, instead I see a message that my iPod cannot be found.
Does anyone know of a fix for these issues?
1.25 GHz 15" PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9) 4G 40GB iPod Software: 3.1.1

I just had the idea to sync my iPod using USB, whereas I had been using Firewire. It worked! No errors during transfer and all of my tracks show up on the iPod. I was able to do "Restore" and now my iPod is Mac formatted, and the Update button is available.
I'm marking my question as answered, but after this experience, I still wonder about Apple's support for older iPods;
1) Has Apple dropped Firewire support from iTunes with the recent updates?
2) Does a windows-formatted-ipod-used-on-mac fall into a void that is not fully functional in iTunes?
1.25 GHz 15" PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

I can't locate any of my music on iTunes, even my purchased tracks have gone

All my music has disappeared from iTunes, even my purchased stuff & it has an explanation mark next to it. It says locate file but they are nowhere to be found in the iTunes or any folder. Also I can't play the missing tracks in the iTunes Store. What should I do?

Hi Topher23Gunner,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like there is an issue with music missing from iTunes. The articles below should help you resolve the issue, the first will help you locate missing files and the second describes a software conflict with a small group of PCs.
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
iTunes creates an empty library file in Windows
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2715
I hope this helps.
-Jason

"Missing files" NOT actually missing

I had some drive problems that during play and syncing made iTunes mark many of my files "missing". With the working drive, these tracks are not actually missing - double-clicking on each one will refresh its view. The problem is that iTunes seems satisfied with its 'missing' status for each, such that 'next track' and ipod-syncing assume those files don't need to be checked again.
In other words, despite no real problems with file access, I can only get iTunes to refresh its view of those missing tracks by double-clicking each one, which is completely unworkable, given the thousands it thinks are missing.
I've seen other variants of missing file problems but not this. Can I get iTunes to refresh its view of those files? The file locations *have not changed*
I'm pretty sure this is new behavior, previous builds seemed happy to check a file anew if asked in any way (e.g. 'next').
Windows 2000

This is exactly my problem as well. The MP3's are still in the same location with the same names, and I can't deduce why it's only about 40% of the total files unlinked.
This is the second time I've had to repair my Library, and nothing in iTunes makes that easy. If I delete everything it resets my ratings and counts, which is precisely what I want to avoid. If I re-import the music, I end up with duplicate files with extra numbers.
I did the whole ITL/XML refresh in the support section, then it gives me this "missing" headache. iTunes already knows which Artist folder to start looking in for each song... strcmp() anyone???
In my security efforts I have disabled my system from launching any script files with double-click, so while I would be happy to try Otto's JavaScript method... It shouldn't be too much to ask the iTunes team for a "Resolve Missing Files" button.
Even kinder would be the ability to make the iPod the master list, and have iTunes be on the receiving end of the sync. But I can see the i's rolling when that comes to purchased content.
It's wonderful when things work.

Repeating problems (1) Many Missing Files; and (2) Downloading From iTunes

I am having multiple issues with the iTunes store currently. I have spoken with an Apple Expert on August 14, 2010 (case number available if needed). Although he was very good at helping me to the best of his ability, he referred me to iTunes Store Customer Service, which I previously was in contact with.
I have 2 types of repeating problems (1) Many Missing Files; and (2) Downloading From iTunes Store.
_Problem One - (1) Downloading From iTunes Store_
I have 1610 missing files from my iTunes folders. I created a list of missing items by following these steps:
+If for any reason you find yourself with random missing tracks, (or are trying to recover from a dying hard drive like me), there is an easy way to isolate those missing tracks.+
+1. Create a standard playlist called "Not Missing".+
+2. Drag your entire library into that playlist. Missing tracks cannot+
+be copied to a playlist.+
+3. Create a smart playlist called where you select the following conditions in the options window for the new smart playlist:+
+*dropdown menu* PLAYLIST+
+*dropdown menu* IS NOT+
+*dropdown menu* NOT MISSING.+
+4. Rename the smart playlist "Missing"+
+5. Right Click the "Missing" playlist+
+6. Click the "Export..." option+
+7. Select the Plain Text option and Desktop location+
My missing playlistable items represent a better part of a decades worth of audiobook files, transfered files from my PC days, etc... i loved my - now missing - Doctor Who and Torchwood purchases from iTunes.
I have already read the Trouble Shooting, checked Time Machine Backup, and been walked through replacing the preferences list. The missing file path from the "get info" options in iTunes points towards a non-existant file.
_Problem Two (2) Downloading From iTunes Store_
I have had problems downloading files from iTunes for months. I first noticed it with the TV Show "Avatar: The Last Airbender". Lately, when I download from the (non-music) part of the store, the majority of files are downloaded and then immediately not found. This has been prompting iTunes to repeat the download. Until I force quit itunes and *potentially cry*.
There have been multiple iTunes store purchases of audio books recently. If I reported the missing file immediately, I can contact iTunes support to repost the file and that usually fixes the issue. But today, I went to go rewatch "Torchwood: Children of Earth" and noticed Problem One.
_Hind Sight_
If provided with a spreadsheet of my iTunes Store purchase history, I can write a vlookup( formula in excel to compare the list against my exported missing list so a shortlist of what is missing from just my iTunes Store purchase history can be created (hint: it's the majority of items from the list, others are years worth of files from my PC days). If we could do that, could iTunes make my missing purchases available?
Then we can focus on purely, trying to figure out why they went missing in the first place - so we can prevent it again & possibly help others from running into the same.
Plea
I strongly suspect the two issues are related to a root cause ... in addition to my user error in file management of backups ... what is going on?

iTunes Support (Eric) emailed me some instructions. I am posting, in hopes that this will help others.
_Suggestions from iTunes Support_
Troubleshooting 1. iTunes Store: Finding missing purchases and downloads http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
Troubleshooting 2. Direct Assistance
_Results based on Suggestions_
Results on "Searching the harddrive" - did not resolve my concerns
Results from "Direct Assistant" - i emailed the list of the missing files... status is pending
Conclusion
I'll follow up again later, if I have new news.

Error message while deleting files from the tracker

I deleted four files from Acrobat.com before removing them from the desktop tracker and now I don't seem to be able to remove them or stop collecting data on the files in the tracker. Am I missing something or is there not a way to get rid of them?
Rufus Chaney

Please try again after taking each of the following steps that you haven't already taken.
Step 1
Reset your computer’s PRAM.
Step 2
If your model has user-replaceable memory, and you've upgraded the memory modules, reinstall the original memory and see whether there's any improvement. Be careful not to touch the gold contacts. Clean them with a mild solvent such as rubbing alcohol. Aftermarket memory must exactly match the technical specifications of the machine.
Step 3
Back up all data to at least two different storage devices, if you haven't already done so. One backup is not enough to be safe. The backups can be made with Time Machine or with Disk Utility. Preferably both.
Erase and install OS X. This operation will destroy all data on the startup volume, so you had be better be sure of the backups.
Step 4
Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider to have the machine tested.

Catalogs, Missing Files, and Question Marks for Beginners

Hello, fellow non-power-users. I just wanted to post something here that I've learned with my travails and travels using LightRoom 3. In the past, Adobe has paid me to write for them, and I'm a professional writer. So why am I doing this for free? Because I wish to heck I'd understood this stuff before I dove into LR. Somehow, even with reading a book on the program, I didn't really get it.
1) Most of the people who are kind enough to post and help on Adobe support and other forums on the Interwebs are power users of Lightroom. The great thing is, they often know what they're talking about. The bad thing is, many of them don't understand what it's like to be a non-power-user who really has no intention of becoming a power user. Be very, very careful before you try to take their advice about any large issue that might have serious consequences for your photos.
2) LR has about forty million ways to do things, so it can be overwhelming, and you may also receive lots of contradictory information about how to accomplish stuff. If you're like me---not a professional photographer, more a refugee from the annoying land of iPhoto who just needs a *little* more power and customization---you may have trouble streamlining, figuring out the few things you actually need the program to do for you. Try some introductory videos and tutorials, even books, but don't expect them to solve your real problems with the program.
3) Before you begin, grasp a few concepts:
     a. When you're working in LR, you're working with a "catalog." It shows you images of your photos, but these aren't really your photos. Your actual photos are *files* that live on your computer somewhere. Think of it as a slideshow projected on a wall: you can see the photos on the wall, but they aren't the "real photo." If you walked up to the wall and painted on the projection of a slide, the "real photo" file would not be changed. What LR does is keep track of those wall paintings for you, so if you wanted to print up a version of that slide and include your brush strokes, LR could do that for you. The catalog is a type of database.
     b. So where are those real photos, those files? Probably all over your computer in different places. You may want to consolidate them all in one place before you start using Lightroom. Here's why: once Lightroom thinks your "real photo" is in a certain place, it doesn't want you to move the "real photo" file. Say you have a photo called that someone sent in email. You put it on your desktop. Now you are tempted to drag-n-drop it onto Lightroom. DO NOT DO IT. Because someday, you might want that photo to not clutter up your desktop. You'll drag it to another folder on your hard drive, and BOOM, now Lightroom cannot find the photo.
You can't work on the photo from within Lightroom. You can't print it. Lightroom will show a question mark ? on its wall-projector slide of your photo file. Often when someone moves files on their computer, it's not a single file on a desktop. It's a bunch of things they are trying to organize. Adobe knows this, which is why they have a "find missing photos" command. They know you are likely to screw this up. The command will show you those missing files. You have to select them individually by hand and search your computer for them to relink. You can spend a lot of time relinking photos. It sucks. Really sucks.
     c. If you do need to move stuff, Lightroom does let you do it, but only from within the program. So, open up LR, and look in the left-hand column for an item called "Folders." (You will be in Library mode to make this happen.) You can move your "real photo" files around from within this area. It is a clunky process and an enormous pain in the butt.
     d. Rant time: For some reason, one of the most sophisticated and long-lived software companies in history, the developers that completely changed the worlds of art, design, photography, and publishing--you got it, Adobe--have not been able to solve this problem and chase down your real photo files if you moved them from within the Finder, the way you normally move files on a computer. Go figure. (Irrelevant note: I've been using their products since Pagemaker 1.0 and it's sort of astonishing that they've never solved this problem, in LR or InDesign or elsewhere. It's like publishing a magazine using Quark in 1995, rushing to find the messed-up links before you hand-carry your ZIP drive over to the printer. Hee hee.)
4) Decide whether you want to divide your photos into a few separate catalogs, or whether you want one enormous catalog ("master catalog"). Then try not to change your mind.
Here is my story:
Summary: I started with multiple catalogs and regret merging them into one.
I hired a photographer/supposedly-LR guy to set up my LR and he suggested multiple catalogs, each easily saveable (catalog AND its photos) to a single external hard drive. I only made two: one for family photos, one for a big art project. Whenever I asked questions online about using LR, everyone told me to combine all photos into one big master catalog. Eventually I did, and I regret it. As a non-power-user, I screwed up something in the merging process, and ended up with a lot of question-mark, missing-photo problems, and a bunch of duplicate photos to boot. What a waste of time.
If you're not a pro, you probably don't need a gigantic single database to deal with. If you're someone who uses Dropbox or another non-Adobe cloud method to store and work with your photos, and you don't have unlimited storage, you may find it way more convenient to have a few different catalogs.
Power users probably don't screw up the process of merging all their catalogs into one. Power users have, from what I've read online, many complicated ways of making a big master catalog work the way they want, say for working on small numbers of files while traveling with a laptop, and then getting that work into the giant master catalog when they get back home to their studios.
But I am not a power user, and if you're reading this, you probably aren't a power user either. So perhaps my experience will be useful to you.
5) Paying for plug-ins to help with all this nonsense.
You can buy plug-ins that help you do things this application should already do by itself. For example, "Duplicate Finder" goes through and finds all the photos that you've accidentally imported more than once into your catalog. Then you can painstakingly go through, figure out which copy to keep, and delete them. Often, these "duplicate" photos are not duplicates of your "real photo" file. But at some point you moved your "real photo" file while you were tidying up your computer files, and later accidentally re-imported that photo into your LR catalog. Since LR doesn't follow your files around when you move them from within your computer/Finder, LR thinks it's a whole brand-new file. It's like your projector is projecting three images on the wall at the same time. You have to figure out which one to keep, which one will save your wall-painting changes, etc. And it is a huge pain in the butt.
Note that you can click a box when importing photos, a box that says "Do not import suspected duplicates." This can be really helpful for avoiding duplicates in the first place. It is not, however, infallible.
OK, I hope this helps someone somewhere. I'm going to go back to the horribly time-consuming task of relinking files and trying to make my brain work the way LR's brain works.

Glad to help!
Another good thing to do from time to time is to boot from your install CD, then choose "Disk Utility", then do a check (and repair, if necessary) of your boot disk.
You can't verify or fix a disk you've started from, thus the need to boot from a CD. You can boot from a second hard disk to do this test if it has MacOS on it.

Missing files Lightroom 3 and OSX 10.9.5 - how do I fix this? PLEASE

Hi Mr. Jim. I am having very similar problems with my Lightroom 3. I recently updated my Mac OSX to 10.9.5 and since doing so my photos are missing or offline and I cannot import from any source, even my Canon. I found updates on Adobe that take it up to 5.6 but when I downloaded it, it seems to have downloaded the Lightroom 5 version. It requires a serial number to use so.... that does me no good. So then I downloaded the update 3.6 and opened it but it did not seem to apply itself to my Lightroom program because it still says Lightroom 3.2... I hope that all made sense. So I guess firstly, is there a way to upgrade it to another version without buying a serial number? If that cannot be done, could you or anyone else help walk me through my Lightroom issues?
I tried your solution up to Ctrl+click Import but there is not a selection for "Update Folder Location". I made the 3 new folders and I am stuck at this part of your process.
I currently have 5791 missing photos and I need help . I did read that the bridge between the files on the HD and the files in Lightroom get messed up if they are moved and you have to track them down but I cannot seem to do that because when I found some of the "lost" files the contents were all grey and un-clickable.
Message was edited by: Geoff Walker
I branched this off from another thread so it is more visible

Please read this: Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders
You do not want to be in the Import section of Lightroom, you want to be in the Library Module. You don't want "Update Folder Location", you want to ctrl-click on a Folder name (not in Import, but in the Library Module Folder Panel) and select "Find Missing Folder"
You do not want to re-import photos that have already been imported, this is almost always a bad thing to do.

Cannot install driver due to missing files - BlockSysUser and hpzpnp.ice_suffix

I have just purchased a new Dell with Windows 7 64-bit and am trying to install the driver for my oldie-but-goodie OfficeJet 6310. I am having the same problem with BlockSysUser as has appeared numerous times, and have tried all of the posted solutions. I downloaded the driver from the website.
I can get past the BlockSysUser issue by creating another folder called ".SourcePath.setup" and copying the BlockSysUser file that resides in Setup. However, I then get a missing file hpzpnp.ice_suffix.exe, which I cannot find in any of the other folders. It seems to be looking for this also in ".SourcePath.setup".
I can install the printer using Windows, but then I don't have the other good stuff.
This problem seems to have been around for YEARS! Why hasn't it been resolved through driver updates?
Help!

Hi DForm,
It's okay regarding the log file, I did some more research for you and found these steps:
Turn off Anti-Virus (McAffee in this case). How to Disable McAfee Antivirus.
Disabled the firewall. Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
Perform a L4 uninstall. (a) On the keyboard, hit the Windows and "R" key, then type %temp% and hit enter. b) Locate the correct folder starting with "7z" (the correct folder contains "Util" and "CCC" folders). c) Open folder "Util". d) Open folder "CCC". e) Please run the L4uninstall.bat. f) When the uninstall has completed, restart the computer).
Disabled startup and non MS services. Disable startup items and non-Microsoft services.
Restart the computer.
Run setup as admin. How do I run an application once with a full administrator access token.
Hope this solves the issue, and hope to hear from you soon!
RnRMusicMan
I work on behalf of HP
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos Thumbs Up" to say “Thanks” for helping!

How do I fix error: cannot sync ipod due to missing file

I have 4th generation ipod shuffle, but after having to do some work on computer, ipod no longer will sync and load purchased songs to my ipod. I have updated everything and reinstalled itunes. It starts to sync but then stops. I finally got an error stating it was due to a missing file. Help.

Refer to this article:
Can't connect to the iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1368

Elements 5 on Vista will not open. Missing files

I have installed Photoshop elements 5.0 and the updater 5.02. Elements will not open and indicates several missing files. This is a brand new Windows vista HP machine. the missing files are "FAST CORE ROUTINES MODULE" , 'MMX CORE ROUTINES MODULE" , and "MULTIPROCESSOR SUPPORT" . Any suggestions? I uninstalled once and followed the Updater 5.02 instructions to be certain that I installed in a folder "Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0'

Thank you Paige, You put me on the right track. I also found another much older message at this link...
http://forums.adobe.com/message/1487633#1487633
I not only uninstalled, but followed the instructions for "deep cleaning" all remanents of Elements, from folders, and even the registry. I had to change viewing files to viewing hidden files and all extensions, and deleted the Adobe Application Folder in Users\name folder and THAT along with your hint to install as Administrator did the trick. The application folder deletion seemed to finalize the installation... I have not tested all components yet, but now at least I can begin testing!!! Thank you for your response.

ITunes was not able to locate any of 10108 missing files.

Hi All,
just about ready to destroy my laptop trying to fix this issue.
itunes cannot find any of my files.
i have unchecked "keep itunes media folder organised"
i have unchecked "copy files to itunes media file when adding to library"
and i have tried many different "fixes" found around the internet.
below is what i am experiencing.
when i click on a song with exclamation mark i am easily able to locate it and get it to play.
however itunes never gives me the option to located other files?
this option did pop up once but has since vanished. further to this, when it did search it was unable to find any further songs.
i dont want to try fix this one by one as i have over 10108 songs missing, i also don't want to lose any of my playlists as i have put an incredible amount of effort into them.
short of deleting everything in itunes and reimporting, is there anything else i can try?
i am currently downloading itunes again in the hope that this helps solve the issue. but i have my doubts.
i'm off a macbook pro
any help??

The exclamation mark for missing files is shown if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, or that the drive it lives on has had a label change. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use CMD-I to get info, then say no when asked to locate the track. Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, or a drive label has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions. I can provide a step by step guide if you give me the two paths.
In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps and locate the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links, which should work if they are in the expected layout.
tt2

How do I recover Missing Files

I have several groups of pictures that have gone missing since I first used Picasa to share some photos. I could care less about a lot of them but there were a couple of hundred of my trip to England I would really like to recover. The thumbnails show up in my Photoshop Album Starter Edition 3.0 but when you click on them they say that they are missing. These photos are no longer in MY Pictures either and the only thing in those folders is a Picasa.ini .
I have also checked my recycle bin but there is nothing in there. Does anyone have any help as to how I may recover these photos?

It is a common misconception that Starter Edition 'stores', or copies, your files into it. But the program does not move or copy files at all, rather it scans your system's My Pictures directory, and generates miniature versions of your pictures (called thumbnails) so that you can browse a 'flat' list of thumbnails of your photos, overcoming the inconvenience of having to go into separate folders in Windows Explorer to have to find files.The thumbnails, as well as any tags, and Albums that you create in Starter Edition are all stored in the Photoshop Album catalog file, separate from your pictures, and your pictures remain where you originally copied them to your computer.
If you use Photoshop Album to subsequently download files from a digital camera or scanner, the default location where the program will create those files would be in the My Pictures>Digital Camera Photos folder. But if you do NOT use Photoshop Album Starter edition to download files from your camera, then you will find that folder empty.
The thumbnails in the Starter Edition catalog will exist, even if you decide to move or delete the original photos that were added to the program. This will cause files in the Photoshop Album catalog to become 'disconnected' from the original photos. To reconnect the files, you can use the File>Reconnect Missing files command to see if the program can locate the original files in a new location, and once again re-link the catalog thumbnails to the files they once referenced.
Since Photoshop Album has been discontinued, I recommend that folks find an alternative solution. One alternative that will preserve most of what you've created in Starter Edition is the Photoshop Elements 8 trial. Install that, and it will automatically convert the Photoshop Album catalog to a current format, and the program will not time out, as Starter Edition did. If you want to purchase more Editing power, you can also choose to purchase the full program, but it's not required.
If you are like many who have come to this forum wondering how you can get to your photos, now that the program has become locked or expired, don't worry; your photos have never been moved by Photoshop Album; they remain wherever you intially put them, on your hard drive. To get to them, you can navigate your file system using Windows Explorer. They are typically in your My Documents>My Pictures folder. Here is a handy How-To that you could refer to to find photos on your system, as well as some other tips for how you can use folders to keep your photos organized: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/maintain/filemgmt.mspx
Hope those tips help!
-Mark

How can I get "library components" for Encore? download from Adobe site is corrupted/missing files

How can I get "library components" for Encore? download from Adobe site is corrupted/missing files. I have tried 3 times to d/l and each time problems. HELP please!
I just want the DVD templates and buttons that would come with actual purchase of Encore. Having creative cloud subscription should not limit this for me, right?
BTW I have CC subscription, Windows 7,

Thanks very much I have contacted them via this. Just hope they respond quickly- rather annoing! Greatly appreciated though

Remove missing files?

Tried this:
http://paulmayne.org/blog/2007/11/how-to-remove-broken-or-dead-tracks-from-itune s/
However, I get stuck at creating the smart playlist 'Missing Files'. You cannot add a 'static playlist' (non-smart playlist) to the selection for some reason...
Is there any other way?
BTW, thank you Apple for leaving out another useful feature of one of your products...

Here's my take on the playlists...
*Lost & Found*
Create a playlist called Found, select everything in Music and drag it into the Found playlist (it may take some time to count the tracks that are to be dropped). Create a smart playlist called Lost matching All the rules *Playlist is Music* and *Playlist is not Found*. Your lost tracks will be in this playlist. You should be able to select all the tracks in this playlist with CTRL-A and then remove them from iTunes with CTRL-SHIFT-DELETE.
However I prefer to use iTunes Folder Watch with its option to *Check for dead tracks on startup* selected.
tt2

Missing files of purchased tracks

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