On some of my files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" Then when I click "Locate", I get nothing.

I'm really dumbfounded on this one and it's driving me bonkers!!!! On some of my music files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
This began to happen when Chuck made playlists2burn on2CD-and then he would delete the playlist; sending all the song files into oblivion. Certain songs have a ! right next to the file name, and as I stated before, i get that error message:
"The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
So I click on "Locate". No help. I get a menu with folders that say "catroot" and other folders which names I cannot remember, but I scroll PAST the file folders, & it's just a bunch of ".DLL" files.....I don't understand what any of the names of the folders mean...it's frustr8ing-coz this is my 2nd iTouch, my 1st one got stolen & I can't afford2buy my music back at this time & i NEVER before had a single problem with losing song file locations.
              Is there anyone out there who has been through this frustrating game of chasing your tail?....<that's how I feel>
If so I would be ever so gr8ful if maybe someone with the knowledge would be so kind as 2 tell me how/where 2 retrieve these songs & how to put everything back where it belongs, I would be 4ever gr8ful !!!
I can't afford 2 replace the songs just like I'm unable 2 buy back my old music from my stolen iTouch....man that was an awesome collection-someday I'll be able 2 afford 2 do that & I would like 2 have all the new music that I paid 4 but cannot find when I got my new iTouch....that would just be  wonderful.
             I hope someone sees this post that can help me retrieve these files....losing $100.00 of iTunes is a REAL BUMMER!!!!!!
                                                  ThanQ SO very much!
                                                                         [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] .
                                                                                           You can also find me on Facebook, my given name is Tiffinie Trimmer, &
                                                                                            that's my Facebook "handle".    ThanQ 4 taking the time 2 read all of this!
                                                                                            hope 2 get a reply someday....I'll B checking all my emails & my Facebook, as well
                                                                                            as marking this page in my FAVORITES so I can find it fast! Take Care!!!

I was not complete clear.
Since you never changed the settings in the advanced section of iTunes preferecnes, you have to chech that your music is really in the location setted in the folders reported in the advanced section.  If not you have 2 ways: reset the position of this folders or in the actual disk organisation or in the pointing on the preferences.
If you press the reset button you just give to itunes its default setting as for the position of the music files: probably this will be a good choice if you have never changed any default preference.
But before I would check the folders and see if the songs are really there
In my iTune I have this, and I believe it is the default.
Users/YOURHOMEFOLDERNAME/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music

Similar Messages

  • When I try to sync my iPhone, I get an error message that says "This iPhone cannot be used because the Apple Mobile Device Service is not started.  There's no explanation of what to do to fix it.

    When I try to sync my iPhone, I get an error message that says "This iPhone cannot be used because the Apple Mobile Device Service is not started.  There's no explanation of what to do to fix it.

    Follow  this article:
    How to restart the Apple Mobile Device Service (AMDS) on Windows

  • Error message on iTunes "This iPad cannot be used because the Apple Mobile Device service is not started

    Can anyone help me with this?  When I plug in my iPad I get the error message from my "This iPad cannot be used because the Apple Mobile Device service has not started.  I saw the suggestion to turn off my iPad, wait a few minutes and turn it back on but that didn't work. 
    Hope someone can help me.  I am using Windows 8 and my iPad is the 3rd generation 64G.
    Thank you.

    I'd start with the following document with that one:
    iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: How to restart the Apple Mobile Device Service (AMDS) on Windows

  • When i try play a song i get this message " the song could not be used because your original file could not be found, would you like to locate.  I tunes works on my iPad

    OSX 10.9.5

    I am getting this same message.  I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac.  Perhaps they did not transfer something critical?  I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle. 
    I have the same issues with my downloaded movies but my apps all seem to be fine.
    Even more confusing - it seems to allow random songs to play and download on my Macbook and other devices.  But most of my music - whether downloaded from iTunes or my CD collection comes up with that message about the original file. 
    Should I get new geeks to locate these files on my old mini-mac?

  • I have a ! before most of the tracks in my library, they were not there before. When I click on the ! it says 'could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

    I have a ! before most of the tracks in my library, they were not there before. When I click on the ! it says 'could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

    Also see here for more help and information: iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
    B-rock

  • Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple.  Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found.  Would you like to locate it?"

    Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple.  Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found.  Would you like to locate it?"
    I moved my iTunes library to my external hard drive some time ago and I followed the directions listed here on the apple support page.  It did copy my library and now is on my hard drive... I can open iTunes and use it to sync all of my devices but I would like to play my music... I can see all of my music files but can not play them if I click on an album or song it says the following:  "(file name) could not be used because the original file cannot be found.  Would you like to locate it?"  I click locate but do not know where to go from there?  I need a way to access all files and not to hunt down one at a time on my hard drive... I am pretty sure I deleted the original library to make space on my internal drive which was the reason for moving it.  I have tried and tried to fix it and do not have a lot of time to do so with a one and two year old at my house who do not like it whenI sit down at my computer.  What to do???  Any help is much appreciated!!!

    See Make a split library portable. Move all of the bits of the library together in the the correct shape and it should work. Or undo exactly what you did and then start over.
    If you're a former Windows user don't try merging two folders together that have the same name by dropping one into the same folders as the other, as that goes badly on a Mac.
    tt2

  • I tried to play my iTunes and suddenly get an error message that says "The song (name) could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it now?"  It happens on all my tunes and each one I select ends up with a "?"

    I tried to play my iTunes and suddenly get an error message that says "The song (name) could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it now?"  It happens on each tune I select and a "?" appears beside the song.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?

    I was not complete clear.
    Since you never changed the settings in the advanced section of iTunes preferecnes, you have to chech that your music is really in the location setted in the folders reported in the advanced section.  If not you have 2 ways: reset the position of this folders or in the actual disk organisation or in the pointing on the preferences.
    If you press the reset button you just give to itunes its default setting as for the position of the music files: probably this will be a good choice if you have never changed any default preference.
    But before I would check the folders and see if the songs are really there
    In my iTune I have this, and I believe it is the default.
    Users/YOURHOMEFOLDERNAME/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music

  • I have a new computer that downloaded all of my playlist. but i cannot play all songs. i get a error that say "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it? but it does not help to resolve.

    i installed itunes to my new computer and transfered all my playlist from the older computer. the software came with the new computer hp link up. the problem
    comes in where i want to play a certain song on a playlist and this error pops up "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found.
    would you like to locate it? which is of no help.
    is there a solution to this problem?

    The file path for these songs IS NOT correct per your iTunes Library file. 
    See: http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=listmias  for an Applescript to locate these files for re-adding.

  • The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

    Suddenly unable to access & play music in iTunes,  I have paid for. 
    Frustrating - *** apple?
    Attemps I have made to no avail...
    1)  Choose one specific broken file. Press CTRL+I to Get Info. Navigate song myself...
    This lead me through music>itunes>itunesd media to an Empty envelope with the song name.
    2)  Retrieve song from previous back ups. 
    I went to my external hard drive updated with Time Machine & was again lead to an empty folder with the song name that has an ! beside it in iTunes.
    3) 
    iTunes WILL NOT let me download it again.  It says "play" beside the song title instead of "purchase" (as it should) but even when i try to play it from iTunes says "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    which of course leads no where.
    4)
    Checked iTunes for songs that needed to be downloaded - nothing.
    5)
    Not in trash bin
    I have not moved or renamed any songs.
    There are not multiple copies of the same song in my music library.
    songs are apparently missing & so not able to be put into a new folder.
    like most, i truly do not have time to take time out to find  multiple songs or  i purchased via itunes .
    so frustrating.
    Help very much appreciated.

    Previous purchases may be unavailable if refunded or if no longer on the iTunes store.
    •Downloading past purchases from the iTune Store, App Store, and iBooks Store:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
    •iTunes - Apple Support:
    http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/
    •iTunes: Apple Support Communities:
    https://discussions.apple.com/community/itunes
    Sorry that your missing purchases no longer appear available.
    Not sure what other recourse you have.
    Good luck & happy computing!

  • Got a new computer now I'm getting a new error "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?"

    So i got a new computer and before i did i backed up al my music onto an external hard drive. I downloaded itunes and went to put my music back on and when I unplug my hard drive i get this message "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?". I have close to 3500 songs so its a little annoying that i cant update or sync my ipod/iphone. Are there any tips or tricks you could help me with in order to fix this problem

    Here is the folder hierarchy of my /Home/Music/folder:
    Music folder
    iTunes folder
    iTunes Media folder
    Music folder
    Note that the contents of this last folder in the hierarchy will be different on your computer.

  • My iTunes says: "The song ".............." could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" How do I solve this ?

    My iTunes says: "The song “..............” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" How do I solve this ?

    That means iTunes cannot find the music file associated with the listing in its database.  The first thing to do is simply say "yes" and then try to find the file it should be.  If there are many entries like this, did you rename or move any files or folders with media?  Also run disk utility and check your drive isn't corrupted and losing files left, right and center.

  • The movie  could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

    The movie “Airport (1970)” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
    The above message appears whenever I try to play a purchased movie?
    What are my options

    Thanks for the reply. Is there an automated way to restore the links without dragging all 150 movies back to iTunes from their folders? A bit of a pain. I thought about doing a restore but the media folder is 500GB and it didn't see, to be populating in Time Machine. I had thought about restoring an older library but wasn't sure which file to pick.

  • What does this message mean: This song could not be used because the original file could not be found--When I try to play songs there is an "!" next to it.

    A friend recenlty replaced my hard drive.
    When I try to use itunes--I receive this message: "The song could not be used because the original could not be found, would you like to locate it? Next to my songs I see this: "!" Help--Please!!

    Well what happened is the pathname to the song has changed slightly.
    For instance if the song was located say c\:Windows\User\Mary\Music\iTunesFolder
    and now it's c:\Windows\User\MaryXray\Music\iTunesFolder
    I'm assuming here your music was replaced in the Music folder like on the old hard drive, that iTunesFolder was simply copied over in whole.
    So to fix things, you go into the iTunes Folder in your Music Folder and look for a iTunes Music Library .XML file and open it in a Text Program that has "find and replace" ability.
    You find the partial pathname of the old drive and you replace ALL instances of it with the new pathname.
    so \Windows\User\Mary  would be changed to
    \Windows\User\MaryXray
    Save the file and reopen iTunes.

  • This is a new notification coming up with iTunes, why and how do I fix it? The song "Penny Lane" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

    This is a new notification coming up with iTunes, why and how do I fix it?
    The song “Penny Lane” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
    Max

    Hey xxCreepyFiaxx,
    First, I would try the following suggested steps for when you don't see content in iTunes after updating:
    Quit iTunes.
    Download and install the latest version of iTunes.
    Use the Finder (Mac) or Windows Explorer (Windows) to go to the iTunes folder that contains the iTunes library files:
    Mac OS X
    /Users/username/Music/iTunes/
    Microsoft Windows Windows XP and Windows 2000
    \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
    Microsoft Windows Windows Vista and Windows 7
    \Users\username\Music\iTunes\
    Drag the iTunes Library file from the above location to the Desktop.
    Open the Previous iTunes Libraries folder in the iTunes folder.
    Locate the file named iTunes Library YYYY-MM-DD where YYYY-MM-DD is the date you upgraded iTunes (Year-Month-Day).
    Drag this file to the iTunes folder (the enclosing folder).
    Rename this file to iTunes Library.
    Open iTunes.
    You should now see your missing content in iTunes.
    via: No content shows up in iTunes after updating
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967
    If that doesn't resolve the issue, then I'd go through the steps in here:
    iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
    Have a good one,
    Delgadoh

  • After installing iTunes 10.5 update i get the following message when trying to play any song in my Library "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"  how do i fix this??

    I have an iPod Classic and work on Windows 7.
    i recently installed iTunes 10.5 update and since then i cannot play any of the songs in the Library - i get the following message
    "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?"
    what happened to all my songs (almost 2000) How can i get them back into my music library?
    Please help - i do not want to spend another week downloading all my cd's onto my computer !!!!!

    Try my script FindTracks. Select a few of the missing files to start with then run the script. Choose No at the first prompt so that you can check how it works track by track, then confirm or edit the location of the media folder where your files are. Once you are happy with how it behaves let it process larger numbers of tracks automatically.
    tt2

Maybe you are looking for