Previous iTunes library gone when upgraded to 7.6

Can you help us find it? I just bought an iPod Nano, and I am trying to put some of our music on it that my husband has purchased through iTunes, and I cannot find it.
I see an icon (but it is iTunes Library 2008-05-17, so I don't even know if that is the old stuff or stuff from today) for Previous iTunes under My Documents>My Music>iTunes>Previous iTunes Libraries.
I should also mention I am a computer moron. Thank you for all of your help!

You should run Start -> Search ->Type song title
If your computer finds that song, you should be able to double-click on it. This will force it to load in iTunes.
My iTunes files would be in My Documents>My Music>iTunes
Another way: In iTunes -> File -> Add File to Library (or Folder if you are loading an album of songs). When this opens up, you will have to search for the location of the files or folders you want to bring into iTunes. If you did the Search and were able to find the file(s), you will know the location of your files.
Libraries are records of how iTunes loads your music. When you exit from iTunes it saves changes that you have made. If you open an older library than your current one, it will return to a previous version of your library. This would account for the non-appearance of your most recent songs. Your most current library doesn't sound like it would be stored in a folder called "Previous iTunes Libraries".
Good luck.

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How do I restore my iTunes library when "Previous iTunes Library" is not showing up in iTunes folder?

I turn off my PC with Windows 7 for an hour, turn it back on and suddenly the only songs that show up are ones in the Cloud.
I looked through a bunch of questions on the Apple Support Communitities and they all say look for the "Previous iTunes Library" in the iTunes folder, but it's not there.
Thanks.

LibraryHelp wrote:
I turn off my PC with Windows 7 for an hour, turn it back on and suddenly the only songs that show up are ones in the Cloud.
If you have AVG AntiVirus the issue may rear its head again. See this post.
tt2

"iTunes Media" file in "Previous iTunes Library" taking up 50Gb of much-needed hard drive space. Can this be safely deleted?

Hi everyone,
My 3.5 year old 15" Macbook Pro is running out of hard drive space, so I have been trying to clean out some of the dross. I recently found that there is a file called "Previous iTunes Library" in my iTunes folder that is taking up approximately 50Gb of space. I would love to delete this folder and reclaim the space, but I am not sure what it is or where it came from, and I don't want to lose music files accidentally. Can someone tell me (1) what this folder is and (2) if I can safely delete it?
Here is a screenshot of these folders and their sizes:
Thanks for the help!

Hello facetious1212,
Take a look at this part of the article named iTunes: What are the iTunes library files? Found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1660.
Tip: New versions of iTunes sometimes include enhancements to the iTunes library. When you open the new version of iTunes, iTunes upgrades your existing library to the new format and places a copy of the old library in the Previous Libraries folder. If everything goes fine during your upgrade to the latest version of iTunes, you can delete the older iTunes Library files.
All the very best,
Sterling

"Previous iTunes Library" title. How do I remove this?

I upgraded to iTunes 10 and when I decided to open iTunes it told me to choose a library. I chose the most recent one but noticed that some songs were missing.
Right now I have organized all of my music under the iTunes folder and deleted all the other old libraries.
I've opened iTunes once again, but "previous iTunes library" keeps appearing as the title.
I tried to figure it out on my own by reading discussions here but I keep seeing something about .itl (if im correct, dont remember). but I don't see anything like that in my folders.
Please help?!

Hi, welcome to Apple Discussions.
The usual reason for getting in this position is that your original library was corrupt in some fashion and on start-up iTunes prompted you to find another one. Ideally you would restore your most recent backup of your library but I'm guessing you don't have one of those.
The next best thing is the most recent file in the *Previous iTunes Libraries* folder. These are often created automatically when iTunes is updated. Although it will usually work from there as you have found iTunes picks up the window title from the folder which is why your iTunes is now called *Previous iTunes Libraries*. Close iTunes and copy the file with the most recent date into the main iTunes folder. Rename any existing *iTunes Library.itl* file as *iTunes Library (BROKEN).itl* because it almost certainly is, then rename the file you've just copied as *iTunes Library.itl*. Now use the SHIFT-start iTunes method (press and hold down shift immediately on clicking the icon to start iTunes and continue to hold until a dialog box appears) to open the library file in the main iTunes folder.
Now that you've repaired the library you need a tool such as iTunes Folder Watch to detect any changes in your library since the backup file was created. Enable the option to check for dead tracks on startup so that it will find any files deleted since your last update.
For future reference...
*Fast backup for iTunes library (Windows Only)*
Grab SyncToy 2.1, a free tool from MS. This can be used to copy your entire iTunes library (& other important data folders) onto another hard drive or network share. You can then use SyncToy periodically to synchronise or echo your library to the backup. A preview will show which files need to be updated giving you a chance to spot unexpected changes and during the run only the new or updated files will be copied saving lots of time. And if your media is all organised below the main iTunes folder then you should also be able to open the backup library on any system running the same version of iTunes.
tt2

I've lost my music, how can i restore my iTunes from a "Previous iTunes Library"?

my music library is still intact but when i try to play my music, it tells me i need to locate it.
I didn't delete my music and i have quite a few important files,
one of my "Previous iTunes Library" has a date when i know it worked,
I still have all the music files working on my iPhone so this is stopping me from syncing my iphone.
How do I reset it back to how it was and get my music back?
Or at least transfer the songs back from my iPhone (They're not purchased)
Thanks.

For general library squiffiness following an upgrade the easiest thing is to restore your last backup, but I guess if it were that simple you wouldn't be here.
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. In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these andcopy 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.
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! For example grab SyncToy 2.1, a free tool from MS. This can be used to copy your entire iTunes library (& other important data folders) onto another hard drive or network share. You can then use SyncToy periodically to synchronise or echo your library to the backup. A preview will show which files need to be updated giving you a chance to spot unexpected changes and during the run only the new or updated files will be copied saving lots of time. And if your media is all organised below the main iTunes folder then you should also be able to open the backup library on any system running the same version of iTunes regardless of drive letter or path.
tt2

Importing old iTunes library after Leopard upgrade

Hey,
I just upgraded my Intel MacBook to Leopard, using an "Archive and Install" install, without retaining previous "User and Network settings". This was done because when I first did a standard upgrade, I was taken to a log in screen and could not log in. This is just so you can get background on the situation at hand.
Now, I've successfully installed Leopard, but I can't import my entire previous iTunes Library. I can find the folders, with all the music in them, but I can't import the entire thing in one go. I could go through manually and click every sing song, but that would mean going through over 1,000 songs one by one. Not something I'm looking forward to.
Can anyone help me out? Thanks.

I was having the same problem after Leopard, went to pref/advanced/and selected the iTune library on my fire wire external drive, but would not load
Did what you recommended with the option key, was prompted to select a new library, selected it, then got this
Library locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have permission
any thoughts?

Previous iTunes Library - how to "force" a backup

Hi there
Running iTunes 11.4 on Windows 7 64 bit
With the Previous iTunes Library folder I notice iTunes seems to make Library backups at "random". Is there a way I can force it to do a library backup whenever I want?
Am asking as this morning opened iTunes and there was no music in it. From searching here I found the fix, that is, to copy and past a library from "Previous iTunes Library" folder to the main iTunes folder. The fix worked a treat but the only thing was the most library file was back in May of this year (2014). Henve my question.
I'd like to make this file once a month or so, is there a way to do it so if ? Is there any rhyme or reason as to when iTunes actually does it?
Many thanks
Andrew

The backups are made during any iTunes update that makes a change to the database structure, e.g. to support a new feature. You can make a manual copy of the .itl file any time that iTunes isn't running. See Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy for a comprehensive approach to backing up the entire library.
tt2

I have lost my previous itunes library and the content is no longer on my ipod touch. How do I recover my previous itunes library? I have already tried the backup but because the content was erased from my ipod that did not work.

I have lost my previous itunes library content after atempting to sync my ipod. Is there any way that apple can provide me with a history restore for an itunes library?

if you have all the songs still on your ipod you can put them back on your computer from the ipod... just DONT LET ITUNES SYNC WITH YOU IPOD when you plug it back in. change the settings to manual control for syncing ipods or your itunes will delete all of them. i dont know what to do for the unchecked songs... i had a similar situation and i used a mac program to take the songs off of my ipod. hope this helps.. just google for an application that will let ya take songs off the ipod.

How to use/access my previous itunes library in itunes.

I accidently deleted all my songs then emptied trash (i am on a mac, and i sick of window users solving their problems) and now i have 1/90th of my songs (i have around 2,500 songs. I still have my video, but i want my songs back. There is the previous library i had before the upgrade to 7.6, that is very recent. I've tried to downgrade (7.5) then import my previous itunes library, but that wont work. CAN SOMEBODY RUNNING MAC PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET MY PREVIOUS ITUNES LIBRARY BACK INTO MY CURRENT ITUNES LIBRARY?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Locate the iTunes folder from the user profile on the rescued drive, typically at X:\Users\<User>\Music\iTunes. Delete the "empty" iTunes library from your current User's Music folder and copy in the originial library in its place.
tt2

Previous itunes library question/ erased itunes library

i accidentally erased my i tunes library. now i have a previous itunes library icon in my...my music folder with all my old file names, and when i try to import the old files off a cd my library still recognized the songs i chose off that cd. is there any way to get those files back onto my library with the contents of that icon or any other way? please help!

*Adding new items/removing orphans*
Try iTunes Folder Watch or iTunes Library Updater. Folder Watch is much faster on the adding files front, can be set to run in the background and includes a useful exclusion feature, however it’s really slow at removing orphans. iTLU is better for this although doing it manually after looking at a list of proposed removals generated by Folder Watch is probably faster still. iTLU can also be set to update iTunes when you've used 3rd party tools to change tag info.
tt2

How to use my previous itunes library in itunes.

I accidently deleted all my songs then emptied trash (i am on a mac, and i sick of window users solving their problems) and now i have 1/90th of my songs (i have around 2,500 songs. I still have my video, but i want my songs back. There is the previous library i had before the upgrade to 7.6, that is very recent. I've tried to downgrade (7.5) then import my previous itunes library, but that wont work. CAN SOMEBODY RUNNING MAC PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET MY PREVIOUS ITUNES LIBRARY BACK INTO MY CURRENT ITUNES LIBRARY?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

I FIGURED IT OUT., IF U EVERY HAVE A PROBLEM TELL ME.

Loading a previous iTunes library

So my iTunes isn't working properly. It loaded the wrong library to one that was set up back in January (last time I had this problem).
All my songs are in iTunes Media, and my previous iTunes library still exists, however it won't load when I select it.
Anyone know a way to load a previous iTunes library?

See thid previous discussion:
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive: Apple Support Communities

I had over 12,000 songs in my iTunes library. When I opened iTunes toady, I only have 5,000 songs and no playlists. Help!!!

I had over 12,000 songs in my iTunes library. When I opened iTunes today, I only have 5,000 songs and no playlists. Help!!!

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.
tt2

Previous Itunes Library Help!!

i have five previous itunes library database files dated back to as far as 2006. when i try to open them, itunes opens, but nothing happens. i have tried to copy the file and open it that way, but nothing happens then either. how can i restore these files and retrieve the music?!? please help!

*Adding new items/removing orphans*
Try iTunes Folder Watch or iTunes Library Updater. Folder Watch is much faster on the adding files front, can be set to run in the background and includes a useful exclusion feature, however it’s really slow at removing orphans. iTLU is better for this although doing it manually after looking at a list of proposed removals generated by Folder Watch is probably faster still. iTLU can also be set to update iTunes when you've used 3rd party tools to change tag info.
tt2

I recently reset my computer and copy my music from an external hard drive to my itunes library. When I click on a song to play i get an error message that says " the song could not be used because the original file could not be found". need help

I recently reset my computer and copy my music from an external hard drive to my itunes library. When I click on a song to play i get an error message that says " the song could not be used because the original file could not be found". But when I have my external hard drive plug in the song will play with no problem. What do I need to do to play my music without having the external harddrive plug in ???????? Please help

Because the location for each song in your library is on your hard drive. If the hard drive isn't there, how can iTunes play it?
You'll have to move/copy the music from your hard drive to your computer's hard drive.
Basically, EASIEST way to do all this, if you don't care about your play counts, etc...
-Delete EVERYTHING from iTunes, so that your library is now empty.
-Go to "Advanced" inside of the "Preferences" window, found in the "Edit" drop-down. You can also access Preferences by pressing Ctrl+, (Press Ctrl and the comma key)
-Change your iTunes Media Folder Location to something simple, but on your computer. I use C:/iTunes. Make sure "Keep iTunes Media Folder Organized" and "Copy files to...." are both checked. You can close Preferences now.
-Now, drag and drop your music from your hard drive into your iTunes library. iTunes will automatically add the music to your library, as you would expect, and also creates a copy of each file to place into that iTunes Media Folder you just created.
Shouldn't have any more problems...

Previous iTunes library gone when upgraded to 7.6

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