Re-installing iTunes folder

I am going to erase my hard drive and reinstall software from scratch. What is the best way to reintall all itunes data? I can think of two options:
1- Do nothing other than sync my ipod with iTunes and everything will get transferred from the ipod back to the hard drive.
2- Backup the iTunes folder to another computer hard drive and then use my home network to place it in the Music folder.
Will either/both work?
thanks
Ken
flat-panel imac & PB G4 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

I would go for option 2 because you will want all your play counts and playlists etc.
What are the iTunes library files?
Regards,
Colin R.

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Can't Install iTunes, Folder Path error

I'm trying to install iTunes 7, and I keep getting the error message, "Folder Path 'My Pictures' contains invalid character. Ideas?

Wait up dude, i found an old post that helps. Don't forget to restart your computer
I took this from ---- buckbiggle
Posts: 1
From: USA
Registered: Nov 9, 2007
Re: Invalid Drive: F:\
Posted: Nov 8, 2007 11:16 PM in response to: sneakymartian Reply Email
First off, I'm probably one of the least tech-savvy people in this forum. This issue has been plaguing me for the past week with no end in sight. I hunted around the net trying to find a straight answer and finally I came across something that worked.
NOTE: I'm running Windows XP so I can only speak for my success in that regard.
1) Click the Windows Start button.
2) Select "Run". (A drop down entry box will appear.)
3) Type "regedit" (DISCLAIMER: Proceed at your own risk. Editing the registry can be dangerous and cause even more problems to your operating system if you don't know what your doing, like me. That being said this solution still seemed fairly low risk to me, I took a chance and it worked beautifully.
4) You will now see the "Registry Editor" window pop open with a directory of folders. In the menu along the top click: Edit\Find...
5) In the "Find What" box enter the name of the drive that was giving you the error message. In my case it was "F:\" but it could be different on yours. (Example: "G:\" or "L:\", whatever the letter is of your "Invalid Drive" message.
6) Click the "Find Next" button.
7) Results will appear in the window to the right if there are any hits.
8) Read each result carefully and decide if it seems like it should be there. If it's obviously obsolete or does not belong then select it and delete it.
a) In my case I found about a half dozen items. Two of them were outdated folder directories that no longer existed (I had changed the path name a long time ago), while the remaining hits were all "WDSynch" items (Western Digital external hard drive application. "Passport" or some nonsense.)
NOTE: I am very suspicious of external hard drives as one of the culprits of the iTunes installation problem (Invalid Drive *:\, particularly Western Digital's "WDSynch" application. Almost every post I've read the person mentioned something about their external hard drive so I'd consider that possibility first.
I had tried using this bloated, non-user friendly "WDSynch" and "Passport" application when I first bought my WD external hard drive and discovered that I hated it. Don't get me wrong, the drive itself is great but just avoid the synch app nonsense unless you want deal with constant stress and headaches (Yes, it's a very jaded and biased view so take it or leave it).
After discarding the unfriendly-ware I wound up reformatting the drive anyway from FAT32 to NTFS and I now just use a simple drag-and-drop system for file transfers and copying. (You can leave it at FAT32 if you want, I just didn't like the partition restrictions.)
9) Do multiple searches to make sure you find every last little bugger (F3 will find the next one) so on and so forth until all evidence of that drive letter is gone.
10 Exit the Registry Edit.
11) Reboot your machine.
12) Try running the iTunes install again and it should work!
Disclaimer: This is my own experience with this problem so don't blame me if you mess up your computer. I was at my wits end and had nothing to lose so I took a chance and it paid off.
I wish all of you success. Good luck!
PC Windows XP

'The folder path "C:" contains an invalid character.' ERROR AS I INSTALL iTunes

hi
first of all, merry xmas to all that celebrate! i hope you had/have a memorable day!
and wishing everyone the very best for the new year.
Now, I have a problem when I try to install iTunes on my computer. I'm running:
- Windows Vista (Home Basic)
- iTunes 10.5.2.11
i have sufficient hard-drive space and sufficient ram. its definetly NOT from that. I originially DID HAVE iTunes already installed on my computer, but I was frequently having problems with establishing a connection through my iPhone 4. So I thought it would be a good idea to delete it and try downloading a new version, then install it fresh!
I have some computer skills and knowledge, and i know how "most" things work and run. But now I am totally stuck. I run the iTunes software to be installed, but the installer keeps giving me an error message and NOT installing. I've done all the easy and required steps after I deleted the original version of iTunes from my computer, and now I need help from someone who really knows their stuff in IT and computer software. I have a feeling it may be a string of codes that are corrupt or significantly different to what they should be, but thats just my guess! cos like i already said, ive tried all the common fixes already but have been unsuccessful thus far. Some of the things I did were:
- Restart the computer, re-boot, login to Windows, run the iTunes installation
- Turn off the computer, wait 10 minutes, re-boot and then run the iTunes installation
- Delete ALL the "Apple" company software that was still installed on my computer (QuickTime, iPhone Utility, iPod, Bonjour, etc etc)
- Confirm my "User Account Control" is OFF
- Run the iTunes installation file from my secondary windows login account (which has "Administrator" privilages)
- Create a new windows login account, turn off the UAC (User Account Control protection), then try installing iTunes
- Run disk-error checks on my hard-drives incase there are missing/corrupt/misplaced files that needed repair
etc etc etc etc
Nothing worked! THIS BELOW IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I KEEP GETTING WHEN I DOUBLE-CLICK ON THE iTUNES INSTALLER:
- Double click on the iTunes install icon
- The "Trusted File Security Warning/Confirmation" window appears, requesting I confirm to Run or Cancel the software installation. I click on "Run"
- A horizontal grey bar appears in the middle of the screen, and quickly fills up green
- Then a small installation windows appears (Windows Installer) that writes "Preparing to Install". Then it very fast writes a couple different sentences (which is normal), specifically the sentences are "Performing installation checks" and "Checking spacing requirements".
- immedietly after the previous step, another window appears and I hear the "error" audio tone. The ERROR MESSAGE has the Yellow Triangle logo with an exclamation mark in the middle, and beside it displays the following text (and Ive attatched the screen shot too):
THE FOLDER PATH "C:" CONTAINS AN INVALID CHARACTER
then below this message theres the "OK" button which I have no choice but to click on. then the next window that appears is as follows (see screenshot), and it reads:
iTunes Installer Completed
The installer encountered errors before iTunes could be configured.
Errors occured during installation. Your system has not been modified.
Please run the installer again, or click Finish to exit
Please I beg you guys to help me, I will be extremely grateful for ALL and ANY advice/tips/assistance/solutions I receive. And would owe you one for sure!!
Please feel free to write your opinions and thoughts on what I could do different, as Ive used up all my knowledge regarding the matter, and have seriously hit a brick wall now.
Thanks so so so much, and once again I wish everyone the absolute very best!
regards.
PS. Replies can be posted in this thread, otherwise even sent to me via email if you wish to do otherwise. My email address is: [email protected]
cheers

Resolution:
Check for the existence of a hidden folder named %appdata% in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Application Virtualization\Client folder. (You will need to un-check the folder options box in windows explorer for "Hide
protected operating system files" to see it)
If the hidden %appdata% folder exists, delete it.
Proceed to uninstall the App-V client
After a clean uninstall and removal of remnants of the client, reinstall the client again and apply the latest hotfix available (Hotfix 2 for SP2 at a minimum).

Installed ITunes 8 - entire music library lost - hangs if I try to add fold

I just installed iTunes 8 after having been prompted to do so.
When I first opened it the app started to render my album covers, and then stopped.
I was curious about the genius feature, so I enabled that, and it said it was active, but then nothing showed in my music library at all -- no covers, not a single track.
I tried re-adding the folder where I store my music, I get a processing message, but then it just hangs.
I ended the task, tried adding a single song -- that song added successfully, so I added one more -- also OK, and they could play. So I tried adding the whole folder again - hangs.
End task again.
Re-open - the songs I added manually aren't there anymore. Every time I add a song, it shows temporarily, then when I exit and go back in the whole list is erased again.
At the file system level the folder where it stores all the info about music is COMPLETELY EMPTY: \\server\users\myusername\my documents\my music\itunes\itunes music\
That folder used to have hundreds of folders and files? What the heck happened? Where are my files?
Is this a bug or just some weird issue on the x64 version of Vista that happens when you have my documents folder re-direction turned on? This wasn't a problem with v7.x

Copying the old iTunes Library (from the "Previous iTunes Libraries" folder) didn't work for me. iTunes went through its typical "Updating iTunes Library" routine the next time I launched, and any attempt to add a folder of files to my library still returns Error 13014.
Message was edited by: iphone-pwner

I have installed itunes 11.0.2.26. When I delete a file or podcast I am not being prompted to delete the file from its folder at the same time.

I have installed itunes 11.0.2.26. When I delete a file or podcast I am not being prompted to delete the file from its folder at the same time. How do I restore this facility? I am running a 64bit Windows 7 OS

Is the media files in question in the iTunes library or elsewhere on the computer?

I am trying to install itunes 10.5 but I get an error message that says click ok to try again or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package iTunes.msi...I try to point iTunes to the .msi file but that is not working.

i am trying to install itunes 10.5 but I get an error message that says "click ok to try again or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package iTunes.msi..." I try to point iTunes to the .msi file on my c drive but then it gives me a message says "the file location is not a valid installation packaage for the product iTuness. Try to find the installation package 'itunes.msi' in a folder from which you can install iTunes". Any help, insight, guidance would be greatly appreciated!!

"The feature you are trying to use in on a network resource that is unavailable. Enter alternate path to a folder containing the installation package itunes64.msi".
Download the Windows Installer CleanUp utility from the following page (use one of the links under the "DOWNLOAD LOCATIONS" thingy on the Major Geeks page):
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4459
To install the utility, doubleclick the msicuu2.exe file you downloaded.
Now run the utility ("Start > All Programs > Windows Install Clean Up"). In the list of programs that appears in CleanUp, select any iTunes entries and click "Remove", as per the following screenshot:
Quit out of CleanUp, restart the PC and try another iTunes install. Does it go through properly this time?

Hey when ever i download and install Itunes then i open it says error finding folder please re download and I tried a tons of times and it didn't work. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Hey when ever i download and install Itunes then i open it says error finding folder please re download and I tried a tons of times and it didnt work. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Hi Beege140,
I have an article for you that will help you address this launch issue with iTunes:
iTunes for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8: Fix unexpected quits or launch issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1717
Thanks for being a part of the Apple Support Communities!
Cheers,
Braden

I just installed iTunes on my computer, where I already have all my music. I went to Edit Preferences Advanced, and changed the iTunes Media Folder Location to where I have all my music, in the "Local Disk." But iTunes wont import all my music. Help?

I just installed iTunes on my computer, where I already have all my music. I went to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and changed the iTunes Media Folder Location to where I have all my music, in the "Local Disk." But iTunes wont import all my music. Help?

Have you looked in the Music App on your iPhone? On the iPhone music is played by the Music App not iTunes.

I just changed the OS from Vista to Windows7. I have a folder on the same computer with the old iTunes library. I installed a new version of iTunes from scratch. How do I move my music library, etc from that backed up folder into the new iTunes folder.

I need help with moving my music library.
I recently upgraded the OS on my computer from Vista to Windows7.
During the process it copied my iTunes library to a folder on this same computer (marked it Windows.old)
Once the OS was done, I installed a new copy of iTunes on the Windows7 but it now has a blank library (folder)
How do I move my music from its current folder location (on this same computer) into the new iTunes library folder ???
There don't seem to be specific instructions on how to do this.

Skydiver119 wrote:
My situation may be different from yours since all mu music is ripped from cd's not bought from iTunes, but I would think the premise is the same.
Doesn't matter what is in your library.
When I moved computers I literally dragged and dropped the music where I wanted it to be. THen when I opened iTunes I imported the files back into iTUnes
This creates a new library with all the same items but you lose a lot of info: Ratings, comments, date added, custom EQ, playlists, etc.
If you simply copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder, it is the exact same library, not a new library. No info is lost.

My laptop had to be reimaged and all software and programs were taken off. I installed itunes again but can't access my library. I get an error message "the folder itunes cannot be found or created and is required. The default location for this folder

I can't access my itunes music on my laptop after having it re-imaged. I installed itunes again but can't access the music folder. I get the following message when I click to open itunes: "The folder itunes cannot be found or created, and is required. The default location for this folder is the Music folder.
I have an iPad2, and iPad mini, and an iPhone5 with a different number of songs on each. I want to sync everything -- should have close to 800 songs. Tried to get support from Apple but would be charged for help.

I have a Windows 7 operating system my computer runs from.

My Win XP hard drive crashed. we were able to copy most of the files, including the iTunes folders to a USB drive. My system was reimaged with Win 7. How do I get my old iTunes folder to work with a new install of iTunes.

I tried installing itunes and then copying the old folders, but that does not work. The error msg I received was that it could not find the "source files" for the music.

Select a track with a broken link and press CTRL-I to Get Info. What is the location given on the Summary tab? Look for the actual file and note down its path.
Depending on just how you managed to import your old library it may be that iTunes is slightly confused over the folder layout and thinks your library should be in the new structure while it is, in fact, in the old one. If you can post back both paths I can confirm this and give you a set of steps to resolve everything.
tt2

Can't install itunes 9 in windows 7 "The folder iTunes cannot be found"

I can not install itunes 9.0.3.15 in windows 7. Getting the error message "The folder iTunes cannot be found or created and is required. The default location for this folder is inside the Music folder." I see a solution has already been posted for this problem, but it is specifically for Windows XP. Anyone have a solution for the problem in Windows 7?

Doublechecking some things before proceeding, j. Are you trying to upgrade your iTunes on the PC? Or is this the very first time iTunes has been installed on the PC?
Are you getting the error message during the install, or when trying to launch 9.0.3.15 after the install?

Install iTunes 10.4.1 install error - The Folder Path "File Name" contains an invalid character

Upgraded computer from XP Prof 32-Bit to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit (Upgrade package, performed Custom Install).
Attempt to install iTunes 10.4.1 for 64-Bit. Receiving the following error/problem:
The Folder Path "File Name on my external drive" contains an invalid character
I click ok and then get this:
The Installer encountered errors before iTunes could be configured. Errors occurred during installation. Your system could not be modified, Please run the installer again, or click Finish to exit.
Any fixes for this?

Sorry, one of us is not managing to be clear enough.
Does the message read The Folder Path "File Name on my external drive" contains an invalid character or perhaps The Folder Path "<some path name here>" contains an invalid character?
If so, then the problem might be just what it says it is with the path name in question... Either way if you list the path given in the error message in a reply to this thread it might provide a clue for anyone tying to help with the problem.
You could try downloading the installer to C:\iTunesSetup.exe in case that helps.
tt2

The folder path iTunes media contains an invalid character. How can I fix this so I can install itunes

the folder path iTunes media contains an invalid character comes up when I try to install itunes does anyone know how to fix this an why it happened an stopped itunes working ?

Try the following user tip:
"not a valid short file name" and "invalid character" install errors

Just bought new PC with windows 8.1 and installed the 64bit tunes as instructed by the new PC. Only a small part of my music library is now showing but can see all the files in the itunes folder on an eternal hard drive linked to my old XP pc.

Problem - changed PC to one with Windows 8.1 ( previous from 2006 with Windos XP). Previously all ITunes stuff on an external harddrive as 80 gigs of music too much for the old PC
When attached Harddrive to new PC was told needed to install the new 64 bit iTunes as 32 bit iTunes not compatable.
Did so but only a very small portion of my music is showning - though rest of Library is still on the external drive in the folder.
Help please
Thanks

Again many thanks. I have tried to tidy up the folders as per your idiot guide- which term is appropriate for me
Under iTunes Media though I do not have folders for Books,iPod Games, Mobile Applications, Movies, TV Shows so I only have Auto Add to iTunes, Music, Downloads and Podcasts - My question here is is this OK.
Next - Library files that you mention are there but do not end .itdb
Next - in the main iTunes folder followingon from Artwork and Media folders there is some other iTunes database stuff like Library Extras, Library Genius, Library and Music Library(xml) all dated 10/02/12 plus MimiPlayer .dll dated 21/02/14 and Set Up Short Cut dated22/03/14
AND there is also a Programme Files folder with a sub folder holding file folders called CD Configuration,iTunes Resources, iTunes Help Resources, iTunes Mini Player Resources and Mozilla Plugins all dated 24/03/14 ( when I downloaded the new iTunes) and then a lot of application extension stuff from 2011
To recap I unistalled the old 32 bit iTunes and installed the new 11.1.5 (64 bit) version over the weekend SO is any of the old stuff listed above required.
Outcome right now is that as previously I can only call up the Downloaded music not Podcats or CD copies.
Regards
David Pugh

Re-installing iTunes folder

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