Rebuilding itunes folder

I recently upgraded to OS X, but made the dumb mistake of doing a clean install. I lost a lot of information (email addresses, application registrations, etc.) and I seem to have lost my iTunes folder as well. I said OK, I'll just synchronize iTunes with my iPod, which has all of my tunes and ratings and etc. on it -- but my computer won't accept my iPod because, it says, my iPod is "registered to another computer." What can I do to (a) recapture my original iTunes folder -- which would be ideal); or (b) synchronize my iPod with my newly created iTunes folder?
eMac Mac OS X (10.4.8)

(I went to bed last night without trying again to make it through the Seruti instructions.) This morning I found that somehow in my floundering I had ended up with an iTunes folder containing all the tunes from my iPod. HOWEVER, the iTunes application was unable to find this folder, so I tried this and that, and ended up up learning that I now had TWO iTunes folders, one in the "little-house" folder named "davez3", and a second, also inside the users folder, named "davidzuckerman." The sub-folders under "little house" are mostly bare; the sub-folder under "davidzuckerman" contain a lot of information -- such as all the important stuff from my desktop and my iTunes music. The Apple technical support person had told me I had lost them because I had done a "clean install" when I upgraded to OS X. Anyway, the music issue is now solved -- except that I have lost all my ratings (and I had organized my playlists by rating). But what I want to know is, under which name, "davez3" or "davidzuckerman," should I now organize my files? [Sorry for the trouble I'm giving you.]

Similar Messages

How do I create a new iTunes folder?

After moving backwards and forwards between Mac and PC, different format hard drvies and versions of iTunes (I recently "downgraded" back to iTunes 10.7) my music folder is in complete chaos. There are duplicate files, folders all over the place and deleting music from iTunes doesn't remove their folders. I'm wanting to have a huge clear out and basically rebuild my library and the folder itself from scratch, but I'm having trouble doing so.
Currently my iTunes folder is on a FAT32 partition on an external hard drive and what I would like to do is create a new, "empty" iTunes folder on the NTFS partition, then pick and choose which mp3s to copy across, leaving behind all the stuff I don't want to be deleted once I'm done. I tried doing this by making a new library, but all the actual mp3s are still being kept in the same place. Basically I want iTunes to ignore the folder that already exists long enough for me to copy the stuff I want to a new one. The best way I can describe it is that if you were to install iTunes on a new PC, it would create a folder without any actual music in it, then you could drag and drop mp3s from your old folder into iTunes itself, filling the folder up.
I hope this makes sense to somebody who can help me out, thanks!

assuming iTunes is authorized for your iTunes store account(s):
connect your iDevices (one after the other) and right-click or control-click them in the iTunes Source list, then choose transfer purchases from the shortcut menu that appears.
above will cover your purchases. for everything else, check out this post by Zevoneer.
also, there are PhoneView and iRip.
when done, go iTunes > preferences > advanced and point iTunes media folder location to the new external. on the same tab, ensure the copy files ... when adding option is checkmarked.
next, go file > library > organize library > consolidate files.
Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive

I moved my iTunes folder to an external hard drive, now itunes wants to sync all of music to my iPhone twice.

I copied my whole itunes folder to an external drive as id run out of space on my PC. I then changed the location of the folder on iTunes through preferances, but it gave me a warning which i just pressed no/cancel to without reading it, but i didnt realise that then it had not saved the new folder location. When i deleted the original folder, everything dissapeared from itunes meaning i had to reload everything from the new, moved, itunes folder. This wasnt a problem, except it had lost all memory of playlists and play counts etc. But now, when i try and sync my phone, it tells me there is not enough space on the phone as it must be trying to add all of the music from itunes to the phone as well as what is already on the phone.
Is there a way to upload everything from the phone to itunes, including play counts and playlists?
if not....
How do i just sync my phone to itunes without having to reset the phone and losing photographs, and without itunes trying to add everything twice?
Last question, why do Apple want to make this so difficult for me? What is wrong with plane old 'click and drag'??
Help me would be greatly apprerciated!! Thanks.

Close iTunes. Click the icon to start it, then press and hold down the left shift key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Choose the iTunes folder on your external drive. That should bring back all your playlists, ratings, play counts etc. You may have to settle for removing and reloading the media onto the device again. That's not too bad, but what you don't want to have happen is your apps being removed and reloaded as then you can lose settings and data. If that looks likely backup and then restore the device rather than sync it.
If for some reason rebuilding the library the way you did has moved files around then the restored library may have trouble finding things. If so post back and I'll explain what to do...
tt2

Moving iTunes Folder

I moved all of the iTunes folder from one disk (that was full) to another thinking that I would just repoint iTunes to the new disk through the iTunes - Preferences - Advanced - iTunes Music Location option. That does not work. My iTunes does not show any of the music I previously had - the music is there, iTunes just does not recognize it.
I have since read that I should have used the Consolidate Library option.
How do I get iTunes to recognize the folder I have moved it to?
Thanks - Todd

Just as a start, try rebuilding your .pref files for iTunes. This may help.
- Shut down iTunes
- Double check to see that the iTunes.pref files (see below) or the folders they reside in are not read-only.
- Using Windows Explorer, right-click on the file (or folder) name, go to Properties.
- If one or both are Read-Only, change them, and reopen iTunes.
- Try changing the Preferences, close iTunes & re-open iTunes – check Preferences
- If the above does not work then continue to Resetting the .pref files:
Resetting the iTunes Preference Files:
-- Quit iTunes
-- Delete C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
-- Delete C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer Inc\iTunes.pref
You may need to enable 'Show Hidden Files/Folders' in Windows Explorer==>Tools menu==>Folder Options==>’View’ tab before you can see the Application Data & Local Settings folders.
When you restart iTunes, it will act like its initial startup. Do not let iTunes search for your music files. The old library is still there and iTunes will see it after it gets past the initial dialog screens.

Rebuilding iTunes Library...What is the next step ?

Hi:
I tried follwoing your advice.
I can do the Ctrl-A to select all songs in the iTunes libary.
I can right-click and select Delete,
but when I do, I do not get the 3 options that you mentioned
(Cancel, Keep Files, and Move To Recycle Bin)
I get a dialog box stating:
Are you sure you want to remove the selcted songs from your iTunes library?
These songs will also be remove from any iPod or iPhone which synchronizes with your iTunes library.
Why am I not getting the options you stated above ?
I have seen you oprions on a Mac at best Buy, but I am running an HP laptop under Vista Home Premium.
Then has a Remove or Cancel button to be clicked.
If I follow through with the above, will it wipe out my music library ?
How do I go about rebuilding the databse ?
Thank you
DaleB
HP dv6500z laptop Windows Vista
==========================================================================
Toocan
Posts: 54
From: Gauteng, South Africa
Registered: Jul 23, 2008
Re: iTunes forgets my CD files...how do I rebuild tune database?
Posted: Aug 17, 2008 10:27 PM in response to: DaleB Reply Email
Sorry DaleB, I have redone my library so many times, I forgot about this prompt. Just click 'yes'/'remove' to that question.
Reloading the library will only make your iPod resync again, thats all.
Intel Windows XP Pro P4, 3.4GHz, 3GB RAM, XP SP3 - iPod 80GB Classic
===========================================================================
DaleB
Posts: 145
Registered: Jan 18, 2006
Re: iTunes forgets my CD files...how do I rebuild tune database?
Posted: Aug 18, 2008 4:02 AM in response to: Toocan Reply Email
Hi:
You tell me to click "Yes" / "Remove" when prompted by iTunes with
"Are you sure you want to remove the selcted songs from your iTunes library?"
but when I do, I do not get the 3 options that you mentioned
(Cancel, Keep Files, and Move To Recycle Bin) ?
What is the next step ???
I don't want to accidentally erase my Library.
Thank you
DaleB
==============================================================================
DaleB
Posts: 145
Registered: Jan 18, 2006
Re: iTunes forgets my CD files...how do I rebuild tune database?
Posted: Aug 18, 2008 4:13 AM in response to: Toocan Reply Email
Hi:
A related issue.
I made a copy (backup ?) of the Music folder in Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit OS, to my Desktop. If something corrupts the Music in iTunes, will this be a "good enough" backup to be able to restore the music by moving it back into the Music folder, or will soemthing be missing ?
Thanx !
DaleB
==============================================================================

What is it you want to do? If you want to clear your library and start it over with the same media files already on your computer, the way you are doing it is both more work and dangerous (you could lose files accidentally if you hit the wrong button).
Assuming you backed up your library elsewhere, you will have an "iTunes Music.itl" file, or at least you do with XP. I am not sure if Vista works any differently. This is the file that is the database file that contains all the info about what is in your library, playcounts, ratings, etc. If you don't have that backed up somewhere else with your library, you should do that. If you periodically back up just that file, you can rebuild your library assuming the media files are not lost.
So to clear our your current library, simply grab the iTunes Music.itl file in your iTunes folder and drag it to the desktop or the trash. Open iTunes and you should now see a blank library. Close iTunes, you will find a new iTunes Music.itl file has been created (representing the new blank library. To restore your old .tl file, simply drag your back up copy and overwrite the newly created blank library iTunes Music.itl file. That's it.
Alternatively, you can File -> Import the .xml file that is also created and maintained by iTunes in the same folder as the iTunes Music.itl file. But Apple does state the XML file doesn't quite have everything contained in the iTunes Music.itl file, although it isn't clear what exactly is missing, at least not to me.
Cheers,
Patrick

I copied my entire iTunes folder to my new Mac and now new playlists won't sync to my iPhone.

Hi. I recently installed a new hard drive to my Macbook Pro and as I wanted a clean start decided not to restore from Time Machine. I just copied the entire old iTunes folder into my new music library. iTunes itself functions normally but it won't sync new playlists to my iPhone 5.
I had similar problems with syncing my iPhoto library to my iPhone through iTunes but I rebuilt the iPhoto library and that seemed to fix it. Is there a way to rebuild the iTunes library? I used this document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
and was given error code -50 saying it was unable to import the playlists.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Max

Hi. I recently installed a new hard drive to my Macbook Pro and as I wanted a clean start decided not to restore from Time Machine. I just copied the entire old iTunes folder into my new music library. iTunes itself functions normally but it won't sync new playlists to my iPhone 5.
I had similar problems with syncing my iPhoto library to my iPhone through iTunes but I rebuilt the iPhoto library and that seemed to fix it. Is there a way to rebuild the iTunes library? I used this document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
and was given error code -50 saying it was unable to import the playlists.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Max

Rebuilding iTunes Library File

I have been using iTunes since the beginning and would like some feedback about the itunes Library file.
I have been using the same iTunes Library file since the beginning of the program and as my library grows and the version upgrades continue to modify the library file, is it time to create a new library file. Everything seems to be working ok except that it does take several seconds for iTunes to modify it's database when I make a change to a playlist or Tag info. I understand smart playlists occupy a lot of time and I do have quite a few of them, but would rebuilding the Library file help that at all.
Losing all of the playcounts and playlists is not acceptable.
TIA

Yes I do back up.
My iTunes Folder, which includes the Library File, the Music Folder, and the XML file are all stored on an external firewire drive. I have a symbolic link to the external drive located in the Music folder of my boot disk. This works as expected. The reason I do this is so I can take the external drive home from work, copy the symlink to my home Mac, replace the real folder with the symlink, open iTunes and all playlists and playcounts are intact. Basically pick up where I left off. The only downside to this is that I must have the volume available or iTunes will quit because it can't find or create a Library file. I can live with that. Simply rename the symlink temporarily and reopen.
My main question was referring to the Library file itself. Is it possible that as time went on and new versions of iTunes come out and the database needed updating, can the Library file become fragmented. If I remember correctly, initially Apple had the SoundCheck value stored in the Library file. Now it is stored directly in the mp3 or aac file. Does this now uneeded data still live in the library file?
I am thinking about making a third backup, create a new library and add all of my music to the empty library to see how if flies. I know playlists and counts will be gone, but may shed some light on how the Library file is managed.
Comments?
TIA

Moving iTunes Folder to a new Mac, Can't read iTunes library.itl

I'm replacing a Mac Pro (2,1) with OS 10.7.5, iTunes 11.4 with a 2012 Mac Mini with OS 10.9.3, iTunes 11.1.5. When I move the iTunes folder containing the iTunes Library to the new Mac, I get the error message "the file iTunes library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes", which is of course true. I really don't want iTunes 12. Is there a way to move iTunes 11.4 from the old Mac to the new Mac?

Hi, gokart-mozart.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
You will need to rebuild your iTunes library file in order to open an older version of iTunes. Below, I have included the article that walks you through this process. Start with the section labeled Re-creating the iTunes Library file.
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
Cheers,
Jason H.

Itunes folder got put in trash and dumped....

So now I've created a new library but how do I get it to work [ I have a new blank itunes .. that when I open ITunes preferences> advanced, shows me the library still resides on my external drive just like before I accidently dragged it to the trash ]! I have everything backed up on an external drive. What and how do I drag the old library into the new one I've created on my computer.

I had this tiny version of "Itunes music"
Depends what this was. If it was your iTunes folder (not iTunes Music folder) and you were running the LIBRARY (not the music) from your Mac, then you trashed your library but not your music.
I could have deleted the music in Itunes music but instead I got rid of all of it
Sorry, you lost me.
Some time back I must have changed the location of the library in Itunes preferences to reside in my Macs HD, which created Itunes>Itunes music that I mistakely dumped
No, you are mixing up your MUSIC (folder) and your LIBRARY - the one contains all your music files, the other contains all your playlists etc. You mean - I think - that you changed the location of your MUSIC folder back from the eHD to your Mac, which means any music you added after that will have been on your Mac (the "tiny" folder you found). As for your Library (playlists etc) it depends entirely where this was located - on your Mac or on the eHD?
I downloaded a new version of Itunes from the apple site to get started
You didn't need to do this - the app itself is entirely separate from your music and playlists
there was of course nothing in it
No, this is because you deleted either your Library or your music, not because you downloaded the app (people upgrade to new versions of iTunes all the time, but their Library still opens with everything in it intact).
i have a copy of the library xml siting on my desktop ---- should i trash it??? .
At the moment I have no idea whether you trashed your music, your Library, or both. If the XML file is your Library playlists from before you trashed whatever you trashed, then importing it could restore your playlists. You need to look at its Create Date and decide. Your call. If it is a small file dated from after you "trashed" then it's no good to you, and you could trash it.
I dragged the Itunes folder in "MUSIC" on the eHD to the new open and blank Itunes on my Mac, and the song titles started to immediately transfer to Itunes
You mean the "iTunes Music folder"? If so then yes, this will re-add all your music, but not your playlists.
when I go to my computers users>home little house>music.... i see a folder with a music note on it, and underneath it has , name, kind ,and size, and when created. BUT under size it just has -- and that's it
No problem. Folders in Finder List view show up with -- for Size. You would have to do a Command-I Get Info to see its size.
This music folder on my Macs users>music> "blue music folder with note on it",looks exactly the same as before I did all the above and got Itunes working.It looks kind of empty!! Should that be how it looks?
Is it really empty? Look, check, and see. But if Preferences are still pointing to your eHD as you say, then all you've done is add the music on your eHD to your iTunes Library on the Mac - without actually importing the music. What you have done is simply rebuild your Library. What I don't know is where your iTunes Library database file and iTunes Music Library.xml file are.
What about my playlists?
If you trashed your iTunes Library and iTunes Music Library.xml files, then they are gone I'm afraid.

ITunes Folder on Time Capsule missing after MATCH

To Start, I will explain my set-up. I have an Extreme, connected to my Cable Modem, in my Computer-Room, which is hardwired to my primary Mac Pro computer. I then have the Extreme wirelessly bridged to my Time Capsule, in my Family-Room, which is hardwired to my Mac Mini, which is in turn hardwired to my TV. I also have a Macbook Pro in the down-stairs Bed-Room, an iPad in the up-stairs Bed-Room and an iPhone in my pocket, all on the Wi Fi network. I keep my iTunes, iPhoto, Mail, etc., data files on the Time Capsule and have links on the other devices so that each App on each Computer retrrieves the data files from the Time Capsule (only problem is that only one computer can pull the data at any given time, which is not a problem for me). All worked great until I ran MATCH on my iTunes library.
MATCH itself seems to have worked well enough, though I did have to run it a few different times to get all the music uploaded. My library is pretty large, so I am not real sure yet if EVERY thing got uploaded, but it appears that it did. But afterwards I recieved errors and now my iTunes folder is missing from the Time Capusle, though the disk space appears to be still taken up. Not only that, but I can not seem to write to the Time Capsule at all, and although I have been able to copy some of my data from the Time Capsule, some I can not. I was able to copy the Mail folder from the Time Capsule to the Mac Mini, but I keep gettings errors when I try to open Mail on the MAc Pro, then Mail shuts down. I downloaded all the Music from MATCH to my MacPro, but it is just the Music, not the Movies, Videos, etc.. My iPhotos will not seem to copy.
I have not figured out any way to run any kind of Disk Utilities on the Time Capsule and do not have any idea what I can do other then wipe the disk and start again. This is a 2 TB unit and my second Time Capsule, the first was returned to Apple due to other problems. I have never used it to do backups, just as a NAS, though I do have most of my data copied onto other drives. I am sure I will loss some data and will spend a lot of time trying to rebuild, if I can't do something with the Time Capsule.
Any body with any ideas?

To me, it acts like the external drive "went to sleep", but i'm pretty sure that's not the case. Nor can i find any place in Mac OS/X to control that other than the power settings, and all my hardware is set to NOT sleep.
Chances are pretty good that the "sleep" function for this drive is built-in as part of the drive's firmware and you will have little or no control over it. Most drives do incorporate this "feature."
The other odd thing is that I have a fairly extensive set of Sonos music servers around the house which access that same music drive on that same time capsule.. and it NEVER loses access to anything... could be because Sonos doesn't use the iTunes library to access the music.
As you probably are already aware, iTunes is basically composed of two parts: 1) the iTunes Library, and 2) the iTunes Media. Typically these are both stored within the user's Music folder, but they can be in totally separate locations.
I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think Sonos relies on the iTunes application, but instead, will access media files directly ... in this case, the iTunes Media files located on the hard drive connected to the TC.

HT1751 I copied my iTunes folder to an external HD and now I cannot delete it. When I try to move it to the trash it displays The item "iTunes" can't be moved to the Trash because it can't be deleted.

I copied my iTunes folder to an external HD and now I cannot delete it. When I try to move it to the trash it displays: The item “iTunes” can’t be moved to the Trash because it can’t be deleted.

Close iTunes. Click the icon to start it, then press and hold down the left shift key. Keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Choose the iTunes folder on your external drive. That should bring back all your playlists, ratings, play counts etc. You may have to settle for removing and reloading the media onto the device again. That's not too bad, but what you don't want to have happen is your apps being removed and reloaded as then you can lose settings and data. If that looks likely backup and then restore the device rather than sync it.
If for some reason rebuilding the library the way you did has moved files around then the restored library may have trouble finding things. If so post back and I'll explain what to do...
tt2

Computer formatted - want to rebuild iTunes library & get playlists back!

I had to get my computer formatted a while ago. My files were saved, including the iTunes folder in My Documents. I have downloaded iTunes and added my music to the library, but I have no idea how to get my playlists back. I've worked really hard to put them together. My iPod isn't synced yet, mostly because I don't want to lose my playlists and play counts, but I'm getting new albums and I will need to sync sometime. How can I rebuild my iTunes library, or at least get the playlists back? Please help, I beg you.

Hi
This came off these forums and was posted by MacMuse (I think)
" The manual way around this problem is to use the iPod in its alter ego - that of portable computer disk drive. Successfully tested under iTunes for Windows 4.2 & 4.5; Windows XP. And follow these directions LINE BY LINE or iTunes will erase everything on the iPod.
- Start with the iPod disconnected from the computer - DON'T CONNECT IPOD YET
- open iTunes
- open iTunes Preferences - this blocks iTunes from seeing an iPod connection; leave the preferences window up and running
- connect the iPod to the computer, wait about 15 seconds before continuing
- open 'My Computer'
- Tools menu, Folder Options, View tab, enable 'show hidden files /folders'
- open iPod icon in My Computer
- open iPod_Control folder
- you should see a folder named Music
- drag this folder to somewhere on your computer hard drive
- after the copy completes, right-click the new Music folder on your hard drive and select 'Properties'
- clear the checkmark next to 'Hidden'
- Close that explorer window
- eject iPod from System tray "Safely Remove Hardware" icon.
This icon looks like a small gray rectangle with a green arrow floating above it. It's only there when a removable device (like the iPod in this case) is attached to the computer. Right-click & select 'Safely remove..', then click 'Stop' in the next window, OK in the next window, and then Close to complete the ejection.
- disconnect the iPod from the computer
- go back to iTunes, cancel the preferences window
- File menu \ Add folder to Library \ find that Music folder copied over from the iPod
Your iTunes library should be back in action!"
This worked for me when I had to repartition and reformat my hard drive.

I moved iTunes folder. Can someone tell me how to put the folder together?

I moved the iTunes folder to another drive. It didn't work there. So moved it back and now it is not in the levels it should be, I think. Can someone tell me what the folder iTunes should contain down the path?

Double check to see that the ‘iTunes Library.itl’ file or the folder it resides in (the ‘iTunes’ folder) is not read-only.
First, see this Article for some background information: What are the iTunes Library files?
Using Windows Explorer, right-click on the file (or folder) name, go to Properties.
If it is read-only, then close iTunes, change it, and reopen iTunes.
Now (going forwards), any changes you make to the Library should be retained (i.e. – rebuilding).
If you are running a Sony Vaio PC, then This Thread may offer some insight.
Best of Luck

Open itunes get error message, can't find iTunes folder! & doesn't open!

Hi, I have Downloaded iTunes but it some how has installed itself onto a USB pen drive that I had connected at the time. I have unplugged this and downloaded iTunes again...which seemed to go ok but when I click the iTunes icon an error message appears ' Cannot find iTunes folder, this is normally located in the My Music Folder' and will not open iTunes. I plug the USB pen in and it works fine! I have tried to copy & paste the files on the USB pen but it doesn't copy them properly...can anyone help?

Hello mvguillet,
Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing with installing the latest iTunes update. I recommend following the steps below:
Resolution
Follow these steps to resolve the issue:
Check for .dll files
Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes and C:\Program Files\iTunes and look for .dll files.
If you find QTMovie.DLL, or any other .dll files, move them to the desktop.
Reboot your computer.
Note: Depending on your operating system, you may only have one of the listed paths.
Uninstall and reinstall iTunes
Uninstall iTunes and all of its related components.
Reboot your computer. If you can't uninstall a piece of Apple software, try using the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Utility.
Re-download and reinstall iTunes 11.1.4.
I understand that you have already uninstalled iTunes, but when you get to this step, it is important to uninstall iTunes and the related components in the order listed in the link for that step.
You can find the full article here:
iTunes 11.1.4 for Windows: Unable to install or open
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5376
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

When i double click itunes it doesn't open it just comes up with an error saying " The itunes library.itl file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the 'itunes' folder in the 'music' folder". How can i fix this?

When i double click itunes it doesn't open it just comes up with an error saying " The itunes library.itl file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the 'itunes' folder in the 'music' folder. How can i fix this problem?

Anyone can help to advice how to solve this issue ?

Rebuilding itunes folder

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