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

Question

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
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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
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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
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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
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Answer 1

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