Still losing iTunes media files

I recently discovered that about 500 of my 2000 songs couldn't be found in iTunes. I finally figured out how to get them all back from my time capsule, but this is a continual problem. Today, I find 11 titles missing! How is this happening? When I click on "locate," the finder window that pops-up doesn't help. When I click on music > iTunes, I just get "open iTunes to populate this list". ITunes is open, but I don't see anything here. So, I have to go to my normal finder, click on go > users, etc... then I can find my iTunes files.
I discovered something unusual today. When I "get info" on the files that can't be found, they are located at "file://local host/Users/" etc... But the ones that can be found are just "Users/" etc... What's up with "local host"? Interestingly, only one or two tunes from a CD are at local host/Users/ and the rest are at Users/ but they were all ripped at the same time.
So, I have three questions:
1) Is there a better way to get to my iTunes media files?
2) What is local host and how did this happen?
2) Where is my music going?
BTW, I am NOT EVER going into iTunes media to delete or move anything around. I didn't even know that folder existed in my finder until 2 days ago, because you have to know about "Go" to get there. I do edit genre and abum titles in iTunes, but that shouldn't be the problem, right?
Thanks.

There's your problem -- it's bluegrass music (I'm an Appalacian old-time musician myself )!
I'm getting the feeling that your iTunes database file is corrupt (library.itl). Try this. Start iTunes and immediately hold down the option (alt) key (you can switch back to your old library doing the same). Create a new, test, library. Drag a few of those problem files to the new library and see if they still misbehave. Also make sure there isn't anything funky in the file names such as / or \ or ~ or things like that.
If they behave then you may be faced with having to rebuild your library file. This isn't onerous except you're basically starting from scratch as if you just added everything brand new.
You can also try this. Delete the files from iTunes but do not let it trash the actual file (maybe drag a copy somewhere just to be safe). Now drag the offending files to the "Automatically add to iTunes" folder and see if it gives them the proper location name.

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I'm trying to free up space on my MacBook by moving all my ITunes media files to an external HD.
I followed the support instructions which told me to go to ITunes preferences, advanced, and choose a new location for the files. I did that part and files were copied across to the external HD. However, the next step is to move the original files from my macbook into the trash. I've gone to home/music/Itunes to delete the originals, but they don't seem to be exactly the same as the ones copied across to the eternal HD..? For instance, the size of the ITunes folder is different, and inside the folder some files are not there, and all the music is not there either (in the external HD copied location).
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Apple's official advice on duplicates is here: Find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library. It is a manual process and the article fails to explain some of the potential pitfalls such as lost ratings and playlist membership, or that sometimes the same file can be represented by multiple entries in the library and that deleting one and recycling the file will break the other.
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(If you don't see the menu bar press ALT to show it temporarily or CTRL+B to keep it displayed.)
The most recent version of the script can tidy dead links as long as there is at least one live duplicate to merge stats and playlist membership to and should cope sensibly when the same file has been added via multiple paths.
See also Make a split library portable for some thoughts on best practice when it comes to organizing the library and media files.
tt2

ITunes media file permissions

I've started receiving the following message when trying to add files itunes>
You don't have write access for your itunes media folder or a folder within it. Change permissions etc.
I've changed permissions on all folders and sub folders within itunes to read & write, have completed disk repair also.
Still no change? any suggestions

standard reply so ignore what you've done already !
check if you have read & write permissions for your music folder. in the finder, right-click on it and get info. unlock the little padlock (you may have to enter your admin password) and change the permission settings if necessary. next, click on the little gear-shaped icon and apply to enclosed items like so
⇒ the important part is to apply to enclosed items ! ⇐

Still losing iTunes media files

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