The Movie could not be used because the original file could not be found

The message " the movie could not be used because the original file could not be found" comes up when i try the play certain movies, ive not deleted them or anything and will still play bacause they are also saved in my movies and work with windows media,
any ideas what i may have done
Thanks

This kind of error, with anything iTunes uses, happens when someone moves the origonal file. I whould sugest deleteing the files tat are having this problem from iTunes only, then adding them back from where the files are.

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  • When i try play a song i get this message " the song could not be used because your original file could not be found, would you like to locate.  I tunes works on my iPad

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    I am getting this same message.  I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac.  Perhaps they did not transfer something critical?  I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle. 
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  • My iTunes account sayscould not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? whenever i click on a song and i didn't move the songs anywhere. I don't know if i saved them to my hard drive so i can't find any songs

    I downloaded something that was told to me to get to put some of my itunes songs onto my android phone. I think it synced my account, though. Whenever i click on a song an exclamation point comes up and something pops up and says "could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" and i don't remember ever backing up my songs (this computer is fairly new) and now none of my songs come up. I have no idea what to do but ive spent hundreds of dollars on this account purchasing from the itunes store. Please help me!

    Tunes works through a database file which has a list of your tracks.  When you click on a track it looks up in the database which file it needs to play, then plays the file.  If something breaks this link then you get !  The two main ways to get ! are to move a file from where iTunes expects it to be, or to delete it altogether.  I don't know which has happened in your case.  You can try using Spotlight to find a file for the one referred to in a broken link.  If the files have been moved then they need to be moved back.  If they were deleted completely you will have to restore them from a backup or download them again from the iTunes Store and rebuild your library.

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    See Make a split library portable. Move all of the bits of the library together in the the correct shape and it should work. Or undo exactly what you did and then start over.
    If you're a former Windows user don't try merging two folders together that have the same name by dropping one into the same folders as the other, as that goes badly on a Mac.
    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

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    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.
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    Shouldn't have any more problems...

  • The TV show could not be used because the original file could not be found

    "The TV show “Blah-blah ep.23” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    I know this problem is listed (and unanswered) from quite a few users in the forums for song files, but I haven’t found any that mention TV shows. To add to the heap, and help emphasize to iTunes that this is a major bug in need of fixing, here is my version of this problem.
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    On the next startup of iTunes, I go in to watch an old episode again or click on an unwatched episode, but it isn’t there anymore and the old “would you like to locate it?” message pops up. After being through this at least a dozen times in the last year, I know there is no point in looking for the file because it’s gone. The only choice is to go into iTunes support and ask them to reset the download, which they’ve always done without question, and then I have to download the file all over again. This is a huge hassle and all the more frustrating because it happens so irregularly.
    I’ve tried to find answers in these discussion forums, but have been unable to see any reasonable solution and wish to add to the voices of annoyed paying customers in the hope something will be done. If anyone is interested, the bizarre and time consuming workaround I’ve had to employ is:
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    2. On the next shutdown-startup cycle, I can then go back and move the file back into its correct location in the iTunes TV Shows subfolders and I’ll never have a problem again with THAT particular file being deleted.
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    Yes, only TV shows. I've never had a random silent delete of a song file. I also considered that Windows might be blocking the file to save space, but with no limitations set in the control panel that isn't the problem either. In fact, I've only had this problem with season pass downloads. It's never happened with a single download of a video or TV episode.
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    Still seeking answers or advice.
    Cheers.

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    When I try to listen to the songs I purchased from iTunes last week, I get the error message, "could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it?"  What do I do to fix this problem or locate the song?
    Thanks!

    I am getting this same message.  I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac.  Perhaps they did not transfer something critical?  I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle. 
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  • The song...could not be used because the original file could not be located

    I just used Garageband this past Sunday, no problem...I open it up tonight and I get this message:
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    I click the OK button and it comes up with another song title, and I have clicked it 20 or 30 times already and it keeps coming up and I can't access anything else and it is frustrating!
    Anyone know how to stop the madness?!
    iMac 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 1 TB HD, OS X 10.9.3
    Garageband 10.0.2

    "The song...could not be used because the original file could not be located."
    GarageBAnd cannot find the recorded media or imported audio files, that should be in the Media folder inside your project.
    Crtl-click the GarageBand icon in the Dock and use Force-quit to quit your current project.
    Then ctrl-click the .band file of your current project and select  "Show package contents." open the Media folder inside and check if all recorded media and imported audio files are there and you can play them.
    Have you moved your project or has it been transferred by mail?
    If the media are missing or do not play, there is not much you can do. If all media are there, repair the permissions of the project. If it is on an external drive, move it to your system drive and try there.
    If you cannot rescue the project, copy the media file out of the project, so you can use the recordings to recreate the song.You can launch GarageBand into the file "recent songs" panel to create a new project or to pick a recent project, by holding down  the alt/options key while double-clicking the GarageBand icon.

  • I keep getting " The song**** could not be used because the original file c

    Ok, I'll try not to get my problem too confusing or complicated. Had a virus and had pc repair store wipe and reload my operating system. They backed everything up and put it in a folder on my desktop. I reinstalled i-tunes. Opened i-tunes. checked my library. Everything is there but duplicated. I manually dumped all duplicates.(That was fun!) I try to play songs. I keep getting " The song** could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    I locate my i-tunes files in C drive, docs/settings, my docs, i-Tunes, i-Tunes music. I see an icon showing MPEG4 with a musical note and little "lock" symbol in the corner. I double click that icon and i-Tunes opens up and the songs starts playing. If I shut my pc down and restart it, go to i-tunes find that song and click it it always plays now. Okay that's one song fixed. Also if I find the icon in C drive again the little lock symbol is gone. Now down to the meat of my question; am I going to have to do this individually with all 2700 songs? Please tell me a faster way.
    Thank you

    If you know where all songs are located on the computer, I'd suggest just removing everything from iTunes and then adding it back in.
    Edit > Select All
    Edit > Delete
    *Choose the option to Remove from library
    *If prompted to move to recycle bin, choose Keep File
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    The lock icon suggests that the file is "protected," so most likely purchased from the iTunes store.
    CG

  • The song _____could not be used because the orignial file could not be found. anybody know how to fix this in windows?

    The song____could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Anybody know how to fix this in windows os?

    I am getting this same message.  I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac.  Perhaps they did not transfer something critical?  I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle. 
    I have the same issues with my downloaded movies but my apps all seem to be fine.
    Even more confusing - it seems to allow random songs to play and download on my Macbook and other devices.  But most of my music - whether downloaded from iTunes or my CD collection comes up with that message about the original file. 
    Should I get new geeks to locate these files on my old mini-mac?

  • TS1718 Why do I get this message:  The song "title" could not be used because the oringinal file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?

    Why do I get this message:  The song "title" could not be used because the oringinal file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?

    John Black3 wrote:
    Many of my songs in my iTunes Library no longer play.  I get this error message: "The song xxx could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
    this usually happens when a user moves or deletes files in the finder - a sure way to upset iTunes.
    did you move or delete files in the finder ?
    I cannot locate the song.
    if you let iTunes manage your library, all your content will be in <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music/iTunes/iTunes music (or media)/music. did you look there ? tried a spotlight search ?
    if the files are really gone, and have been purchased from the iTunes store, see Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store.

  • My iTunes says: "The song ".............." could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" How do I solve this ?

    My iTunes says: "The song “..............” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" How do I solve this ?

    That means iTunes cannot find the music file associated with the listing in its database.  The first thing to do is simply say "yes" and then try to find the file it should be.  If there are many entries like this, did you rename or move any files or folders with media?  Also run disk utility and check your drive isn't corrupted and losing files left, right and center.

  • On some of my files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" Then when I click "Locate", I get nothing.

    I'm really dumbfounded on this one and it's driving me bonkers!!!! On some of my music files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    This began to happen when Chuck made playlists2burn on2CD-and then he would delete the playlist; sending all the song files into oblivion. Certain songs have a ! right next to the file name, and as I stated before, i get that error message:
    "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    So I click on "Locate". No help. I get a menu with folders that say "catroot" and other folders which names I cannot remember, but I scroll PAST the file folders, & it's just a bunch of ".DLL" files.....I don't understand what any of the names of the folders mean...it's frustr8ing-coz this is my 2nd iTouch, my 1st one got stolen & I can't afford2buy my music back at this time & i NEVER before had a single problem with losing song file locations.
                  Is there anyone out there who has been through this frustrating game of chasing your tail?....<that's how I feel>
    If so I would be ever so gr8ful if maybe someone with the knowledge would be so kind as 2 tell me how/where 2 retrieve these songs & how to put everything back where it belongs, I would be 4ever gr8ful !!!
    I can't afford 2 replace the songs just like I'm unable 2 buy back my old music from my stolen iTouch....man that was an awesome collection-someday I'll be able 2 afford 2 do that & I would like 2 have all the new music that I paid 4 but cannot find when I got my new iTouch....that would just be  wonderful.
                 I hope someone sees this post that can help me retrieve these files....losing $100.00 of iTunes is a REAL BUMMER!!!!!!
                                                      ThanQ SO very much!
                                                                             [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] .
                                                                                               You can also find me on Facebook, my given name is Tiffinie Trimmer, &
                                                                                                that's my Facebook "handle".    ThanQ 4 taking the time 2 read all of this!
                                                                                                hope 2 get a reply someday....I'll B checking all my emails & my Facebook, as well
                                                                                                as marking this page in my FAVORITES so I can find it fast! Take Care!!!

    I was not complete clear.
    Since you never changed the settings in the advanced section of iTunes preferecnes, you have to chech that your music is really in the location setted in the folders reported in the advanced section.  If not you have 2 ways: reset the position of this folders or in the actual disk organisation or in the pointing on the preferences.
    If you press the reset button you just give to itunes its default setting as for the position of the music files: probably this will be a good choice if you have never changed any default preference.
    But before I would check the folders and see if the songs are really there
    In my iTune I have this, and I believe it is the default.
    Users/YOURHOMEFOLDERNAME/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music

  • What does this message mean: This song could not be used because the original file could not be found--When I try to play songs there is an "!" next to it.

    A friend recenlty replaced my hard drive.
    When I try to use itunes--I receive this message: "The song could not be used because the original could not be found, would you like to locate it? Next to my songs I see this: "!" Help--Please!!

    Well what happened is the pathname to the song has changed slightly.
    For instance if the song was located say c\:Windows\User\Mary\Music\iTunesFolder
    and now it's c:\Windows\User\MaryXray\Music\iTunesFolder
    I'm assuming here your music was replaced in the Music folder like on the old hard drive, that iTunesFolder was simply copied over in whole.
    So to fix things, you go into the iTunes Folder in your Music Folder and look for a iTunes Music Library .XML file and open it in a Text Program that has "find and replace" ability.
    You find the partial pathname of the old drive and you replace ALL instances of it with the new pathname.
    so \Windows\User\Mary  would be changed to
    \Windows\User\MaryXray
    Save the file and reopen iTunes.

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