"The song ______ could not be used because the original could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" Getting this message, only download 10.6.3.... where could they be? how do I find them on my PC?

Trying to find songs? No other changes to computer, just the download of itunes 10.6.3.??
How do I find the originals or get them back??

The default location for iTunes downloads on Windows Vista is under : \Users\username\My Music\ (where username is the name that you've chosen to use on your computer). If you do 'get info' (control-I) on one of the tracks (and tap 'no' on the 'would you like to locate' popup) then you might be able to see where iTunes is expecting to find that track (it should show at the bottom of the Summary tab).
If you can't find your iTunes downloads underneath that folder (and you can't find it via a search in windows explorer) then depending upon what country that you are in (music can't be re-downloaded in all countries) then you could try redownloading them via the Purchased link under Quick Links on the right-hand side of the iTunes store home page on your computer's iTunes. If you still have the entries for them on your iTunes library, then even though the files behind them may no longer exist on your computer, iTunes will assume that you still have them and won't let you re-download them, so you need to delete the iTunes entries first before trying re-downloading.
Re-downloading : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519

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"original file could not be found, would you like to locate it." error

I recently bought my first MAC and imported my Itunes library onto it using my 3G 40GB ipod. When I try to play some songs in Itunes on the MAC I get the "original file could not be found, would you like to locate it." error message. The songs are on my IPOD and able to played from my ipod, yet they will not synch or transfer to the MAC.
What can I do other than reload the songs from the original cd's?
Thanks in advance.
Sean

Click on this earlier post of mine and read ALL the info listed before trying any fix.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5351732#5351732
DIXIE

I have a new computer that downloaded all of my playlist. but i cannot play all songs. i get a error that say "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it? but it does not help to resolve.

i installed itunes to my new computer and transfered all my playlist from the older computer. the software came with the new computer hp link up. the problem
comes in where i want to play a certain song on a playlist and this error pops up "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found.
would you like to locate it? which is of no help.
is there a solution to this problem?

The file path for these songs IS NOT correct per your iTunes Library file.
See: http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=listmias for an Applescript to locate these files for re-adding.

When I try to listen to a song I purchased last week, I get the message, "could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it?" What do I do to find it?

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.
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?

HT204406 The song "If We Are the Body" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? This notice keeps coming up even though I have iTunes Match. What do I do?

The song “If We Are the Body” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? This notice keeps coming up even though I have iTunes Match. What do I do?

This usually means the original music file has been been deleted from the HDD. If you feel it has not then click "locate" and navigate to where the song file is on the HDD and choose it. You can use Spotlight to locate it if necessary.

Error code; original file could not be found, would you like to locate it?

when i try to transfer songs from my library to my ipod shuffle, i get this error message (error code; original file could not be found, would you like to locate it?). Then an exclamation point(!) in the first column it appears next to the song in the library.
When i go to the folder mymusic/itunes/itunesmusic folder, the song is there, but why is there an exclamation point next to the song in the library? And how do I restore all these songs, and what causes this?

Sounds like your iTunes .ITL library file got corrupted.
What are the iTunes library files?
There are some posts around here by Buegie on how to fix that...

Ihave tons of music on itunes , but everytime i try to select it says "the original file cannot be found, would you like to try and locate it" i have no idea what happened to all of my music any tips? i have a dell windows vista.. thanks !

I have tons of music on itunes , but everytime i try to select it says "the original file cannot be found, would you like to try and locate it" i have no idea what happened to all of my music any tips? i have a dell windows vista.. thanks !

Basically, the computer thinks the music is 'lost'. Follow the prompts and try to locate it. It should navigate to the files and redraw the links which should make that pop up go away

My partner deleted my itunes (10) library. I use a WD external back-up and retrieved my itunes library, but when i try to play a song i get the message 'could not be used because the original file could not be found Would you like to locate it?'

My partner deleted, by accident my itunes library. I have an iMac 10.6.7, Itunes 10. I use an WD passport as an external back up and retrieved my itunes library but now get the message "could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" so itunes is not recognised the exclamation marked songs, how do i get the retrieved files recognised. At times I get fed-up with Apple blocking files being used, although I like the product its restrictions are so silly!

You not only have to retrieve the library file from the backup drive but the actual music files (usually stored within the "iTunes Media" folder) as well.

Song could not be used file not found would you like to locate it?

I receive the following message when I try to play a song from my library in Itunes:
This song could not be used because the origional file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
The songs that were purchased from Itunes play with no problem but all the others have this message. There are thousands of songs stored and it would be impossible to do this for every song. Any reason why this happed and any suggestions on how to get these songs to play without locating every file?

What worked for me was to delete all the songs from my library (but keep the files!) and then drag & drop the folder containing all the music files into my library: See: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6471379#6471379

Itunes Error song cannot be found would you like to locate it?

I downloaded Itunes 10 on windows vista last Saturday, but after I synched my Iphone 3gs I noticed that none of my 1000 songs where on my Iphone as well as my 55 Ringtones bought from myxer.com. When I click on the song/ringtone it comes up with an error stating "The song "such and such" could not be used because the original location file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" I have tried many times to locate and I upload it to my itunes library but as soon as I shut Itunes out it does it again. No matter what type of music it is whether it be downloaded, cds or bought from the store this error appears everytime with every song and ringtone. I have spent over 4 hours on the phone with apple techs with no results. This is very ridiculous to have to import all my cds and songs that are saved onto my computer over and over again. The apple techs have had me uninstall and re-install Itunes twice, and had me search for all different types of files for my Itunes to find them with no luck. Please help!!!!!!

Select a broken track and press ctrl-i to Get Info. Look on the summary tab for the location where iTunes "thinks" the file should be. Where is it really? Post back the two locations and I can suggest the best approach.
tt2

"song could not be found would you like to locate it? "

I get this message alot i guess because i keep all my music on an external harddrive. When i got a new harddrive and put my songs on it alot of the "paths" suddenly did not work. if the computer cannot find the song all i have to did is say i would like to locate it and then type the name of the song in and it finds it every time. The problem comes when i have to do this say a hundred times because i have a ton of music. Can i make itunes or automater do that for me? If that doesn't make sense please leave a comment and i'll get back to you thanks again.

iTUnes isn't like other programs in windows that "Watch" folders and files for changes. What I mean buy this is players like WIndows Media Player (WMP for short) Winamp and others will "Watch" for changes you make. If you go into "My MUsic" folder and chage the name of a song file or move it from one folder to another, these players will catch that change usually and update there library.
Sadly iTUnes for windows does not do this. If you change ANYTHING, like the name of the file or the folder its in, or move it from one folder to another, iTUnes looses track of its location and puts a ! mark beside the songs.
The only way to fix it is either put the files and folders back to the way they were OR manually go thru the library and show iTUnes where each file is.

TS4062 i cannot sync all the songs/artists i want with i tunes I am getting the message "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found would you like to locate it" but it cant... most of my music on i tunes is now saying this I h

Help I cannot

Hello Imelda2
You would need to locate those songs on your computer. Check out the article below for tips on how to locate the files and relink them.
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1408
Regards,
-Norm G.

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

OSX 10.9.5

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?

Hi all, when i use itunes , to play a song this message comes up ,the song could not be used because the original file could not be found would you like to locate it?

help !

dwmwood,
Double click a song with ! mark on side, you will be given an option to locate the file where the song is held. If so select "locate" and direct it to the folder / file where the song is and open it.
iTunes then will give you the option to use this process to update all of your library. OK that as this will do it automatically instead of doing them one by one.
I hope this helps.

Error message:song could not be found would you like to locate it

The music is already in my folder, as this had =s happened with most of my music is there a quick fix?

You get exclamation marks or dead tracks because iTunes can’t find the file. This can happen for a number of reasons:
The song file or a folder in its path was renamed
The song file or the folder it is in has been moved
The song file has been deleted
The device containing the song files e.g. external drive is not accessible.
So did you change anything? If so can you put it back how it was?
Anyway, if all your tracks have exclamation marks, the quickest fix is to close iTunes, then drag iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml out of your iTunes folder to the desk top.
Then open iTunes and an empty library is created. Then use File>>Add folder to library to add your iTunes umisc folder to iTunes. If you have music in other folders add those too.
This fix loses all coutns, ratings and playlists.
If only a few tracks have exclamation marks, you can just add your iTunes music folder, this will not create duplicates, but will add any missing tracks.
The entries with exclamation marks will remain and these can be removed, which I can tell you how to do if you choose this route.

"The song ______ could not be used because the original could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" Getting this message, only download 10.6.3.... where could they be? how do I find them on my PC?

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