The song could not be used since the original file could not be found.Help!

The hard drive in my PC went bad, so I backed up my data, and imported all of my iTunes music back on. Now, it won't play any of it because it states that the original song couldn't be found!!!- How do I use iTunes so I don't have to run from a my backup disc???
Thanks

When that message comes up, you have the option to "locate" the file, right ? You probably need to point Itunes to the exact location - usually --- my music/artist/album/song.
how did you import these songs - straight from the cd to itunes ? Or did you copy the files to the hard drive and use --- add folder under file ? If they are only on the cd, not the hard drive, I think that is the problem.
Copy them to my music,remove from itunes the songs that have that error, and copy them back in with FILE ---ADD FOLDER. GOOD LUCK AND LET ME KNOW...Connie
"husband built" PC   Windows 2000  

Similar Messages

  • 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?

  • Song could not be used b/c orignal file could not be found

    Hi Everyone,
    Ok, I screwed up something and I think it was the "link" to my itunes files. Here is my situation. When I choose certain songs the following dialogue box appears "The song "xxxxxxxxxx" could not be used because the oroginal file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" I have been doing this all evening. Is there a short cut that will re-establish the connection? Thanks for your time and help

    Quit iTunes ...... Relaunch iTunes while holding down the OPTION key.
    Choose: reload "Music Library"
    Quit iTunes ...... Repair Permissions (Disk Utility) .... RESTART computer.
    Launch iTunes.
    DIXIE

  • What do i do if my songs won't play and it says original file can not be located?

    My "original" I-tunes library is on my windows xp desk top and I have a macbook pro laptop library. I always accessed the original through home sharing but the library no longer shows up on my mac. On my desktop it says the song cant be used because the original file can't be located and there is 2 i-tunes shortcuts but neither will play music. I chose to locate the original but that doesn't work either. How do I fix this?

    Hello shaum9120,
    Thanks for the question, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.
    It sounds like iTunes has lost the file path for the music. The best step will be to follow part 4-6 of the following article (under the External drive section):
    iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
    Here is an excerpt of Part 5 (see article for other important steps):
    Part 5: Copy music to your new computer
    To copy all your music files (including the library file that holds all your playlists and other settings) to your new computer:
    1. Locate the following folder on your new computer:
              Mac OS X: /Users/username/Music
              Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
              Windows Vista: \Users\username\Music\iTunes
              Windows 7 and Windows 8: \Users\username\My Music\iTunes
    2. Drag the "iTunes" folder in this location out to the desktop.
              From the Music folder to the Desktop on your new Mac:
              From the My Music folder to the Desktop on your new PC:
    3. Locate the external drive on your new computer:
              Mac OS X: On the desktop.
              Windows: In My Computer.
    4. Double-click on the external drive icon to open it.
    5. Drag the iTunes folder from the external drive to the Music folder (Mac OS X) or My Music Folder (Windows) on your new computer (from step 1 of this section). This can take a while if you have a lot of content.
    6. Open iTunes.
    You've now moved all your music, playlists, and other information like play counts and ratings from your old computer to your new one.
    Thanks,
    Matt M.

  • Receiving error message "The song "example" cannot be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?". I have not changed any file names ...

    Ive searched this error message and tried to remedy, with no luck.

    Yes, with no luck ... But I'm not exactly a computer tech. I searched with spotlight with no results.

  • TS1424 can't play some songs,keep getting original file could not be found...on my pc

    Cant play certain song while in music libary comes up original file could not be found on my pc

    Are the files still on the computer?  If so, point iTunes to the files.

  • Original file could not be found ----PLEASE HELP

    Hello,
    I have 4,000 MP3s on an extrenal hard drive.
    When I open iTunes, I would double click on a song, and it would play.
    NOW, for whatever reason, when I double click on a song, a window pops up and says: +Original file could not be found, would you like to locate it?+
    I then have to manually locate the song, for it to play.
    I do not want to do that for 3,999 more MP3s.
    I went to EDIT>PREFERENCES>ADVANCE>GENERAL andmade sure the file path is my F Drive (external hard drive) where my MP3's are.
    Still no luck.
    The 2 or 3 songs, that I've manually located have a speaker by the title. The other 3,900+ MP3s have and exclamation point by the title.
    Can anyone PLEASE help me?

    I went to FILE> ADD FOLDER TO LIBRARY and selected the folder where my MP3s were.
    This updated my itunes library and now allow me to play every song, but it also made a duplicate of every song.
    Example:
    Kanye West - Stronger
    Kanye West - Stronger
    1 plays and 1 doesn't.
    I just have to go and delete the songs with the infront of the title.

  • When selecting a song to play in iTunes, I get an error message indicating the song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it.  I have no idea where to look since the library hold all my files.

    When selecting a song to play from iTunes library, I continually get an error message indicating the original file could not be found.  Then asks, would you like to locate it?  Does anyone know how to fix this?   I'm not even able to play the songs I purchased due to this error message.  Any ideas how to remedy this problem? 
    Thanks

    It would help to have more background about your iTunes collection such as if you keep it on an external drive, or if you have moved or renamed anything recently.  iTunes is very sensitive to you renaming or moving files or folders involved with your media.  iTunes only keeps a reference to where a media file is located  and then goes to look for it when you try to play it. If you have changed things since it was added to itunes then it's like me sending you to look for a friend in my addressbook but that friend has moved.
    The other possibility is your computer is starting to lose files.  Again, the computer uses a reference database to tell it where on the drive to look for a file. If that database gets corrupt then it starts losing files.  Use Dsk Utility's first aid to verify your hard drive.

  • Since i download the new version of i tunes i canot play the songs of my library...it say that "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found" what i do to just play the songs directly? please someone help

    since i download the new version of i tunes i canot play the songs of my library....it say "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found".
    would you like to locate it.i just want to play directly..what i do?  please help  thanks

    This happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout,or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
    Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to get info, then cancel when asked to try to locate the track. Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions.
    Alternatively, as long as you can find a location holding the missing files, then you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes .
    tt2

  • 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

  • Library Lost - Please HeIp I tried updating my old ipod & now all 10,000 songs in my library have an ! next to them and I get the error message "song " " could not be used because the original file could not be found" on every song I try to play

    Please help - this morning I tried updating one of my old ipods for my wife (this ipod hasn't been updated in 2-3 years).  I plugged it into my pc, it was recognized and the software updated.  I created a new playlist and tied to sync the ipod.  This ipod had never been used on this pc/itunes since the pc is only 2 years old.  When I tried to sync the ipod it stated that it would have to erase all the old songs on the ipod prior to syncing.  I clicked ok and it proceeded to wipe out the old ipod and sync the new playlist (~1000 songs).  When the sync was complete there were only 6 songs from the new playlist (all purchased this morning from itunes) on the ipod and to my horror all ~10,000 song on my pc in itunes now have a ! next to them.  Only my recent purchases from itunes do not.  When I click on a song with the ! I get the error message "the song " " could not be used because the original file could not be found."  How do I correct this issue - I am scared to hook my ipads or other ipods to my pc for fear of losing everything?!?!?  I spent 100s of hours burning the 10,000 songs from my cd collection and do not want to have to do it again. 
    Any help is greatly appreciated.

    This "original file cannot be found" thing happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout,or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
    Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to get info, then cancel when asked to try to locate the track. Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions.
    Alternatively, as long as you can find a location holding the missing files, then you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes .
    tt2

  • After installing iTunes 10.5 update i get the following message when trying to play any song in my Library "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"  how do i fix this??

    I have an iPod Classic and work on Windows 7.
    i recently installed iTunes 10.5 update and since then i cannot play any of the songs in the Library - i get the following message
    "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?"
    what happened to all my songs (almost 2000) How can i get them back into my music library?
    Please help - i do not want to spend another week downloading all my cd's onto my computer !!!!!

    Try my script FindTracks. Select a few of the missing files to start with then run the script. Choose No at the first prompt so that you can check how it works track by track, then confirm or edit the location of the media folder where your files are. Once you are happy with how it behaves let it process larger numbers of tracks automatically.
    tt2

  • I tried to play my iTunes and suddenly get an error message that says "The song (name) could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it now?"  It happens on all my tunes and each one I select ends up with a "?"

    I tried to play my iTunes and suddenly get an error message that says "The song (name) could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it now?"  It happens on each tune I select and a "?" appears beside the song.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?

    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

  • When trying to sync or listen to songs in itunes library it says the song on itunes could not be used because the original file could not be found. I am using windows 7.

    I have imported cds into my itunes and they appear on my playlist, but when I try to sync to my ipod or listen to them on my computer a message comes up stateing " the songs on itunes could not be used because the original file could not be found".  I have not deleted them and am importing them the way I always have.  This problem has only been for the last 4 or 5 months. Since updating to the last 2 itunes versions.

    The message means that iTunes can not find the original imported music files. iTunes should display a red exclamation mark next to the songs it can not find. You will need to look on your hard drive for the songs/files and than correct the file path in iTunes or just delete the files in your iTunes library and import them again.

  • HT1459 We recently bought a new HP all in one Pavelion computer, and once it was set up we downloaded my itunes.  Now when I go to play a song from my library, an error message comes up saying: the song......could not be used because the file could not be

    Since I have a new computer , I had to download my itunes to the new computer.  Now I cannor listen to anything in my library.  I get the message;: the song...could not be used becaue the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it? Then gives me the option to loaacat it or cancel:  Why is this happening??

    you have to file the music file if you dont itunes cant play a file that does not exist. check the get info and look for the old music file on your old computer. Or do this http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4527.

Maybe you are looking for