iTunes Library is broken, not found

[evolver]

All I've done is created a new Library, which I've done before with no problem. Now the original is not where it should be. It was not deleted. It was not moved. It's got to be on here somewhere!

 

[evolver]

When I go to my original location, the iTunes Library file is greyed-out and not selectable.

 

[MacInWin]

When I go to my original location, the iTunes Library file is greyed-out and not selectable.

What does that mean? How are you "going to" your original location? What application are you using to go there?

It might help if you read the link in my sig and then posted again with more information.

 

[evolver]

I am running iTunes 11.3 on OSX 10.8.5.

I keep my iTines Library in a folder in Applications which I access via the a shortcut on the sidebar.

When I try via iTunes 'Choose Library' it is greyed-out.
When I try via Finder the error says "The folder containing the iTunes Library cannot be found, as is required".

This is what happened before the disaster:

-I created a new library on my external drive
-I de-selected "copy files when importing"
-I imported songs from external drive and created playlists and Quit.
-I then tried to open, via iTunes CHOOSE LIBRARY my older library on my laptop and it was greyed out, I believe.

-I go to same file via Finder and double-click and it got the "File not found"

I then went to the new library and re-selected "copy files into iTunes when importing".

Strangely, the last thing it did yesterday (but not today), when I double-clicked on my older main library via Finder, is that it opened the brand new Library.

 

[MacInWin]

I am using iTunes 12, but I think this is unchanged. Open iTunes, Preferences. On the Advanced tab there is a place for iTunes Media folder location. You can use the Change function to change whatever is there to point to where you want it to be. It opens a Folder-like box for you to navigate to wherever the Music folder is located.

I've looked all over my iTunes and I cannot find a "Choose Library" prompt or box.

I don't understand what you mean in this:

When I try via Finder the error says "The folder containing the iTunes Library cannot be found, as is required".

Finder is just Finder, it shouldn't care about iTunes. I am also confused by:

I go to same file via Finder and double-click and it got the "File not found"

If you find the file in Folder, how can it report "File not found?"

 

[evolver]

I am using iTunes 12, but I think this is unchanged. Open iTunes, Preferences. On the Advanced tab there is a place for iTunes Media folder location. You can use the Change function to change whatever is there to point to where you want it to be. It opens a Folder-like box for you to navigate to wherever the Music folder is located.

I've looked all over my iTunes and I cannot find a "Choose Library" prompt or box.

Regarding the iTunes Media Folder: all my songs are intact, I fear if I change that location from within the new library and point it to the media from my old library, it will create a new library with all of my old playlists gone.

Regarding the "Choose Library": option+double-click on iTunes icon lets you create or choose a library.

Whatever craziness was happening before, I do not know. All I know now is that when I open via Finder from my old iTunes folder, it opens my new library. Weird thing is that Get Info says the file was created in May of 2014. This new library was created 2 days ago. My old library was created in 2010.

WHERE IS MY OLD LIBRARY? Please help!! I've done this process before and NEVER had a problem.

 

[MacInWin]

Regarding the iTunes Media Folder: all my songs are intact, I fear if I change that location from within the new library and point it to the media from my old library, it will create a new library with all of my old playlists gone.

That location is not "in" any library, it IS the library iTunes uses a default. So, when you point to it as i said, what happens is that the small db within the Music folder that holds the information about that particular location is accessed by iTunes, and it appropriately opens. Your fear is, I suspect, not needed.

However, try this: Search for a file called Library.itl

That file is the db that contains the Library information. on my system, it's stored in my home directly, folder Music/iTunes. Maybe where you find it on your system will help you find your original repository. If you have multiple places for your tracks, there may be a .itl file associated with each one.

 

[MacInWin]

Also, have you repaired permissions recently? In re-reading this thread, I realized I had not suggested that at the beginning when you said the folder was grayed out.

 

[evolver]

In a nutshell:

When I try to "Choose Library", via option+double-click iTunes icon, my old iTunes Library is greyed-out and HAS NO .itl extension. There is no .itl file in my old iTunes folder.

When i go to same file via Finder, it opens my new library.

Changing the Media Folder location has no effect.

And yes, I had repaired permissions.

Time to pony-up $20 to Apple phone support, I suspect thanks for trying.

 

[johnodd4]

Nope see when you told it to create a new library it deactivated the old one making it a backup file of your old library this is why you cannot use it you are only allowed 1 library when you try to create more it considers it piracy and locks out the other library because it thinks you are trying to steal music from one or more accounts

 

[Slydude]

NO .itl extension. There is no .itl file in my old iTunes folder.

Depending upon how you have the Mac set up it may not show that file extension -- or any other for that matter. If you want to see fie extensions go to Finder Preferences>Advanced and choose the first option.

 

[chas_m]

Nope see when you told it to create a new library it deactivated the old one making it a backup file of your old library this is why you cannot use it you are only allowed 1 library when you try to create more it considers it piracy and locks out the other library because it thinks you are trying to steal music from one or more accounts

This is completely incorrect. I have three iTunes libraries, and iTunes has been able to create multiple libraries for many years now.

iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one - Apple Support

 

[evolver]

Nope see when you told it to create a new library it deactivated the old one making it a backup file of your old library this is why you cannot use it you are only allowed 1 library when you try to create more it considers it piracy and locks out the other library because it thinks you are trying to steal music from one or more accounts

well this is F$$#ing new!!!!!! Never did this before! Couldn't it have freakin' warned me? = not happy. I was simply trying to organize playlists for my girlfriend's iPod. She lost her laptop's hard drive. Fortunately for her I had backed her files up.

So I have a backup of my library 4 months old. What would be the proper way to re-instate that Library file as my "1 library". I do not want to screw up this file. Thanks.

 

[chas_m]

Again, please ignore johnodd's post. It is incorrect. Please see post #13.

 

[evolver]

Can anyone comment on the procedure for re-instating a backup of the Library (Media content has been unchanged)? Just drag it into the iTunes folder, open and hope for the best?