iTunes Help (I feel like an idiot for asking this.)
 

So for some reason about a month ago iTunes decided it didn't want to recognize any of my music. It gives me the...

"The song "Baby Got Back" can not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?"


Now, mind you, I haven't changed a thing. All my music has always been on my external HD which is working just fine. So is there anyway that I can get iTunes to locate all 80g of music or am I gonna have to erase it all and start over again? Cause that would suck a giant sweaty ball sack.

At some point, you started iTunes without your external hard drive turned on. At which point, iTunes lost track of everything.

I'll be back, off to search for the solution, which I've seen recently...

(I trust that was the Jonathan Coulton cover of Baby Got Back?)

---------- Post added at 02:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 PM ----------

OK, there's a few options listed under macosxhints.com - One solution for iTunes 'can't find file' problems, be sure to read through the comments before proceeding.

You can always just remove everything from your iTunes library (but don't delete the actual music files on your HDD) and then do "Add folder to library..." to have iTunes re-scan all of your music files.

Or is that what you're trying to avoid?

Redlemon, that's the problem. I never opened iTunes with my external HD disconnected.


But I'll give that a shot.

I hope your music is safe King. I'd hate to start again, but my collection is nowhere near as big as yours.
Saying that I do have a similar question..........
I have my iTunes on my work PC simply because I have more time in the day to charge my iPod and stuff.
Here's the problem - I have a feeling I may be moving on soon to pastures new. The thing is my PC doesn't have a CD writer. Can I move my tunes any other way than burning to a disc? Can I stick it on a flash drive? I know iTunes can be right arsy about things like this. Is it possible?

Sorry to hijack the thread but it's still relevant - sort of! *blush*
:thumbsup:

Update:


Tried everything from that site Redlemon posted. Nothing worked. I know the music is all still there. iTunes just seems to have sand in it's pussy.

Do you have iTunes set to automatically organize your music? If not you can just do what Wrexify said and just delete the songs from the library and not the files themselves and just re-add all the songs to iTunes by selecting your music folder.

I recently moved both songs and videos from iTunes from my laptop to my desktop using a flash drive. You have to move the source files and then add those files to your library on the new computer. Also, using this method will require you to have the new computer authorized under itunes to play the music.

grayman I'm forever in your debt! :thumbsup:

Sorry about that. Did you try Wrexify's method? To create a brand-new library file, read How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one .

Wrexifys method seems like the thing to do.

ive had to do that a few times. i have 16 gigs of music, so it took some time. always a pain in the ass.