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TICKET ARCHIVE -> iTunes 731 incompletely updates library

daquin - Jul 21, 2007 - 8:42 am

Since installing latest iTunes update (7.3.1), iTunes does not "find" some 4000 songs in my 30000 song Library. App asks me to locate song, which once done, then iTunes "sees" it. Tried rebuilding the xml file to no effect. Tried Consolidate library, but got msg that th eoperation was incomplete because "some songs could not be found."

What is the problem here? Is there a fix for this other that manually "finding" each of some 4000 songs?

earthsaver - Jul 21, 2007 - 11:24 pm

Does iTunes try to update the library every time you open it? I would try reverting to iTunes 7.2. (I can send you the package as it's hard to find online.) Does it find your whole library? (You might need to swap out your current iTunes Library file for a previous one or a backup if you have.) If so, click iTunes Store in the sidebar before reinstalling 7.3.1. Any change?

- Ben

daquin - Jul 23, 2007 - 11:23 pm

No, iTunes does not try to update on opening. It did so when I installed the update only. I would truly appreciate your sending me 7.2. Is 7.2 likely to "find" my entire library now? All of the songs are in my iT Music folder.

What do you mean about clicking iTunes store? I have many Podcasts, but almost no purchased songs or videos. (????)`

I do have some older Library files, but these are in Backup archives; can these be used? How?

Thank you for your help.

Landolphe

daquin - Jul 23, 2007 - 11:29 pm

My email is landolphe@comcast.net

earthsaver - Jul 26, 2007 - 5:00 am

iTunes 7.2 on its way. By iTunes Store, I meant quite simply, go to the iTunes Store, where you would purchase content. If you go to it in 7.2, you'll start in it in 7.3.1 instead of your library. And then the library update won't behave the same and might work. But to have an updatable library, you may need to replace your iTunes Library file with a backup. Either one from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder next to your current one, or from a backup.

earthsaver - Aug 20, 2007 - 6:34 pm

Here's iTunes 7.2 again. You'll need Pando to download it. The version of iTunes Library file shouldn't matter. Any later version should have no problem reading it.

Alternatively, you can try to reimport your iTunes Library by holding Option when opening iTunes, choosing to create a new library, and then choosing File > Import and selecting your iTunes Library.xml file. In doing so, however, you'll lose play counts (I think that's all). Not sure if it's possible to simply import your iTunes Library file this way, but it might be worth a shot.

earthsaver - Aug 23, 2007 - 8:53 pm

Landolphe - I cannot help you further unless you respond to my suggestions within a few days. Did you get 7.2? Any success? What's new?

daquin - Aug 24, 2007 - 7:34 pm

I now have the iT 7.2 you sent me (thank you!). I have done a Finder copy of all iT music files from the HD on which they live to an external HD (just to R/O a HD-related problem). I am ready to install 7.2. Do I just trash whatever I can find of 7.3.2?

Also, if problem is NOT in the iT app, it could be in the iT Music (database) file, yes? Can/should I re build that file and the xml file as well. How?--other that dropping 30000 music files on an empty 7.2 iTunes window??

Thank for your great assistance!!

Landolphe

earthsaver - Aug 24, 2007 - 9:03 pm

You can just trash the app of 7.3.2 and "upgrading" to 7.2 will do the trick. If necessary to rebuild the library, as I said before:

Don't trash your XML file. You need it for the import. And again, if it works, you should then be able to install 7.3.2 again and still be okay.

daquin - Aug 25, 2007 - 4:17 pm

Got it, I think. I thought the xml file had to do only with Playlists, but apparently not so. Since I will be using my current xml file, I assume that you have concluded that my problem is NOT with that file, yes?

So I will trash the 732 App ONLY, then do a "clean" install of 720, which will overwrite all existing 732 supporting files, yes?

Is this a known problem with 7.3.x or is it unique to my system?

Thanks again,

Lando

earthsaver - Aug 25, 2007 - 4:25 pm

Neither. I had a similar problem with iTunes 7.3 updating my library. For me the solution was to:

1. Trash 7.3.2 and install 7.2 (there are no supporting files that matter, so far as I know)
2. Open 7.2 and go to the iTunes Store
3. Immediately quit iTunes, leaving the Store in memory as the last showing screen
4. Install 7.3.2.
5. Open iTunes to be presented with the Store first, then returning to my Music library for a successful upgrade.

Only after that process doesn't work would I suggest creating a new library and importing from your XML file. (The problem is only with your iTunes Library file or iTunes' treatment of it. The XML file is a text-based export of that file.)

daquin - Aug 25, 2007 - 7:41 pm

Ok. I am installing 7.2, then doing the iTunes Store 2-step, then trashing 7.2 and reinstalling 7.3.2, right? Thanks

Lando

daquin - Aug 25, 2007 - 9:35 pm

Did not work as hoped.
I trashed 732 app; installed 72, which auto-load iT Library; immediately went to Store; quit app, leaving Store screen in memory.

Then installed 732 over 72; it too auto-updated library; as soon as it allowed me, I went to Store (but Library was alread on screen) in a new window (?). Once Store displayed, I went back to Library.

Same many 1000's of songs show as Not Found. Again I can instantly find any via Finder or thru iT maanually Finding.

What's might be wrong now? It APPEARS that all songs loaded before a certain date are the ones not found. Hmmm??????

HELP!

Lando

daquin - Aug 25, 2007 - 9:46 pm

If my Library File is munged, and if the xml File is only a text file of the Library file, if we use the xml File to build a new Library File, why would the new not be munged as well? I am assuming that if the Library File is munged, so will be the xml File, no?

What would happpen if I opened a new 7.3.2 (or 7.2?) with no Library and dropped the ITunes Music Folder with all 30000 songs on the blank Library window? All of the song files are there, so would this force creation of a completely new Library file for all of the 30k songs?

Lando

earthsaver - Aug 25, 2007 - 11:16 pm

Correct on the latter, but you would lose all ratings and I can't remember if other metadata, too. I don't know whether there's a glitch with both the Library and XML. I still suggest you try that before reloading everything from scratch.

daquin - Aug 25, 2007 - 11:20 pm

I have NO song ratings, so if that's the only loss, it would not matter. Do you suggest that I try the Open-Option method you suggested earlier? This is really a grim situation.

Lando

earthsaver - Aug 25, 2007 - 11:23 pm

That remains my suggestion.

daquin - Aug 28, 2007 - 11:38 pm

Nothing has yet solved this problem.
Question: Which file writes the song list displayed in Library view- xml or iTunes db file? My list of 30000 songs is OK, as are displays of all playlists, in both cases showing "cannot locate" songs.

All songs are readily visible to Finder, and can be manually located from within iTunes. So, I conclude that all 30000 song files are intact, uncorrupted, and duly recorded in appropriate OS directories.

Knowing wich of the 2 iTunes files does what might illuminate where the mung is, no? Of course, it could be the iTunes app? If you think it's likely in the 7.3.x app series, might I not just trash my 7.3.2; install the 7.2 you sent me; and run that version? Any "enhancements" in 7.3.x are irrelevant to me, since I cannot use those versions.

Thank you for sticking with me. You're the greatest!

Have others had this problem? Wht/why not?

Cheers,

Landolphe

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:13 am

Do you know the release dates of the various 7.x.x versions? I ask cuz I have a complete b/u of the song files and the 2 db iTunes files from June 29, 2007, but I do not know which version of iTunes I was using on that date. Do know that always updated to latest versions within 1 day after notice posted.

Thanks,

Landolphe

earthsaver - Aug 29, 2007 - 6:56 am

The xml file is only a backup iTunes creates (the user can create one manually) for the purpose of sharing the iTunes database with other applications and for reimporting due to a corrupt database. The iTunes Library file is that database, which contains all displayed song info, including ratings and play counts. While you can put the database anywhere you like, you set in the Advanced pane of iTunes Preferences the location of your iTunes music. The latter is the file iTunes reads and updates. The former is only a text-based export.

iTunes 7.3 came out on June 29. I don't know if your backed up files are from moments before or after the update. However, if I were you, I would find testing them out worthwhile. I'd backup my current iTunes folder and put the previously backed up database files in place of the current ones.

When you previously installed 7.2, it it see all your songs properly?

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:19 pm

Do you know the release dates of the various 7.x.x versions? I ask cuz I have a complete b/u of the song files and the 2 db iTunes files from June 29, 2007, but I do not know which version of iTunes I was using on that date. Do know that always updated to latest versions within 1 day after notice posted.

Thanks,

Landolphe

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:24 pm

I have full back up from 6/29, which is likely 7.2.x, as I think Iwas suspicious re 7.3 (hmmmm ?).

I will try your latest suggestion tonight and let you know. There is about 600 or so songs NOT in the 6/29 back up.

I also find a 4MB temp file in with my backup. Any idea what that might be?

Thank you again,

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:31 pm

I do recall having had this trouble before late June, so I am hoping that 7.2 had worked perfectly. When I tried your original suggestion to install 7.2, then immediately install 7.3.2, I do not know if 7.2 found all the songs or not, as I went to Store ASAP, then quit.

Any more info re what metadata would be lost if I dumped all 5900 file folders with the 30000 songs in iT Music into an empty copy of, say, 7.2.? I do not use Ratings or Play Counts, only Title, Artist, Album, Year, Track, Genre, and Grouping. IT auto adds date Added and File Type. If a mega-dump is feasible,it seems that it would surely solve the problem, no?

Cheers,
Landolphe

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:33 pm

I see that the 06/29 backup was created at 2:00 AM EST, so I probably di NOT yet have 7.3 (I hope).

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:39 pm

If it is the iT database file that contains all of the song data, and all of my "cannot locate" song files DO diplay perfectly in the main Library window, and if it is the DB file that is corrupt, THEN what in that file might be munged? Finder directory info for all songs is OK, cuz they are instantly found. I do not know what type of database structure Apple used for iT, but wonder: does it use pointers? is it relational or flat file? I know that it is fatally slow to process any editing one does on song info after imported, as (I am told) iT rewrites the entire DB file any time any info is corrected. True?

Lando

earthsaver - Aug 29, 2007 - 12:44 pm

All then you would lose would be playlist associations. The basic metadata of song info are contained in each song file. Sounds like that might be the best solution after all.

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 1:11 pm

If it is the iT database file that contains all of the song data, and all of my "cannot locate" song files DO diplay perfectly in the main Library window, and if it is the DB file that is corrupt, THEN what in that file might be munged? Finder directory info for all songs is OK, cuz they are instantly found. I do not know what type of database structure Apple used for iT, but wonder: does it use pointers? is it relational or flat file? I know that it is fatally slow to process any editing one does on song info after imported, as (I am told) iT rewrites the entire DB file any time any info is corrected. True?

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 1:18 pm

The mega-dump does sound like a solution, but it seems seriously drastic. I have about 80 playlists, but very few are complicated; most being based on an artist or a genre, so fairly easy to reconstruct, I think (hope).

Just thinking that IT cannot be relational, as it offers no relational functions. Has to be a flat file. So the iT DB file must be a header file (or some such...)

How/where are Playlist associations stored?

I believe that I have seen some Doug's AppleScripts to preserve/manipulate playlists, no?

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 1:51 pm

The mega-dump does sound like a solution, but it seems seriously drastic. I have about 80 playlists, but very few are complicated; most being based on an artist or a genre, so fairly easy to reconstruct, I think (hope).

Just thinking that IT cannot be relational, as it offers no relational functions. Has to be a flat file. So the iT DB file must be a header file (or some such...)

How/where are Playlist associations stored?

I believe that I have seen some Doug's AppleScripts to preserve/manipulate playlists, no?

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 2:29 pm

The mega-dump does sound like a solution, but it seems seriously drastic. I have about 80 playlists, but very few are complicated; most being based on an artist or a genre, so fairly easy to reconstruct, I think (hope).

Just thinking that IT cannot be relational, as it offers no relational functions. Has to be a flat file. So the iT DB file must be a header file (or some such...)

How/where are Playlist associations stored?

I believe that I have seen some Doug's AppleScripts to preserve/manipulate playlists, no?

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 2:59 pm

The mega-dump does sound like a solution, but it seems seriously drastic. I have about 80 playlists, but very few are complicated; most being based on an artist or a genre, so fairly easy to reconstruct, I think (hope).

Just thinking that IT cannot be relational, as it offers no relational functions. Has to be a flat file. So the iT DB file must be a header file (or some such...)

How/where are Playlist associations stored?

I believe that I have seen some Doug's AppleScripts to preserve/manipulate playlists, no?

Lando

earthsaver - Aug 29, 2007 - 4:09 pm

You know, I might have been mistaken, because I can't tell what metadata is missing from my XML file. Perhaps it has everything, which is why Apple offers these clear instructions about restoring a corrupt iTunes Library database. You can open your XML file and see what all info is there. Playlists appear below songs.

Clearly there is song location info that is corrupt in the main iTunes Library database file, from which iTunes reads song info when you use it. Said corruption may also be causing the slow write speeds you're experiencing.

I would first try rebuilding your Library with the current XML file. If that doesn't work, I would use the 6/29 backup and then reimport the 600 songs that weren't there when the file was created. Follow Apple's stepped instructions.

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 5:03 pm

The mega-dump does sound like a solution, but it seems seriously drastic. I have about 80 playlists, but very few are complicated; most being based on an artist or a genre, so fairly easy to reconstruct, I think (hope).

Just thinking that IT cannot be relational, as it offers no relational functions. Has to be a flat file. So the iT DB file must be a header file (or some such...)

How/where are Playlist associations stored?

I believe that I have seen some Doug's AppleScripts to preserve/manipulate playlists, no?

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 5:06 pm

Thanks for the Apple link. I'll see what they say. I'll also try to open the xml file (assuming Apple tells me how).

Thanks.

Film at 11.

Cheers.

lando

earthsaver - Aug 29, 2007 - 5:11 pm

It's just a text file. Use your favorite editor.

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 6:06 pm

Opened the xml file; can't say that anything appears grossly munged. Did a Find for a few of the songs that iT can't locate, and they are there, and their entries do not look any different from other entries. Beats me.

Lando

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 6:51 pm

Did the Reconstruct iT DB using xml File per Apple. After about 15 mins. got message that "Some of the songs in the xml file could not be imported because they could not be found" Appears to be be about 5000 or so. Iused 7.3.2 to do this.

Any thoughts? I am stumped.

Landolphe

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 6:55 pm

Interestingly, the NEW xml file and the new DB file are each about 15% larger than original versions (?????)

Landolphe

earthsaver - Aug 29, 2007 - 7:05 pm

Has the location of your music changed volumes in the last two months? Among the first dozen lines of your XML file, there's a Music Folder key. Make sure it's correct. Or, correct it and try the import again.

Did you do this reconstruct with the current xml file or the backup? Don't forget to try the other before you give up.

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 7:51 pm

Just noticed in the iT Music file, that there are 353 entries under COMPILATIONS. I have never designated anything as a Compilation; could be that some CDs contain tag info to that effect (?). It appears that all of the items in Compilations are marked as "cannot locate."

Is this a possible source of a mung up? I understood that somewhere between ver 6.x and 7.x Apple changed the structure of the DB. Could/did they change anything to do with Compilations?

If this is a problem, how do I rectify the Compilations? There is a Pref option to group Comps when browsing (mine is checked, but I have no idea what it means). ????

Hmmmm!!!???

Landolphe

daquin - Aug 29, 2007 - 7:55 pm

I also now see that iTunes has created duplicate Playlists for many things, like Music Videos, Recently Added, Podcasts, TV Shows, etc.. I did not do this. What might this indicate?

Landolphe

earthsaver - Aug 29, 2007 - 8:03 pm

Hmm. Compilations sounds like a possible glitch. Compilations are albums containing songs by various artists. Rather than store/view the songs by their respective artist, they are brought together as part of a compilation album.

I don't know if unchecking the view preference will change the storage, but there could be a connection. I also wonder if moving the folders inside the Compilations folder in the Finder to the main iTunes Music folder will change iTunes' recognition of file locations.

Regarding playlists, the duplicates are simply the playlists that iTunes creates by default for new libraries. You have doubles for every identical playlist you had previously in your library that matches one of these defaults.

daquin - Aug 30, 2007 - 6:50 am

I also now see that iTunes has created duplicate Playlists for many things, like Music Videos, Recently Added, Podcasts, TV Shows, etc.. I did not do this. What might this indicate?

Landolphe

daquin - Aug 30, 2007 - 6:54 am

Do you suggest that I move the folders within Compilations OUT to the main folder level within iT Music Folder?

Do some CDs contain tag data identifying CD as a compilation? I ask cuz I have never checked the Compilation box on any Info screen in iT.

Landolphe

earthsaver - Aug 30, 2007 - 7:00 am

When you import a CD that is tagged in Gracenote CDDB as a compilation because it contains various artists, do you always get info on the CD and uncheck the compilation box before importing? Or do you trust that if all the info you see in the song list looks okay, you can go ahead with the import?

daquin - Aug 31, 2007 - 2:59 pm

Do you suggest that I move the folders within Compilations OUT to the main folder level within iT Music Folder?

Do some CDs contain tag data identifying CD as a compilation? I ask cuz I have never checked the Compilation box on any Info screen in iT.

Landolphe

daquin - Aug 31, 2007 - 9:44 pm

I assume you mean the b/u xml file from the 06/29 b/u I have, yes? That onle was LIKELY NOT made with 7.x, rather with whatever I had before the 6/29 release date. I'll try it and advise.

I do NOT go beyond what I see on a CD import screen. I also have many non-American CDs that GNote knows naught about. I also have many legitimate compilation-type CDs. But I have never before paid any attention to the Compilation designation om anything.

Q: Is it true that Apple changed structure of the DB? When? How?
Q: Do you suggest that I fiddle with the Compilations, i.e., move them out of the Compilations folder and into same level as all other iTunes music folders?
Q: Are there any 3rd party iTunes utilities that might help us with this mess? I'll buy whatever I need to have.

Thank you again,

Cheers,

Landolphe

daquin - Aug 31, 2007 - 11:51 pm

I assume you mean the b/u xml file from the 06/29 b/u I have, yes? That onle was LIKELY NOT made with 7.x, rather with whatever I had before the 6/29 release date. I'll try it and advise.

I do NOT go beyond what I see on a CD import screen. I also have many non-American CDs that GNote knows naught about. I also have many legitimate compilation-type CDs. But I have never before paid any attention to the Compilation designation om anything.

Q: Is it true that Apple changed structure of the DB? When? How?
Q: Do you suggest that I fiddle with the Compilations, i.e., move them out of the Compilations folder and into same level as all other iTunes music folders?
Q: Are there any 3rd party iTunes utilities that might help us with this mess? I'll buy whatever I need to have.

Thank you again,

Cheers,

Landolphe

daquin - Sep 1, 2007 - 12:03 am

Ben,
Here are some DB stats that might help your thinking about this problem.

Of the approx 30,000 entries in the iT DB, about 10,000 show a Date Added AFTER 04/30/06. There are NO songs in those 10k that Cannot be Located.

Of the 20,000 from 5/28/05 to 4/30/06, it looks like about 80% are marked Cannot Be Located. None of the Dates Added is that time interval has ALL OR NONE of its entries NOT LOCATED.

Clearly, something cosmic in iT (but not Finder/OS) occured on/about 4/30/06, but WHAT, I wonder. Was there an IT update about then?

16,000 songs is WAY too many to think about finding by hand. I COULD somehow identify all FOLDERS in iT DB with dates before 4/30/06, which would, I think, contain most (but not all) of those 16,000. Do you think I could safely do a dump of all those into a clean, empty iT Library? Which version of iT: I have 702, 72, & 732???

Thank you,

Landolphe

daquin - Sep 1, 2007 - 12:06 am

Addendum: But do remember that this Locate problem only started with th past month or so, which corresponds to none of the dates mentioned above.

Lando

earthsaver - Sep 1, 2007 - 7:25 am

Yes I mean the 6/29 backup file. That's the only one you've discussed and you previously explained that it was created under iTunes 7.2, just prior to updating to 7.3. That's another good reason to try using it with 7.2, as 7.3 updated the library. I know nothing about the technical structure of the iTunes Library database, but there is sense in suggesting that there was a change from 7.2 to 7.3 as 7.3 visually "updated the library" in a way that previous updates did not.

Yes, I suggest fiddling with Compilations might be a reasonable second option. I believe I've explained enough on the subject previously.

I haven't found any third-party utilities that might help. I'll keep looking.

Can't find anything on those dates that might help.

If you dump any music anywhere, there's no reason it wouldn't be safe, and I would definitely use the latest version of iTunes available.

daquin - Sep 1, 2007 - 4:24 pm

In summary: (1) try the 6/29 b/u xml file to recreate the present Library using 7.2 (which upon opening will read the existing xml and Lib files, no?); (2) fiddle with the Compilation files; (3) try a mega-dump of 6/29 Music files (or current ones???) into a clean 7.3.2 with empty (no) Library.

Is this correct?

The dates I sent you suggest to me that something happened to one of the 2 library files on or after 4/30/06, causing iTunes to be unable to Locate almost all (BUT NOT all!) of the songs added BEFORE that date.

The Date Added appears in the xml file to be merely one of the several DB fields in the Library db file. What, if anything, might one see in the xml file around the first appearance of that date that would indicate a file structure/integrity problem?

Please know that I appreciate all of the time and energy you are devoting to my problem. This is truly a "problem from hell," that kind that one expects in Windows, not Mac!

Cheers and Happy Labor Day,

Landolphe

earthsaver - Sep 1, 2007 - 9:06 pm

1. Using the backup xml file to recreate the Library has nothing to do with the present xml or library files. You should move the current ones to some other temporary place or at least archive them so the new library file created by the import will have a place to be. Again, the import will create a new Library file in 7.2, that may be different in structure from the file created by 7.3.x.

2. OK.

3. OK.

I cannot stress any more that I do not know anything about the structure (proper or corrupt) of database files. If you want more feedback on that specifically, I will reopen your question for another tech to address.

TechSupport - Sep 4, 2007 - 9:40 pm

We apologize for not being able to resolve the issue you asked of us. It is the absolute worst case scenario for us to do this. In our review of why this happens, it generally is related to either the particular issue being addressed or frequently, incomplete or incorrect information provided. We hope by moving your request to the public forums that you will be able to get a solution without leaving you empty handed.

Your ticket has been closed with our support team. Your request has just been posted to Mac OS X System & Mac Software and is available for your viewing at:

http://macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295325

Again, thank you for using Macosx.com. We hope you will consider using us again in the future.

TechSupport - Sep 5, 2007 - 8:20 pm

We apologize for not being able to resolve the issue you asked of us. It is the absolute worst case scenario for us to do this. In our review of why this happens, it generally is related to either the particular issue being addressed or frequently, incomplete or incorrect information provided. We hope by moving your request to the public forums that you will be able to get a solution without leaving you empty handed.

Your ticket has been closed with our support team. Your request has just been posted to Mac OS X System & Mac Software and is available for your viewing at:

http://macosx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295342

Again, thank you for using Macosx.com. We hope you will consider using us again in the future.

daquin - Sep 6, 2007 - 2:20 am

Well, I trashed 732 and hid the Library and xml files. THEN installed a copy of 7.2 with empty Library; THEN, imported the xml file from my 06/29/07 backup into the empty 7.2. MAGIC, it seems to have found "all" of the 27000+ songs, even though at end of the operation I got a message that "some songs could not be imported because they could not be found" That means that they were listed in xml file, which in attempting to recreate the Library file could not find some of the actual song files (?) That makes no sense, given all of my previous diagnostic operations.

In any event, I am now adding the 1000 or so songs that I had added between 6/29 and today. So far, using Playlists and Main Library, I have ID'ed no songs that generate "cannot be located message".

Does all this mean that it was the xoriginal xml file and/or the Library file OR the 7.3.2 app? I would like to answer that question, cuz I will doubtless want to update iTunes (possibly to current 7.3.2 or its successor).

Cheers,

Landolphe

BTW: Vers 7.2 did not preserve the View options I had set for my 200 or so Playlists. Any way to do that other than individually?? All are the same options.

daquin - Sep 6, 2007 - 9:42 pm

Well, I trashed 732 and hid the Library and xml files. THEN installed a copy of 7.2 with empty Library; THEN, imported the xml file from my 06/29/07 backup into the empty 7.2. MAGIC, it seems to have found "all" of the 27000+ songs, even though at end of the operation I got a message that "some songs could not be imported because they could not be found" That means that they were listed in xml file, which in attempting to recreate the Library file could not find some of the actual song files (?) That makes no sense, given all of my previous diagnostic operations.

In any event, I am now adding the 1000 or so songs that I had added between 6/29 and today. So far, using Playlists and Main Library, I have ID'ed no songs that generate "cannot be located message".

Does all this mean that it was the xoriginal xml file and/or the Library file OR the 7.3.2 app? I would like to answer that question, cuz I will doubtless want to update iTunes (possibly to current 7.3.2 or its successor).

Cheers,

Landolphe

BTW: Vers 7.2 did not preserve the View options I had set for my 200 or so Playlists. Any way to do that other than individually?? All are the same options.

daquin - Sep 7, 2007 - 11:25 pm

The above resolution did not identify the nature/source of the problem, si I am remain suspicious and leery of trying 7.4.

The problem is resolved, even if not solved.

Thabks to earthsaver for all his/her help.

Landolphe