SimonD

A few days ago the version of iTunes on my laptop "lost" all of my music. I had been using it earlier in the day but when I cam back a few hours later it had gone. Most of the files are still visible under the iTunes music directory (but not my audiobooks or a couple of files I created from old audio tapes) but if I load them using "add to Library" function they are lost again after a few hours.
The library was originally created on another PC and was transferred to this one about six months ago. It worked fine on the laptop up to this point.
I have taken the latest version of iTunes to see if this makes a difference but the problem is still there - every time I open iTunes it is empty again.
Any ideas?

Leslie

I have had the odd happening like that on my computer in the past. Probably a glitch of some kind either in the software or even the hardware. Very annoying and I am sorry for your earlier wasted effort.

Les

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Sounds like you may have more than one library.

I had a simular problem when sync'ing 2 different idevices on the same laptop. Which ever device i plugged in, it wanted to sync with the same library.

If you search your pc/laptop for .xml you should only have one 'buff' coloured folder named 'iTunesLibrary.xml All your tunes,apps ect should be in there. As long as they are on the pc/laptop then they can be easily recovered.

I have to hold the left 'shift' key when i plug a idevice in, and choose which library i need, ipod or iphone.

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

Is the library kept on your hard disk or external hard disk ?

Funkii Munkii

It seems to me that they manage to sort out all the bugs over 4 or 5 updates, then we are back to square one when the next update arrives and the bugs are back.

The latest update has managed to screw up the scrooling ability only 13 months after they sorted it out...

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

what is this scroooling ability you speak off

SimonD

My scrooling ability is fine. Screwling is tricky though.

The library is on the hard drive but I used an external hard drive to transfer between my old desktop and this laptop.

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Scrooling, screwling. Please enlighten.

Funkii Munkii

Slip of the fingers ya bunch of pedants

I Blame the Apple keyboard

SCROLLING

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

Do the songs have little ? or ! next to them ?

I only ask this because for some reason yours seems to have lost the link. CAn you recreate under advanced settings the location of the library

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Failing that, there is a folder called 'Automatically Add To iTunes'. Anything you drag into that folder gets added and sync'd when you plug in.

JackClark

Cheers for that could be handy.

SimonD

Right.
I have one iTunes Music Library XML file in the "user/iTunes/music directory". I can't find any more.
There are also a series of library database files in the "user/iTunes/music/previous iTunes libraries" directory.

If I use the "add folder to library" function to add the "user/iTunes/music" folder; all of the music loads. This takes five minutes or so. None of the songs in iTunes have a little ? or ! next to them. I have just done this so will see how long they stay there.

Incidentally, after loading iTunes looks rather different to the way it looked when it was last working i.e. different fonts and layout. This may be down to taking the new version but it seems rather odd.
These problems, however, did not happen after taking a new version. They occurred during the day without switching the machine off and without taking any (iTunes) updates.

Thanks everyone for the help so far.

SimonD

So....... last night I loaded all the music at about 7:15pm. It was still there when I shut down the computer at about 11:00pm. I rebooted a couple of times last night to see what would happen.
This morning I start it up again and all the tunes are still there. I left the computer on while dropping the kids to school and when I get back all the music has gone again........

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

My newest itunes 10.0.1.22 looks pretty much the same as the last. Could it be you have a corrupt download, hows the security on the machine?

Try uninstalling itunes and perhaps run a virus/malware scan. Then download a fresh copy of itunes and reinstall.