iPod New IPOD user as of yesterday "VERY DISAPPOINTED"

[kozaz]

I got a IPOD for christams, never had one before.

I spent 8hrs loading songs from my CDs, have 367 songs in the following directory: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music

My library in the iTunes software application only shows 156.

Read some threads on "lost" and "disappearing"music in this forum, found the corrupted files iTunes Library (Damaged).itl in the following directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes

I followed some directions on how to use the Add folder to library.. and still did not want to see my enrtire library structure on the hard drive.

Tried to create a new iTunes Music Library.xml using the instructions here, and it still did not see my enrtire library structure on the hard drive.

I used the info to perform the above steps found in this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/405865/

I'm not a quiter, but this just makes me sick! I'm already starting to wonder if i should go with a regular MP3 player and convert eveything before I go any further. Maybe sell the IPOD if iTunes is this touchy.

I did notice that iTunes would crash many times during the copying of music from my CDs. I beleive this was corrupting my iTunes library.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Save the newbie!

Koz

 

[swiftaw]

What format are your songs? mp3, aac, wma?

So, your problem is that you have 367 songs on your hard drive, but only 156 in your itunes library?

 

[IMcD23]

I got a IPOD for christams, never had one before.

I spent 8hrs loading songs from my CDs, have 367 songs in the following directory: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music

My library in the iTunes software application only shows 156.

Read some threads on "lost" and "disappearing"music in this forum, found the corrupted files iTunes Library (Damaged).itl in the following directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes

I followed some directions on how to use the Add folder to library.. and still did not want to see my enrtire library structure on the hard drive.

Tried to create a new iTunes Music Library.xml using the instructions here, and it still did not see my enrtire library structure on the hard drive.

I used the info to perform the above steps found in this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/405865/

I'm not a quiter, but this just makes me sick! I'm already starting to wonder if i should go with a regular MP3 player and convert eveything before I go any further. Maybe sell the IPOD if iTunes is this touchy.

I did notice that iTunes would crash many times during the copying of music from my CDs. I beleive this was corrupting my iTunes library.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Save the newbie!

Koz

Try (in itunes) Advanced -> consolidate library first, make a backup of the files in the C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes folder

 

[Cloudane]

It's unusual that iTunes should crash, even under Windows.

I'd suggest doing a memory test (use something like a burnable memtest86 CD)

 

[kozaz]

What format are your songs? mp3, aac, wma?

So, your problem is that you have 367 songs on your hard drive, but only 156 in your itunes library?

iTunes converted the music from my CDs to .m4a files. I have a total of 367 songs that came from my CD collection, but only 156 are showing in the itunes library.

Try (in itunes) Advanced -> consolidate library first, make a backup of the files in the C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes folder

Before I consolidate the library, does it matter that iTunes is managing my files?

 

[IMcD23]

Before I consolidate the library, does it matter that iTunes is managing my files?

If you make a backup first, i am 95% sure, yes

 

[kozaz]

Try (in itunes) Advanced -> consolidate library first, make a backup of the files in the C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes folder

Do I need to make a backup, if all the songs are in folders in the following directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music?

 

[IMcD23]

Yes, if that is your itunes folder. Consolidating might turn out wrong and erase the other songs that aren't showing up

 

[kozaz]

Yes, if that is your itunes folder. Consolidating might turn out wrong and erase the other songs that aren't showing up

OK I will make a back up and try to consolidate the itune folder.

I let you all know what happens...

 

[IMcD23]

k, good luck

 

[tMac85]

if you switch to a different type of MP3 player besides the ipod, i bet you will be even less happy. Ipod isnt the number one selling type of mp3 player for no reason! they are the best. be patient with it and you will loveee them as well as itunes

 

[kozaz]

Ok, I backed up iTunes Music folder in another directory.

But I just read the following in the help files Choose Advanced > Consolidate Library
"Any iTunes file located outside the iTunes Music folder remains in its original location, and a copy of it is placed in your iTunes Music folder."

Maybe I should just delete the files and folders in the iTunes Music folder first.

Then run the consolidate feature.

It should then search my computer and copy the backed up folder I created and rebuild them in the iTunes Music folder.

Do I understand this correctly? I do not want to have to go and delete 156 copies.

I'm also not sure if it will re-create the folders or just list all the music files with no folders?

 

[IMcD23]

Delete from itunes folder then remove files from library. copy music to library and consolidate.

 

[kozaz]

Delete from itunes folder then remove files from library. copy music to library and consolidate.

Please bear with me, but I need to make sure I understand you correclty.

STEP 1:

Delete from itunes folder.

Delete the folder structure on my hard drive in the following directory
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music

STEP 2:

then remove files from library.

Then open up iTunes and delete all files from the Music folder under LIBRARY?

STEP 3:

copy music to libraryQUOTE]
Not sure what you mean here?

STEP 4:

and consolidate.

Use the Consolidate Library... feature under the Advanced tab in iTunes.

 

[IMcD23]

never mind find someone else to answer your question. I am completely guessing

 

[kozaz]

never mind find someone else to answer your question. I am completely guessing

I did not mean to offend you, I just want to make sure I understood you correctly.

 

[sushi]

Please bear with me, but I need to make sure I understand you correclty.

Do you have a complete backup of all your music -- all 367 songs?

iTunes converted the music from my CDs to .m4a files. I have a total of 367 songs that came from my CD collection, but only 156 are showing in the itunes library.

Just to be sure, are you sure that 367 songs were converted and not 156?

Also, FYI, you can have iTunes import your songs in various formats such as MP3.

 

[xkRoWx]

If I remember correctly, iTunes does not support wma files (at least mine won't)

Anyways, delete your iTunes folder in My Music (or My Document), and reinstall iTunes. Go to iTunes options and tweak around the settings. Make sure that iTunes doesn't manage your files. Then drag the whole folder (the songs you had) into iTunes and it should work.

I've never had that problem on Windows or Mac. All my songs showed up perfectly fine.

About the crashing part, maybe some of your songs are corrupted (the CD might have copyright protection or license, whatever that corrupts the songs when you rip).

 

[kozaz]

Do you have a complete backup of all your music -- all 367 songs?

Yes

Just to be sure, are you sure that 367 songs were converted and not 156?

Yes, the iTunes shows only 156 songs, and the hard drive folder shows 367 songs. I verified that there are songs in the hard drive folder that are not being displayed in the iTunes application.

 

[kozaz]

About the crashing part, maybe some of your songs are corrupted (the CD might have copyright protection or license, whatever that corrupts the songs when you rip).

It crashed but when I restarted itunes the song I just copied was still there and able to play even verified that the CD was removed.

It looks like the earlier files are the ones that are not showing up.

 

[kozaz]

Anyways, delete your iTunes folder in My Music (or My Document), and reinstall iTunes. Go to iTunes options and tweak around the settings. Make sure that iTunes doesn't manage your files. Then drag the whole folder (the songs you had) into iTunes and it should work.

I'm going to try this, then I assume I can change the setting so iTunes can manage my songs after I have dragged the folder over into iTunes?

 

[xkRoWx]

Check your file types. If they are all m4a or mp3 then you should have no problem. iTunes won't recognize wma songs.

The fastest way to check is to have all your folders in "detail" mode (right click > view > detail) so it shows the name, artist, type, time and what not.

 

[sushi]

Yes

Good.

Yes, the iTunes shows only 156 songs, and the hard drive folder shows 367 songs. I verified that there are songs in the hard drive folder that are not being displayed in the iTunes application.

Roger that.

Before we go on to the next step, there are two basic ways for iTunes to manage your songs.

A. One is to leave the songs in the location that they are so iTunes creates a pointer if you will to the location of the song.

B. The other way, which I would recommend, is to have iTunes "Keep iTunes Music folder organized."

Which way do you want to go?

 

[xkRoWx]

I'm going to try this, then I assume I can change the setting so iTunes can manage my songs after I have dragged the folder over into iTunes?

Yes but iTunes then creates another folder called iTunes Music with duplicates of all your songs. That means you will use extra hard drive memory. But that is not a concern as of now.

 

[sushi]

It looks like xkRoWx is helping you as well.

So that we don't confuse you, I will drop out and let him work with you.

Good luck!