Ipod back up problem, Can you help?

pinkpinkfizz

Not sure where I can post this, so sorry if this is the wrong place!

My Dh has a 30gb ipod video. He has about 16gb of his own cd's downloaded onto it (took hours to do).

We had to get our pc reset, it was a friend who knows about pc's (but not about itunes) that did the reset, and when he backed up the itunes he didnt use itunes to do it he simply backed up as you would any files. We have 4 itunes back up discs. When I go into itunes and try to play a track it gives an error message "The song could not be used as the original file could not be found, would you like to locate it?" and can't play the song unless you put in the correct back up disc?. I try to plug in my shuffle and the only option I am offered is to remove all of my songs as they are "not found" and when I try to add songs from the itunes library it says something like "insert source disc"

Is there anyway to get the back up discs to load the music files properly into itunes? when I put the discs into the drive it doesn't have the option of import to itunes? just to browse files or play media files.

I think there may be an option using the actual ipod as a back up but don't know what to do and would be concerned that I would lose everything off the ipod :eek:

Can anyone help, please?

isofa

If the files are on the discs, you need to move the audio files/folders into the iTunes Library folder. Which is usually (on a PC) C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\My Documents\My Music\iTunes

Once you've done that and restarted iTunes you should be ok...

Failing that you can get iTunes to import the music, but it'll be a slow process, and as you've already got it set-up correctly on the backup discs, replacing the library as stated about would be better.

pinkpinkfizz

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.

Can you explain in a little more detail, what it is that I need to do?

I can kind of understand what you mean, but I'm not sure exactly how to go about it.

Thanks for your time.

Okay I'm giving this a try, I inserted back up disc into drive, box opens up, clicked on view files, then opened my music and dragged files over from back up disc into the itunes folder, Is this what I am supposed to do? will I end up with duplicate listings in my itunes?

isofa

When you open the CDs, what are you shown, a list of folders with Artist names, or just numbers? Or a folder called iTunes Library, or?

pinkpinkfizz

I tried what I said in ,my last post but when I double click a track to play in itunes it still says "The song could not be used as the original file could not be found, would you like to locate it?"

I think it maybe something to do with the folder that the songs are going into? When I click My Music and then Itunes folder there are quite a few folders in there to do with Itunes and then all the individual artist folders too. Do I have to put these artist folders into a specific itunes folder, if so which one? I have Itunes music library (this is a .xml file not a folder), Itunes library database file, again not a folder, Itunes music folder, previous itunes libraries folder & an album artwork folder? ?????

As you can tell, This is not really my area of expertise! lol. and I would be very, very grateful for any help with this. At the rate I'm going I would be quicker re- loading all the cd;s :eek:

pinkpinkfizz

isofa wrote: »

When you open the CDs, what are you shown, a list of folders with Artist names, or just numbers? Or a folder called iTunes Library, or?

The back up cd has folders with the artists names..

isofa

Copy all these folders, with artists names (some many have album or Various names), into: C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\

If you have either of these files on the CD: iTunes Music Library.xml and/or iTunes Music Library.itl

Copy these to: C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\

Then restart iTunes. The two files I mention above are the library files which store all the details of the tracks.

pinkpinkfizz

That didn't work either ??

I really cant see what I need to do? I can only think that because the back up discs weren't created using itunes that there is some reason why the tracks won't import back into itunes?

Grrrrr I am so fed up of this stupid iopd/itunes.... as it stands I wanted to get the kids ipods for their xmas but I couldnt be bothered with the hassle of itunes.

Is there ANY another way I can do this you can think of?

Thanks for your help,

isofa

You are only experiencing a problem, because you've moved things and "reset" your PC, then items haven't been put back as they were before. It's not the fault of iTunes or the iPod!

If you've set-up a different user account on the computer, then iTunes will be looking in the wrong place.

Now you've copied all the files back, you may have to tell it where the library is. From the Edit Menu choose Preferences then the Advanced Tab.

Make sure this is set to: C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music.

The final idea would be to clear the entire library on iTunes - so there is no music. Then get iTunes to import the batch of your songs from scratch. File > Add folder to library. This way you'll lose your playlists.

Have you looked at the Apple support site? http://www.apple.com/support/

Marty_J

What is your iTunes library set to?

Go into preferences and then the advanced tab. Have a look at the iTunes Music folder location.

This is where you need to copy the files to.