I forget how to fix this iTunes issue

[MotionMan]

I keep my iTunes stuff on an external drive. That drive started to have some issues, so I cloned it to a new drive. Now I have the dreaded "exclamation mark" on many songs.

I forget how do I fix this. How do I get iTunes to properly read the new external drive for all the songs? Anyone?

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

Would it be too much trouble just reimporting the songs?

Man! You run into a lot of problems

 

[MotionMan]

Would it be too much trouble just reimporting the songs?

Man! You run into a lot of problems

Yeah, one bad HDD, and all hell breaks loose.

There are too many to import easily. I rather do it some other way, if possible.

MotionMan

 

[Kadarin]

Shot in the dark here, but.. unix file permissions issue? Drop to terminal and "chmod -r 777 <directory>" from the root dir where the songs are. If that doesn't do it, try "chown -r <directory>", to take ownership. You may have to use sudo to do this.

 

[MotionMan]

Shot in the dark here, but.. unix file permissions issue? Drop to terminal and "chmod -r 777 <directory>" from the root dir where the songs are. If that doesn't do it, try "chown -r <directory>", to take ownership. You may have to use sudo to do this.

I don't know Linux, though I could probably try what you suggested. Anything I need to know before I attempt this?

A couple questions

How do I get into the root directory?
What is sudo and how do I use it?

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

I don't know Linux, though I could probably try what you suggested. Anything I need to know before I attempt this?

A couple questions

How do I get into the root directory?
What is sudo and how do I use it?

MotionMan

When you open terminal you are in the root directory. Type ls to see the folders/files

Sudo gives admin rights. Type Sudo then hit enter. It will ask you for your password. OR type sudo then the command. Once again password.

You can't mess much up by changing the persmissions to 777

 

[MotionMan]

When you open terminal you are in the root directory. Type ls to see the folders/files

Sudo gives admin rights. Type Sudo then hit enter. It will ask you for your password. OR type sudo then the command. Once again password.

You can't mess much up by changing the persmissions to 777

Thanks.

Any downside to trying this?

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Also, how do find the proper location of the external drive?

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

Thanks.

Any downside to trying this?

MotionMan

Not that I know of

Also, how do find the proper location of the external drive?

MotionMan

If you drag and drop the itunes folder then you wont have to find the folder. It'll put the location in for you.

 

[MotionMan]

If you drag and drop the itunes folder then you wont have to find the folder. It'll put the location in for you.

The external drive is named "iTunes".

So, should it read "chmod -r 777 /Volumes/iTunes"?

Or am I looking for the iTunes folder on my boot drive?

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

real quick:

"cd" to move to specific folder
"ls" to list the contents
"../" to move up
"cd /Volumes" to move to that folder

this is me going to my 3rd drive: "ls /Volumes/Machintosh\ HDD\ 3"

 

[alfa147x]

The external drive is named "iTunes".

So, should it read "chmod -r 777 /Volumes/iTunes"?

Or am I looking for the iTunes folder on my boot drive?

MotionMan

Yup.

Might have to do "sudo chmod -r 777 /Volumes/iTunes"

 

[MotionMan]

"chmod: 777: No such file or directory"

And now, when I try to open that drive I get:

"The folder &#8220;iTunes&#8221; can&#8217;t be opened because you don&#8217;t have permission to see its contents."

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

"chmod: 777: No such file or directory"

And now, when I try to open that drive I get:

"The folder &#8220;iTunes&#8221; can&#8217;t be opened because you don&#8217;t have permission to see its contents."

MotionMan

What does terminal give you when you drag the HDD to it?

Drag it then hit enter

It should look like this:

tweshs-mac-pro:~ Twesh$ /Volumes/Machintosh\ HDD\ 2/iTestThisFolder 
-bash: /Volumes/Machintosh HDD 2/iTestThisFolder: is a directory

tweshs-mac-pro:~ Twesh$ /Volumes/Machintosh\ HDD\ 2 
-bash: /Volumes/Machintosh HDD 2: is a directory
tweshs-mac-pro:~ Twesh$

1st is a folder
2nd is my 2nd drive

 

[MotionMan]

What does terminal give you when you drag the HDD to it?

Drag it then hit enter

It should look like this:

tweshs-mac-pro:~ Twesh$ /Volumes/Machintosh\ HDD\ 2/iTestThisFolder 
-bash: /Volumes/Machintosh HDD 2/iTestThisFolder: is a directory

tweshs-mac-pro:~ Twesh$ /Volumes/Machintosh\ HDD\ 2 
-bash: /Volumes/Machintosh HDD 2: is a directory
tweshs-mac-pro:~ Twesh$

1st is a folder
2nd is my 2nd drive

It gives me this:

"/Volumes/iTunes "

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

Also right click on the drive click on get info then what do you see under "Sharing & Permissions"

 

[MotionMan]

Also right click on the drive click on get info then what do you see under "Sharing & Permissions"

It said write only. I am going to change it to read and write.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

It said write only. I am going to change it to read and write.

MotionMan

OK, now I have access.

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

Okay just did what you did. I got the same error when trying to open it.

Do this to restore you permissions:

Change "me" to Read and Write

 

[MotionMan]

Okay just did what you did. I got the same error when trying to open it.

Do this to restore you permissions:

Change "me" to Read and Write

Done.

Now do you think the exclamations will be gone? Should I try that now?

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

Okay do this:
Download this:
http://download.cnet.com/BatChmod/3000-2248_4-19574.html?tag=mncol;1
Then find the HDD and check these settings:

Relaunch iTunes then try to play a song.

Good luck! That application keeps from having to mess around with Terminal

 

[MotionMan]

That did not work.



MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

That did not work.



MotionMan

Right click on a song in iTunes and then click get info:

What do you see here:

 

[MotionMan]

file://localhost/Users/<mycomputername>/Music/iTunes Media/Music/<artist>/<Albumname>/song.mp3

Hmmm. Must be looking in the wrong spot, no?

MotionMan

 

[alfa147x]

file://localhost/Users/<mycomputername>/Music/iTunes Media/Music/<artist>/<Albumname>/song.mp3

Hmmm. Must be looking in the wrong spot, no?

MotionMan

Yup.
Did you ever move the library to another computer over a network? iTunes annoyingly keeps track of those movements and updates it's self. Possibly what happened there.

The only way that I know of to fix it is by reimporting the files