Question : Problem: Cannot get Itunes library to show up in ITUNES

I have most of my songs, 10000 or so, on a 500 GB external hard drive. It has always been selected as the Itunes folder location.  Recently I've discovered that the main screen of ITUNES only lists 33 songs. I've done a fine on my Apple G4 and the songs appear to be on my external drive. I've rebuilt my library several times (dragged the xml file to the desktop, deleted the library file, imported the xml file), I've also consolidated. The exteral drive is still  listed as the location of the itunes music folder.

Answer : Problem: Cannot get Itunes library to show up in ITUNES

The term "library" could mean a few things.  As I use it and when referring to iTunes Library that is actually just a few small files that are in the iTunes folder (e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\\My Documents\My Music\iTunes).  This is used when in the iTunes program and you click on Music, Movies, etc under Library (left side of the program).  This is just info about your songs (i.e. where the music file is, name, artist, album, your rating, etc).

The IBOOK is probably the location of your "music folder" as iTunes calls it.  Basically that is where the actual music files are.  If you go to Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced tab -> under General then you can see the iTunes Music Folder Location.  Unless you want iTunes to manage the music files I suggest you don't check the options for "Keep iTunes Music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library".  One of these may even be doing something that causes your problem.

Did you try adding another album/artist (i.e. music folder) and does it stay?  It sounds like something just wrecked or deleted the Library you had.  Inconvenient but no big deal.  You just have to add the music back to the Library.  This is done under the File menu by choosing either Add File or Add Folder (to Library).  Once they are added they should remain in the list that I described as the Library (see above).

Let me know how this helps or if you have a question.  Thanks for your reply and info.  As long as you have the music files you have the music.  You can actaully still see the Library and all the music, etc you have in iTunes even if the IBOOK external drive is not connected.  You won't be able to play them but they will appear in the library, once you have added them.

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