Restore music library database after itunes was corrupted
by John Anderson
(Abingdon, MD, USA)
This Discussion Forum looks like it is not set-up to handle the current problem that I have; but, I need help, and am not sure where to seek the information that I need. I just thought I would "Post", and see what happens.
When I switched to "Windows 7 Ultra", it re-arranged my Music Database library, and I've been trying to reconstruct my iTunes Library for approximately 10 months, to no avail. I am now trying the "Collectorz.com" program; and I should be able to create a new Music Database (the program looks very good). I haven't lost my .wav files; however, they are arranged where the first Window lists the "Artists", when I click on an Artist, I get all of the "Albums", when I click on an Album I get the Tracks. The problem is: the Track Name is preceded by the Track Number, and I can't figure out how to get the data separated (I can create the Column, but I can't figure out how to separate the Column to move the Track Number, so it is no longer associated with the Name. When I try to set up my Database, all of the Tracks are preceded by the Track Number; and, when I try to "Sort" by Name, all of the Track 1's are listed first, then all of the Track 2's are next and etc. This does not give me the ability to Sort my Database by "Track Name".
I've lost interest in my Vinyl Restoration; (this is not really true; but I am consuming so much time trying to restore my Music Database that I am getting discouraged). I can't get back to my Vinyl Restoration until I can figure out how to fix my Music Database; because, I can't transfer my "Restored Albums" to my Database, due to the fact that I can't search the "on-line" sites to retrieve the data, because they are mainly created to identify CD's, and not "Vinyl Records", I realize that I will have to enter all of the data for my Restorations manually. This is not too difficult for me, because I can type, rather than "Hunt-and-Peck. Actually, I feel "Stuck", until I can get my database up and running again.
I had my "iTunes" database working perfectly for about three years; then, when I installed the "Windows 7 Ultimate" Operating System, it re-arranged my Database, by deleting the columns for Genre, Favorites, Composer, Year and etc. If I could only figure out how to separate the Track Number from the Track Name, and have a separate column for these two data items, it would be rather easy to create my Database again. This really has me at a "Stand-still", and it is beginning to discourage me from perusing my "Vinyl Restoration", because I can't figure out how to enter the "Restored Tracks" into the same Database along with my CD's.
I have restored approximately 400 albums, and I have my "Master" CD's that contain all of my restored albums (I know that I have to manually re-enter these CD's. I had my Music Database backed-up on two separate l.5 Terrabyte Drives, and in trying to restore my back-ups, "Windows 7" corrupted both of my back-up copies. I'm glad I still have the .wav files, because I gave away almost all of my CD's, after I felt comfortable with my "iTunes" Music Database.
My next step is to go to the "Collectorz Forum" to see if anyone can offer me assistance to re-create my Music Database. This software looks like I can retrieve the data that I lost by submitting the files on my computer to their remote Database access source; and, I should be able to just entering the Artist and Album, but I can't figure out how to "Batch" search all of my files to make the job easier.
Incidentally, after I installed "Windows 7 Ultimate", I found out that I should have uninstalled "iTunes" before I installed my new Operating System, and then re-install my "iTunes" Database.
I am not the only person that has experienced this phenomana; there are Forms that exist that give instructions for restoring my "iTunes"; but, I can't figure out how to seperate the "Track Number" from the "Track Name". If I could accomplish that mission, I would be "Free-to-Go". I am 77 years old, and I must be missing something, due to the fact that I am not completely computer literate; however, I am proud of the fact that I have taught myself everything I have learned thus-far; but, this issue really has me "Stumped".
Can you help me with this?; or, perhaps you can suggest someone that I might contact for assistance.
John Anderson
John
There's a lot of issues there! Here's some random answers to some of your issues.
1. iTunes stores the library file and database info in the iTunes folder that is usually in 'My Music' in Windows. Depends what version of Windows you are on.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391 If this folder is there (if you upgraded it should be), you can get your database info back. If you did a clean install and reformatted the drive, then you have deleted it. Did you backup any data off your PC?
2. I don't know the Collectorz.com program so can't help with this.
3. It sounds like your problem is you have the mp3 file name (with track number) stored in the title tag. A usual setup would be to have the track number in the file name, and the title tag without the number. A good mp3 tag program may be able to redo this quickly (without having to change each track title manually). Check out:
http://www.mp3tag.de/en/index.html http://forums.mp3tag.de/lofiversion/index.php/t5828.html You may also have luck with naming mp3's with no info with them. You can search freedb.org for an album name and get the Disc-ID. You can then add this disc ID in MP3 tag and (hopefully) it will then be able to fill in the correct info for that album.
4. Another good program to checkout is J River Media Center (I use this at home).
http://www.jriver.com/index.htmlThis is great for audio files (wav, flac, mp3 - you name it). It also handles video and images…..and much, much more. It is also quite powerful for tagging files and may be able to assist with your issue above. Ask at their forums.
Hope that helps.
Paul (Site Editor)
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