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OS 10.5.8 itunes 10.6.1
Today I opened itunes and almost everyone I clicked to play displayed an exclamation mark next to it. The last time I played them, they were okay.
Recently I used tinkertool and onyx to check my computer and I'm wondering if I inadvertently changed something. When the window opens asking if I want to locate them, I go to apps~ itunes but they are not located. What can I do to rectify this problem? I backed up yesterday with superduper. If I booted up from that partition, would the same thing occur?
jaybass

Unless you have previously moved your iTunes Library and the tune files to a non-standard location, rather than going to apps - iTunes, try instead your user folder ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music.

As to whether or not the same thing would happen on your clone, the only way to know what would happen would be to boot from the clone and see.

I seemed to have solved the problem to a certain extent by going to file-library- organize files- consolidate files. I imported several folders of music and earlier this morning, I had over 2 thousand duplicates. I trashed about 300 but surely there is a quicker way of removing them. Yesterday, during my effort to rectify my itunes, I do recall dragging the music folder to the desktop...big mistake?
However, depending on the availability of some method of the fast removal of the duplicates, I will hold off rebooting from my backup partition.
Thank you for your reply.
jaybass

I did after all bootup from my backup partition and everything is perfect.
To solve my duplicate dilemma, could I delete the itune library and somehow import the library from my backup drive. If this possible, I would need some instructions. Or, delete the itune library and put the backup library on a flash card. I have a 64 Gb card. If that is possible, after inserting the USB card, how would I the library into the card's window?
Hope you can enlighten me.
jaybass

Probably dragging the music folder to your Desktop started your problems.

The "solution" was provided by joemikeb above: follow the path he describes and that is the folder you want. In my case, with a not so large library (just over 3300 tracks) the folder was over 34 GB.

Regardless, remove the original "iTunes Music" folder on your computer from its location. Don't delete it just yet. That is, "make space for the backup version".

Just option-drag "iTunes Music" to your folder in the path described above (hold down the option key while selecting and dragging the folder; this will duplicate it at the destination without removing it from the source. I suggest this since I don't know the nature of your backup).

Open iTunes and see if all is well. If it is, it should be safe to delete the original that you removed from its location at the path above. If not, post back with what the issues may be.

And just in case, since I have referenced a few times, the path described above is: ~user folder/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music.
Note that this last folder contains multiple folders, only one of which contains the actual music. But it may be safer to use the entire "iTunes Music" folder.

Ira,
I said all was well after booting up from my backup (complete.) I thought I would consolidate them just for insurance and as soon as I clicked the box the exclamation marks reappeared very quickly. I shut itunes down and reopened them and no ex. marks until I clicked the consolidate box. This happened 4 times.
I did some googling and created a new library which I directed to my home folder. It was ex. marks free and simply named itunes 1. I opened the original itunes and they were and still also free of ex. marks. For this I am pleased but why did the original library also become identical to itunes 1? The only problem now is I have about 1700 duplicates. Is there a quick way to remove them?
Thanks for your reply.
jaybass

Depends on the size of your iTunes Library and the number of dupes. There are quite a few iTunes duplicate finders/removers, from freeware to shareware, as listed HERE. Among the (shareware) AppleScript versions, Doug Adams' Dupin has a good reputation.

Thanks for that. Dupin is good but you need OS 10.6 minimum so I am going to try rinse. I'll let you know how it turns out.
jaybass

We had overlapping posts. No problem.

I tried rinse but when I clicked find duplicates, it only came up with about 20.
Considering you have to buy it, I decided to go the hard way, manually, about 1700 odd.
Took a long time but I don't think I will goof off again by removing the itunes folder again.
Thank you for your info.
jaybass