updating itunes with new songs

I am running itunes on a PC and add new tunes from a download folder
into mymusic folder. iTunes did an initial search and found most mp3's
on my machine, but I am moving them all to one folder and iTunes does
not update the total number of songs. I can not find any refresh
button on the software or any reference to refresh in the itunes help.
Also, when I delete mp3's from the folder, iTunes just lists an ! mark
and I have not found any way to update, refresh or renew the list of
tunes I expected to have since the first use. Any suggestions?
Regards, Doug

DougGord wrote:

 > I am running itunes on a PC and add new tunes from a download folder
 > into mymusic folder. iTunes did an initial search and found most mp3's
 > on my machine, but I am moving them all to one folder and iTunes does
 > not update the total number of songs. I can not find any refresh
 > button on the software or any reference to refresh in the itunes help.
 > Also, when I delete mp3's from the folder, iTunes just lists an ! mark
 > and I have not found any way to update, refresh or renew the list of
 > tunes I expected to have since the first use. Any suggestions?
 > Regards, Doug

The way you describe it, you should not import automatically (let iTunes
do the search).

iTunes has two ways of handling the mpg's it finds: It either copies
them to the iTunes Music Folder and plays them from there, or it leaves
them where they are. (Dropdown file menu -> edit ->preferences
->advanced). If you (as you describe) move your files manually, you
should leave these boxes unchecked.

iTunes keeps all the info about its music in its own library file
(usually in myMusic\iTunes\iTunes Music\iTunes Music Library). If you
move your mpg files manually, iTunes (usually) loses them and the
library sooner or later will be corrupted.

Best way for a complete restart:
a) Place all your music in a singe folder. You may organize this in as
many subfolders as you like (such as
music\electronic\tekkno\trance\goa\specifig group\best tracks\ etc)
b) delete the iTunes music library file manually
c) launch iTunes, follow the screen (you loose yr settings, reset them
in preferences)
d) now do a complete new (manual) import (dropdown menu ->file -> add
directory) it will import all mpg files in the directory & include all
subdirectories.

If you want to keep your pref settings, you may also delete the mpg
library within iTunes (go to library, click on any song, ctrl-a (mark
all) and press del) be carefull to tell iTunes NOT to delete the mpg
file physically (it will ask you if it should).

btw: If you delete your library, you also loose the contents of your
playlists (except the "smart" ones).

oh, and "refresh": If you add new files to an existing mpg folder, just
import it again in iTunes. iTunes will only register the files it does
not already know.

ciao
--
André Igler
wien +43/1/470 53 87 mobil +43/664/301 3445
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