Multiple problems with iTunes - help please

In which case Recover media from an iPod - Apple Community is a better link.

These are the two scripts I was referring to:

• ImportDevicePlaylists - Imports regular playlists from an iPod or iOS device into the iTunes library. Can import from a selected playlist, or playlist folder, or all playlists on the device.
• SyncStats - Copies highest play count, skip count, rating and most recent played & skipped date of selected tracks or playlist between iTunes and an iPod or iOS device.

tt2

It is neccarily generic in the hope that you, or anyone else, might find all the information they need to successfully transfer their library from one computer to another. If you'd like me to go into specifics please provide some more detail on what you have done so far. The core of an iTunes library is the .itl database which had entries for each item in the library and notes where they are stored. If the library that you've restored doesn't have the expected content then perhaps you were using a library file on a different path before you upgraded the computer. The Previous iTunes Libraries folder is one that people sometimes have used when trying to recover their library at some earlier point in time responding to another incident. See also Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash - Apple Community which is linked to in the other document.

You note that files are hidden in Windows Explorer. I take it you've checked that they still exist and haven't been removed? See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows - Apple Community. You should be able to unhide all of the content of your media folder and ensure that your user account has suitable read & write permissions.

While you should be able to reimport any locally stored content that doesn't restore play counts, playlists, date added etc. Hopefully your backup contains a more up to date version of your .itl file somewhere. I note you've used the word import in your original post. When transferring a library nothing should be imported. You either copy the .itl file into the standard location of <User's Music>\iTunes before installing iTunes, or press and hold down shift as you launch iTunes to choose the .itl file wherever you have decided that it should be stored. All content comes over, ratings, play counts, playlists, date added, etc. In some cases (where the library wasn't portable and hasn't been copied to exactly the same path) iTunes may complain that it cannot find the item that you want to play, but it should all be listed, and there are ways of fixing that issue should it arise.

tt2

Syncing with a new (to it) computer/library will typically wipe out what is on the device and replace it with the contents of the library. What model iPod? See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device - Apple Community. There are a couple of scripts listed towards the end that can import playlists and stats from a connected device.

tt2

Playlists and playcounts are stored in the iTunes Libary.itl file rather than the tags of individual files. If you want to recover that data you need to restore a suitable .itl file from your backup, then either copy that in place of the current active library, or hold down shift as you launch iTunes then click the Choose Library option to browse to it. Note that double-clicking on a .itl file in Explorer will open iTunes, but not necessarily with the selected file, rather the last library that was successfully opened using the Choose Library method.

tt2

See Move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Community.

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See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows - Apple Community to reset your permissions in bulk.

tt2