Starting iTunes after a recent installation returned the error message “The folder iTunes cannot be found or created”. It was referring to the My Music directory that is usually located in the My Documents folder on the partition containing the operating system. The iTunes software creates an iTunes folder in the My Music directory on first start and if that directory is not accessible it will throw the error message and fail to load.
Since this error is related to the My Music folder it is important to check the directory path of that folder in the Windows Registry. This is best done by using the shortcut [Windows R], typing [regedit] and hitting the [enter] key.
The fastest way of location the two locations that contain path information for the My Music folder is to use the search by pressing [F3] and entering [My Music] in the search box. A click on [Find Next] will start the search and reveal the two locations.
The test computer system did not have path information listed at all. This can be changed by double-clicking the My Music key in the Registry and changing the path to an valid path manually.
The two Registry locations that list the My Music path are the following two:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Make sure both point to a valid path on the system. Once the path has been changed iTunes will create the iTunes folder in that location and start up without this error message.
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Simply: I love you!!! (Thanks for this fix.)
You are awesome,, thx for the great and easy fix .
You simply are the greatest person living…if I had uninstalled and reinstalled itunes one more time …i was sooo tossing the laptop and ipod in the river!!
WILL YOU MARRY ME? YOU ARE THE BEST :)THANKS A MILLION!!!!!!!!!
greate!!!
Thank you! Thank you! You are simply Heaven Sent!
Thanks………Thanks……..Thanks a lot….
Hi:
Noob here.
I found the two registry locations but I don’t know how to “make sure they point to a valid path on the system”
here’s what it says under shell folders data
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Music
here’s what it says under user shell folders data
My Music REG_EXPAND_SZ%USERPROFILE\My Documents\My Music
Should the data be the same? Which one should be changed?
thanks very much
You need to change both locations if you want to move the my music folder.
Thanks Martin.
The My Music folder is in My Documents.
I’d like to leave it there if I can. What do I need to change to get Itunes installed?
I found the two registry locations but I don’t know how to “make sure they point to a valid path on the system”
here’s what it says under shell folders data
C:\Documents and Settings\Heather\My Documents\My Music
here’s what it says under User shell folders data
My Music REG_EXPAND_SZ%USERPROFILE\My Documents\My Music
How do I change it so that my iTunes will open
I’m running vista and have four partitions on two hdd, either way, one of which is for mp3 only. So with vista I was able to relocate my folders to different partitions and after I changed location I got that error showing up. Will your method helpme as well?
Worked! Thank you for being kind enough to share.
Hi – followed these steps but still won’twork. I’m behind admin priveleges on my work machine, but it let me install the program. I can edit the registry, which I’ve done in every instance of “my music” per the instructions to ensure My Music folders are located where the reg keys say they should be. Still no dice. Any suggestions? Is this doomed to fail since I’m behind a work firewall/admin privleges?
don’t bother with jerking around with your registry. That’s for scientists.
If you hold down SHIFT while you click on the iTunes icon a message box will pop up asking you if you want to create the missing file. You do that and you’re gold.
The only downside is that you have to re import your library.
But this trick saved me after all sorts of deadends.
Buddy you are the best Really you are saves all that messing around
This chap knows what he is doing
Thanks
OMG you saved my life! I’ve been driving myself mad with trying to make this work, tried fiddling around with the regedit, not too smart there hehe But i tried your control shift while clicking tip, then IT WORKED!
Thanks so much, am sooooo happy im finally able to sync my iPod!
Hey Mike
That’s okay, honestly, I don’t want my library on here, I just want iTunes on here so I can listen to my iPod, so that’s perfect!!
I’ll try it and let you know how it goes.
Mike, you the man! If I read your post first I would have saved 30 minutes of my life I will never get back.
ah..this actually didn’t work. any other ideas? holding down shift while the icon is on the desktop doesn’t allow the shortcut to open. holding down shift via the start menu itunes shortcut or going directly to allprograms>itunes folder still results in teh same error message…let me know if there’s any other way around this.
You hold the shift button while clicking the quicklaunch button on the taskbar. It worked perfectly while nothing else did and was so super quick and easy.
Thanks Mike for saving me from regedit.
Doesn’t work for me. When holding shift, clicking the icon doesn’t work. When doing it simultaneously I still get the same error message…if anyone has other ideas please share.
Mike, you are the man! It worked perfectly!
Thanks
Is the fact that I’m behind an admin firewall stopping me from creating the folder in the right place?
For those who were successful can you please tell me exactly what you did? I know it sounds simple but maybe I’m not doing it right?
Thanks for this. You sorted out my problem (created by me!) in two minutes!
Mike,
Thanks so much for your SHIFT tip it saved my life and was so simple!!!!!!!!
THANKS
~Amy
cheers mike legend
OMG!! MIKE! After how many days of installing/uninstalling, you helped me solve my prob. you are FABOLOUS!!
wow, yeah shift, thanks a lot mike!
awesome thanks a bunch
I have been trying for hours to fix this issue. I run Windows Vista and cant seem to find a My Music folder. I have managed to get into the registry and when I search My music a whole lot of files come up… have no idea where they are though.
How do I fix this? Can someone please help
Awesome, thank you for this fix!!! It worked like a charm!!
thanks – my girlfriend thinks I’m a hero! you rock