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
Mike!!! Thank you so much… I thought I’d never make this work…
Still can’t get this to work behind a firewall. The install has occurred with admin rights enabled, now i’m behind the admin firewall again and the folder won’t create. Not sure where it’s trying to create this folder but i tried in all the usual places on multiple drives and no luck.
Thank you very much,
That problem was breaking my ballss for days…
Thanks so much- this is brilliant.
Thanks Mike.
It cant get any easier than that.
Thanks for saving my weekend.
You are the man…
Thanks!!!!!!
mike! you are awesome!!!!!!!!!
thanks
thank you! the first time it didn’t work, but the second time i held the shift key and kept it after clicking the icon till the message box came (took about 8 seconds).
You are the boss!!!!
This was the best hint published anywhere! How can I thank you for solving a two-month old nightmare! Thanks!
Ive tried to un install about 50 times now. The registry points to the correct folder. Ive tried ver 7.6+ and 8’s. im running windows xp media center ed. i have a ipod nano 3rd gen and an iphone ver 2. Ive installed in program files, and my music files. no dice. anyone care to help?
joe-b@hvc.rr.com
It’s been said before, but I love you too
The shift key doesn’t work from all shortcuts – try different ones. I finally found one that worked and fixed the problem. THANKS Mike!!!!!!
the larger issue is that itunes should not require a folder to be created, particularly for those of us behind admin rights or corporate firewalls. i still can’t get this to work and have given up…sure, it’s on my work machine and technically i shouldn’t have installed iTunes to begin with but ya know :)
Doesn’t work when “My Music” points to the root of a drive…Has to be in a subfolder :(
Mike….you rock!!!! I tried doing the regedit version and it was confusing and difficult. Your method of pressing down the shift key while double clicking saved me time and frustration. It was easy to follow and set up. It was worth having to import the files again. Thanks for your help.
PEOPLE GO WITH WHAT MIKE SAID!
Thanks man…. It works… Wonderful and simple fix.
thanks so much – fixed my new install … :)
I reinstalled iTunes under a new Windows user name and it now works fine . Even so iTunes still does not work correctly under original user name for some strange reason although some times it does then it fails again although it has not failed under the new user name as yet ..keeping fingers crossed .
A further fix for any folk still unable to fix iTunes problem is described at Apple support
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1866
I got this error too and boy was I mad – especially considering that it gave me the option to change my iTunes folder, and then totally ignored that and gave me this error!
I f$%king hate iTunes.
thank you so much for the help!
hey ive got this problem but an even bigger one
i moved all my docos including pictures and music and now explorer isnt even the registry how do i fix this problem
i kno i screwed up like hell but a simple move turned into disaster.
please help jishua9@hotmail.com
Nice post. It helped me a lot. Thank you
Nice One!!
thanks yo!
I actually shed a tear. This totally worked. The itunes site sucks. Thank You so much.
Me too, you saved my laptop from a watery grave Mike.
Anyone else having problems with this fix, try holding the SHIFT key down from before you click, and keep it down till you get the Library message.
basically if ur itunes wont open, but you know how to find the actual itunes library file in ur computer, then when you try and open itunes hold the shift key and then it will ask you to locate the itunes library file. do that and then itunes opens up
AMAZING! thanks!
OMG the shift key tip was brilliant (holding it down for long enough) – sorry I’m sure the other way worked but was a little too complicated for me to get my head around.
Thanks very much :)
It works Man….
Grt…thanks a ton bro
The fix is soooo much simpler… but it isn’t published anywhere…
HOLD THE SHIFT KEY DOWN AND DOUBLE CLICK THE ITUNES ICON and you will get the option to make a new directory …
MAAAN! You’re a bad MoFo!!!!! THHHAAAANNNK YOU!!!!
Thanks a lot! You’ve helped me very much!
Hugs from Italia!
Daniel
thank you!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I moved my iTunes folder away so it created a new one, and everything was fixed.
jeah MIKE! you’re the man!
Hey martin the same message keeps appearing, i followed the instructions that you gave and still no good luck. I also tried doing the hold shift while clicking and the same box keeps appearing. Please Help me!
Works like a charm!!! Thanks very much!
Thanks for all the help!