iTunes won't start, on a locked disk... list goes on.

[jvp1]

Hi everyone,

I have a bit of a problem. I recently used my Xbox 360 as a Media Extender using Windows Media Centre and so on. I had both my computer and my Xbox plugged into the network, and the Xbox accessed movies and music off of my computer -- no problem, right?

Well today I tried to start iTunes and was told that it can't start because it's on a locked disk. So I opened up the properties tab (this is the iTunes folder in Program Files) and changed it from Read-Only. So I opened it again and was informed that:
"The iTunes Library Extras.itdb file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file."

That file is in My Music, so I went to My Music, iTunes, and attempted to change THAT to Read-Only. But I get hit with:
"You will need to provide administrator permission to change these attributes. Click Continue to complete this operation."

If I click Continue, I get another error:
"An error occured applying attributes to the file:
C:\Users\James...\iTunes Library Extras.itdb"
Access is denied.
Ignore/Ignore All/Try Again/Cancel"

And so on, for every file in iTunes, and "Try Again" doesn't work at all. I tried setting iTunes to "Share With... Homegroup (read/write)" but that didn't do anything.

I went through Properties on the My Music/iTunes folder, and went to Security, and enabled full control for myself. I also set myself as the owner - for some reason the owner was changed to my Xbox's address.

But alas, I still can't start iTunes. I found another thread on here from someone with a similar problem, but their solution didn't help me.

Does anyone have any ideas or solutions? I'm pretty much at the end of my rope and out of ideas.

thanks,
James


edit: here's a link to a post with a problem similar to mine -- their solution didn't work for me:
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...my-files-have-changed-read-only-plz-help.html

 

[Arc]

You may let it have a try. In the zip, there is a reg entry "installTakeOwnership". Run it. Now right click "my music", and select take ownership (it is in your right click context menu now). If any permission is not availed form the current owner, it will manage that .

 

[jvp1]

Worked like a charm! Thanks so much Arc!

best,
James

 

[Arc]

Worked like a charm! Thanks so much Arc!

best,
James

you are welcome, James

 

[togram83]

Thanks, Arc! FINALLY I have access to my iTunes again!

 

[Arc]

Thanks, Arc! FINALLY I have access to my iTunes again!

You are most welcome , pal . Welcome to the forums You will get help and have a chance to help others here

 

[acegamer2013]

I used your thing and it still doesnt work any ideas? it still says that its on a locked disk or i dont have the permissions. ive tried changing ownership and permissions and nothing is working

 

[Arc]

Are the files read only, or the entire drive ?

If the entier drive is read only, then (cannot find in my collection) we need to contact Timo, for the script to remove the read only mark from the drive that he made .

 

[Opatroy]

Doesn't work for me either ...

I ran the "take ownership.zip" program on the directories but the entire My Music folder still has the Read-Only checked. I un-check and let it update the entire contents but as soon as I go back and look at the properties, it's Read Only agian ??

 

[acegamer2013]

??

for me under properties it doesnt say its read only but when i try to open it it still says its locked. i dont understand

 

[Arc]

Your my music folder location is C:\user\ (username) and iTunes location is C:\Program Files ?

One more question ... How many hard disks do you have, and are the musics stored anywhere other than the disk containing C drive ?

If so , Download take ownership.zip from the second post of the thread, unzip it, there is a file take ownership.reg. Run it as admin and merge it. then there is "take ownership" in your right click context menu.

Right click on your music folders, and take ownership (including my music). Then you should be able to add musics to your iTunes library .

This process worked for me for two times . I have stored all musics in a disk other than the disk with C drive. So for two clean installations, I tunes refused to add musics .

 

[RandallIsaac]

Delete Genius Library file

Had exactly the same frustrating problem. Installed Wedows Media Center, then I could not open iTunes. received the same message. Tried everything on this thread.
Then saw a post from another thread to delete the Genius Library file. Did it, and iTunes opened!

 

[Unrealmaster287]

You may want to try and change it from the Administrator account.


win 7 and vista steps:
1.Right click my computer and click Manage
2. go to Local users and groups
3.double click users
4. click on administrator and un-check (Account is disabled)
5. ok then log off
6. If you do not see an account called administrator on your Login screen press (Ctrl+Alt+Delete)
7. Other users, Type Administrator and enter (no pass)
8.Navigate to C:/users/X/Music
9.disable read only.
10. take ownership of the folder if it does not allow you, or better yet give ownership to your account

Hope this hellps

 

[Akatsuki Diablo]

After I had added my 360 as an extender, itunes was locked out for me too... I looked all around and tried everything, but nothing seemed to work so this is what I did:

1.) Open Windows Media Center
2.) Click on Tasks and then Settings
3.) Click on Start Menu and Extras
4.) Click on Extras Library Options
5.) Make sure that the option "Control the media experience in Windows Media Center" is UNCHECKED
6.) Click Save and try opening iTunes it worked for me

 

[Gene51]

Arc

I have been pulling my hair out for months trying to get Itunes to open. Your "takeownership.zip" fixed this very frustrating problem.
Many, many thanks
Gene

 

[Coke Robot]

I just want to say this just to say this, apple in my opinion is pretty bad at coding software, both Windows and mac.

 

[Bearcatrp]

I've been using iTunes on win7 64 the past few weeks, coming from apple side for 5 years, and think the win7 version is better. So far, no problems. I put the music/movie folder on it's own separate drive, changed the settings, and been lucky so far.

 

[celery]

Hi all,
I solved my problem and I've just registered on here to pass on what I know to try to help other poor souls that have this issue. I havent got the perfect step by step solution but hopefully it will help.

So yes, I decided to use my Xbox to view photos on my PC via the Extender thing & Windows Media Center.
Big mistake, WMC is really slow and laggy and basically useless so I have since discovered on other forums.

By doing this it locked my USER folder (a little lock appeared on my USER folder name)
I got the message you are all getting, folder or file locked etc..

I searched all the forums and tried various things. no one thing was the magic solution.

What I can say is that it's all to do with ownership of a) your own folder and b) the Itunes library file.

I think the zip file above could be useful as a starting point. However, it did NOT change all the permissions correctly for the itunes folder.

check who is the owner of your itunes folder/files.
go properties, security, advanced, ownership << and check that you and not some other thing is the owner of the folder/file. you can manually amend I think.

check also properties, sharing < to see if the folder/files is shared with everyone, mine wasnt.


someone said that you should go to the itunes library file and go: general, advanced and untick the two things: under file attributes. I did that and it might have helped. but note: now that my itunes is working, both are ticked again so could be a red herring.

someone said, do a couple of check disk jobs. Media Centre locked drive - Microsoft Answers my USER folder seems to become unlocked at this point (although it might have been other things I did). worth doing though

NOTE! I was able to run itunes via Admin control. Start/right click on itunes.exe and run as a admin. I was also to sync my iphone and everything. so this was a relief but of course the original issue wasnt fixed but as least I could sync.

I had not removed WMC at this point, but I DID click on Start Menu and EXtras in WMC and untick the box that says that it will control all media. worth doing and saving.

my breakthrough was cut/pasting the itunes library.itl into another new folder within the itunes folder so that itunes couldnt FIND the library file and hey presto, itunes opened via my normal user account

but it did have any music listed of course. I then ensured the the old library file was properly owned by me and is shared. then COPIED it back into the proper location. started itunes and by some miracle, it worked.

other notes:
system restore didnt work for me
I never reinstalled itunes during all this, dont bother
my USER folder still has "read only" ticked, but I can use it normally. weird.
I still have WMC installed
I never tried to mess with Administrator account stuff or login as Admin. My user account has admin privileges.
I never touched my anti virus (Zone Alarm) during all this

bloody computers!

good luck all.

 

[Stealthbusa]

ARC, You are a genius! Much appreciate your help and the file, seems you are the only one that makes it easy

 

[wortizvi]

I went through the fuss of registering just to applaud you celery! You're advice was the best advice. After an hour and a half of frustration, your solution worked.

check who is the owner of your itunes folder/files.
go properties, security, advanced, ownership << and check that you and not some other thing is the owner of the folder/file.