Author Topic: Musicbee doesn't locate all of my existing mp3 files  (Read 1691 times)

ChrisR

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My mp3 files are all located in a folder called MusicBee on my C drive. I installed MusicBee and pointed it to scan the MusicBee folder to load the mp3s. When complete several hundred errors are displayed stating source file not found. When I scan the MusicBee folder for any missing file it is there. How can I fix this?

ChrisR

The other problem is when I run "Uninstall" for the app it still leaves behind a ton of stuff so I'm not sure I get a clean reinstall. Sorry but this program not working for me - I'll take the blame that maybe it's just too complex but it was working before but after reinstall it has screwed up totally. Back to goofy itunes.
Last Edit: January 06, 2022, 12:34:05 PM by ChrisR

Mayibongwe

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The other problem is when I run "Uninstall" for the app it still leaves behind a ton of stuff so I'm not sure I get a clean reinstall.
Should you decide to have another go at it...
Try installing the portable edition this time around. It shouldn't (it won't) come into contact with any of the previous installation files.
Favourite song at the moment:   Decode by Paramore

ChrisR

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Thank you for getting back on this. I reinstalled itunes and imported my .mp3 library. It took about 30 min but setup everything perfectly. Not sure why MusicBee couldn't do the same but for now I'm going to stay with itunes even though I have been searching for a viable alternative for quite some time. Will come back to MusicBee sometime to see if it has been improved.

Turk

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Itunes? on windows - we have to help you from this terrible cicumstance.

2 options (2nd option is easiest to disagnose)

1/
Consider trying IO Bits ASC [Advacend System Care] (exceptionally useful even in free mode - dont get caried away with installing all it offer although may of the tools I use from there are good for this purpose not essential),
Reinstall musicbee, ASC will now collect the installation data on ALL files installed, and export a list of everything.
Then run ASC's uninstal option, it will remove everything, anything left can be located using another free app called "Everything" - remove all by hand if necessary.

restart pc

reinstall a fresh copy of musicbee.

all the above maybe not be necessary it may simply be due to windows 255 character limitation.
Insure your folder & filenames character totals do not exceed 255 characters [a windblows limitation]

2/
if they do then they wont be read, so you'll need to shorten "something" - folder path, folder name or the track title
ie including your C drive + whatever folder name eg Music then thats inside another folder (?)
"Music from the 60's" then inside that is (?)
"The Jim Hendrix Experience Discography"
with another folder titled
"The Jimi Hendrix Experience - whatever the album name (Publisher - catalog number) year 196X (mp3)"
then inside that are the tracks titled :-
 "track 01. Jimi Marley Exponentially Experienced beyond Belief :) - Oh my what a really long name.mp3"

as you can assume it's already well over 255 characters anmd simply will not be read.

Shortening them will fix that issue - there's other ways but having asytem of foldering with short be concise names works a treat, and provides an already structured means of finding your music within musicbee via computer folder tree etc.


As said to remove all Musicbee's leftovers the free tool (which is far better than windows explorer anyway, called "EVERYTHING" will help you locate... well everything.



PLEASE do not use itunes, yuk, spit. :P

psychoadept

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The incomplete uninstall is much more of a Windows problem than a MusicBee problem. You will find this is the case for almost all non-portable software. As Turk says, there are some uninstaller apps that can help, but I would recommend Bulk Crap Uninstaller or Geek Uninstaller, which will not spam you with ads.

If you do try MusicBee again, I second the suggestion for portable version.
MusicBee Wiki
Use & improve MusicBee's documentation!

Latest beta patch (3.5)
(Unzip and overwrite existing program files)

Turk

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The incomplete uninstall is much more of a Windows problem than a MusicBee problem. You will find this is the case for almost all non-portable software. As Turk says, there are some uninstaller apps that can help, but I would recommend Bulk Crap Uninstaller or Geek Uninstaller, which will not spam you with ads.

If you do try MusicBee again, I second the suggestion for portable version.

I'm positive IO Bits apps don't spam ads - they have pop ups assking if you wish to update (not recommended for iFun screen recorder as the newer version has a watermark and less features but is a really good screen recorder for free) than asking if you wish to update. Disabling that is possible. Only time I see ads in any io bit software is when clicking the "pro" options. fix : dont click em :P
but as we know theres a 100s of apps doing more or less the same thing, some better than others, some more complicated than they need be (i'll take a gander at your suggestions, may replace io bits uninstaller although ASC is useful (alongside CCleaner, Glary's as they all seem to miss things the others don't.)
I think ever since io bits unlocker i've taken a shine to their apps - all in free mode are more than enough for most users - same with sordum 's tools/util's [all 100% free]

In defense, (wow my feelings :)  ) My recommendation was 2 fold, ASC or uninstaller are very easy to use for someone who may prefer such a UI & more so, io bits generates a saveable list of EVERY part of a softwares instal, saveable as a text file so you can manually insure any leftovers are found by the other recommend app, "Everything" via its simple to use / easy to see search option & display & its free. (Everything 1.5a is worth installing instead of the "stable" release 1.4, as it IS more stable than the stable release, unsure why it hasn't been made current.

ps wow Bulk Crap is so large (109mbs) portable, Geek Uninstaller only 1.7mb compressed. Thats quite the difference eh :) Guess i'll find out why on vm test install :).
Last Edit: January 08, 2022, 08:25:22 PM by Turk

hiccup

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Thank you for getting back on this. I reinstalled itunes and imported my .mp3 library. It took about 30 min but setup everything perfectly. Not sure why MusicBee couldn't do the same but for now I'm going to stay with itunes even though I have been searching for a viable alternative for quite some time. Will come back to MusicBee sometime to see if it has been improved.
The same advice from me as Mayibongwe's: Don't use the Store version.
Use the portable version, or (second-best) the normal installer.

Additionally, I don't think it's a good idea to have your music files residing inside the program folder.
Use a dedicated folder for your music files that is located elsewhere.

Just try a portable install, and use it on a testing music folder containing some copies of your music to try things out, and give it some time.
If that doesn't make you happy, iTunes is probably just a good match for you.
Last Edit: January 08, 2022, 09:41:10 PM by hiccup