Question

Recover original xp file names after autochange by iTunes

Asked by: trevorcd

I have about 1000 music files (typically mp3) on an external drive.  They are accessed by iTunes (and other programs).  Because many of them are off-air radio recordings, they were created with file names which usually include the date, in format yyyy.mm.dd.  By mistake, the "keep files organised" option in iTunes was turned on, and it spent a happy half hour working through the drive, renaming most files into iTunes style, with sequential "track" numbers.  It also changed the directory grouping, to reflect "albums".  Sadly, the drive in question is the only one without a backup.  (Won't make THAT mistake again!)  Is there any way to restore the previous file names, without re-entering each manually?

Thanks fot the help.
Trevor

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Asked On
2007-12-25 at 06:02:44ID23042288
Tags

itunes

,

names

,

recover

Topics

iTunes Software

,

Windows XP Operating System

,

Miscellaneous Software

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: garycasePosted on 2007-12-25 at 07:18:23ID: 20527307

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings on Christmas ... but No.

... the "good" news is there's only 1,000 files (could have been much worse).   Clearly you'll be better at keeping backup copies on a spare disk, DVD's, etc. in the future.   Sounds like you have a nice afternoon project to rename all of your music :-)

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2007-12-25 at 07:20:36ID: 20527310

i don't run ITunes (have a Zune myself), but I have a feeling you are out of luck with this, as once the files are renamed, the old names are no longer available anywhere, including caches..  But I do feel your pain, as this has happened with other directories on some of my systems in the past..

I ceratianly do not expect any points for a non-helpful answer, but I think the other experts will agree on this..  if not, maybe I can learn something new!

Regardless, have a safe and Happy Holiday Season!

FE

 

by: rindiPosted on 2007-12-25 at 23:25:03ID: 20528574

You might try scanning the disk with getdataback, it might be able to find the original filenames on one of the deleted regions of the disk. You won't be able to use it to automatically rename the files, as those deleted items will just be directory tables and not the complete files, but it may be a reference which will help you when you rename and reorganize the actual files.

http://runtime.org

 

by: jared_lukerPosted on 2007-12-26 at 15:06:24ID: 20531402

I don't think there is a magic pill to getting the file names back, but you could try a program that can read file dates and allow you to put them into a file name.  

How are you id3 tags on these files?  Complete or non existent?

 

by: jared_lukerPosted on 2007-12-26 at 15:11:38ID: 20531418

This program looks like it could have some potential for doing what I mentioned above:

http://www.123renamer.com/about4.htm

 

by: jared_lukerPosted on 2007-12-26 at 15:21:29ID: 20531456

This one says it can do a date stamp:

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php

 

by: trevorcdPosted on 2007-12-27 at 01:23:32ID: 31417074

Thanks,folks - the answer I expected, I'm afraid.  Happy New Year!  Trevor

 

by: rindiPosted on 2007-12-27 at 01:41:02ID: 20533092

your welcome

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2007-12-27 at 10:54:42ID: 20536101

Thank You!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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