iTunes won't import valid movie files

[wernhamhogg]

Hey there,

I don't know if this is an obvious question or one with an obvious answer. I just got my first mac today, a macbook, after my old thinkpad crapped out on me.

I have spent all day today getting my bearings on it and transferring files/downloading programs, etc.

I used PodUtil to transfer all of my iTunes library from my 5G iPod with Video (30gb) to my macbook and all of the songs came through just fine. I also was able to successfully transfer my collection of movies and tv shows that are all formatted for my ipod.

The problem is that iTunes won't allow me to import these movie files. I have tried to both drag and drop them into the library and use the File-Add to Library dialog. When I try to finish the add, nothing happens. The dialog box closes and I still have no video files in my iTunes. Any help??

[hayne]

Do these movie files play when you double-click them? What application do they play in?

[Simon Ocean]

See this previous thread, it may help:

Itunes Import (http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=63261&highlight=itunes+reference)

[wernhamhogg]

The files open in quicktime viewer when I double click them. Is using Quicktime Pro really the only way to get movies, which were transferred from an ipod, into iTunes?

Thanks for the help already.

[wernhamhogg]

I have just saved a reference movie for every movie file and have tried both to use the add to dialog and dragging and dropping the reference files and the movies into iTunes, neither work for me at all. I have no idea what to do next.

[hayne]

You shouldn't need the Pro version of QuickTime Player to import your movies.

Some things to check:
- that you are up to date on software (use Software Update in the Apple menu)
- that maybe the videos did get into iTunes but aren't showing up for some reason. (Maybe you have it configured to not show videos - is this possible?) Do you have iTunes set up (preferences) to move files into its own folder? Did you check (using Finder) if the files are in that folder?

[wernhamhogg]

Hayne,

I can't find any settings that could be changed in regards to how iTunes imports movies. In the end, iTunes still won't show my movies or TV shows in the menus, even though I have created reference movies for every one of them with quicktime. This is getting very frustrating.

[ConcernedCitizen]

I have QuickTime Pro and can easily create the IPOD formatted movies. Like you, when I drag them to ITunes they just don't come over. When I open them with ITunes, they don't open. I've sent emails to ITunes, that was no help. I called tech support for my IPod asking assistance with ITunes and the rep advised me, apple doesn't provide any support for ITunes, he suggested reinstalling it. I've followed every suggestion I could find on the Web, nothing works. Thinking it might be this computers setup, I used an older laptop running fresh OS 10.4.8 and have the same problem. I am convinced ITunes 7 has a defect.

[schneb]

I'm playing movies in iTunes 7. Seems like if it can play in Quicktime, it can play in iTunes--but not always it seems. All of my movies are MPEG4. Some are H264, and they still play OK. Try this...

Download an HD movie from Quicktime.com and see if that plays in iTunes 7. For me, it does brilliantly. We can go from there.

[BAC999]

I use HandBrake (ver 0.7.1) on my 17in G4 running 10.4.8 to get videos "ipod-ready". No problems!
They just drag & drop into the iTunes window, and sync w/ipod- and everything plays just fine.

BTW: I had read in another forum that videos compressed w/Handbrake are a bit darker- YES! That's the only issue I have (but it's FREE! so I'm not too bothered)
good luck!

[ConcernedCitizen]

Thanks for the help! I heard sometime back that the system update for QuickTime writes over QuickTime Pro so unless you are ready to purchase the new QuickTime Pro, avoid the update. I've discovered that's not the case. I downloaded the QT7 update and now everything in ITunes works as it should. Hope this information helps someone.

[kellyhellcat]

I have exactly the same problem as wormhamhogg. I bought a new MacBook, I try to put movies, even ones I have converted etc into iTunes and literally nothing happens. They don't show up anywhere... Has anyone found any kind of solution to this mystery?

[indraunt]

Okay now I have this problem...
I'm using the same computer I always have - I just gave it a format and reinstalled OSX. Upddated all my codecs (I think), but as far as I know that shouldn't be a problem.
Long ago I converted all my movies and tv shows to mp4's for the AppleTV and it worked a treat. Unfortunately, now they won't import to itunes and all I get in Quicktime is a white frame when trying to play them - which indicates to me that there is a missing video codec.
How the hell is there a missing video codec when they're all .264(or whatever) .mp4 files?
This is damn frustrating.

[deathreign]

people sed drag it into quicktime first, so i did that, and it sed bad file name, error-37 (something like that). and at that time, luckily i was talking to a friend on the fone and i told him that, so he suggested that i change the file name (easy just rename the file) and i draged it in quicktime and it worked, so i drag it in itunes and WAHLA it frekin worked LOL wat the hell, for me i just had to rename it haha

[tiberiusjojo]

Hey..... Here's what i've found out.

1) I use Videora iPod Converter which automatically adds the video's to Itunes right after converting it into a format that works on the Ipod's.

2) This has worked before! However, Many times it will not work even if i try and add the file manually (e.g. click and drag and import)

3)Every time it doesn't work, I am doing something else on my computer.

4)If I re-encode the video with nothing else running it usually almost always works

5) So... The problem could be Itunes being picky becaise something wasn't done right or.... The file just could be corrupt.

6) Here is a link to it Linky (http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/download.php)


Thanks, Nolan

[EssentialParadox]

I ended up with this problem and the solution was kind of silly, but hopefully it'll help a couple of you…

What I'd been doing was dragging the videos in… or trying to import them via "add to library" and yet nothing showed up. Ever. So I assumed iTunes wasn't importing the videos.

Now the thing is, they were TV episodes so I'd been looking under "TV Shows". As soon as I clicked on the "Movies" tab they all showed up! I went to "get info" and then "options" and changed them all to the "TV Show" type and they all went into the TV Show section.

iTunes imports all videos as default as a "movie" type. So it'll be listed under the Movies tab. Try there to see if iTunes just put your files in there. If you can't see the Movies tab you'll need to turn it on in the preferences.

Hope that helps a couple of you!