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Album artwork will not display on .mp3 files in Windows Explorer. (With a twist)

Anonymous
2015-07-17T23:46:37+00:00

Hello, all. I bet you've never seen this one before! I kid, but I am experiencing a very distressing problem concerning artwork (not) displaying on .mp3 file icons. Allow me to explain: I have spent the past several months manually adding artwork to about 4,000 albums, using iTunes to add the artwork and Nero PhotoSnap to edit it. Last week, I was about halfway through when I stopped to update Nero 7. Everything was fine until the update failed, and that's when the artwork disappeared from EVERY .mp3 file on my main drive and my external HD! I was devastated to say the least. I've searched forums (including Microsoft's), and have tried virtually every fix I could find. One thing I'll mention is that in iTunes the artwork appears on albums and tracks just fine. I've even added artwork to newer files that I know did not have artwork and they display perfectly in iTunes as well. No matter what I try (and I've tried some advanced fixes) the artwork will not not display on the files in Windows Explorer. I am determined to fix this issue, but I need your help. I will answer any questions the community may have in order to correct this problem. Please help!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-07-30T20:45:12+00:00

    Hello, Ric. I connected my HD to the other computer in the house and the artwork displayed perfectly! I tried several folders and not one was missing the artwork. It's a relief to know all that work was not done in vain. Now to dig out that Windows disc and hope for the best. Thoughts? - E

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-18T00:25:12+00:00

    Hi - I feel your pain!!

    What do you see in an explorer music folder when you set hidden files and folders and system files to display

    under 'organize' - file options as in the snip below?... (Restore defaults when you're done) - I'm signing off for now but I'll check out your reply asap.

    Cheers - Ric

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-18T16:53:59+00:00

    Okay, my bad. I will make those changes and post a screenshot of the results as soon as possible. I'm dedicated to fixing this problem, and your help means a lot, Ric. Thank you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-07-18T09:41:40+00:00

    Hold your horses - I haven't suggested anything yet! What I am interested in knowing is with the hidden elements showing, are you seeing any hidden artwork in the 'explorer' folder? (Sorry my post last night wasn't very specific but it was late where I am!) 

    iTunes has its own artwork cache, which most likely explains why they display in iTunes but not in 'explorer'. I'm not sure why the update (or something else) has stopped them from being visible there but let's work through the various locations (they are all 'hidden') and see what we've got. I'm not familiar with Nero Photosnap either, so I'm not sure where that fits into the picture...

    You haven't mentioned WMP in your Q... is artwork displayed when you play a track with WMP? - Cheers, R.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-07-18T01:02:41+00:00

    Thanks for your reply, Ric. I tried your suggestion, but unfortunately it didn't help. Your contribution is much appreciated though.

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