If I uninstall iTunes and reinstall it, will my library still exist?

Yes, I am aware that my question is a bit n00bish and it pertains to software and not hardware, but I'm really curious and I didn't feel like going over to iLounge.

So does anyone know?

Short answer: Yes

Long Answer: There is some risk of losing some of your music if you do not have it all managed by iTunes. For me, iTunes automatically takes any song I import and copies it to the iTunes directory. If this is the case, in the event that your iTunes library data file gets deleted, all you would have to do is reimport the folder iTuens Music which will never get deleted upon uninstall. If you want consolidate your library (put all songs in the database into the iTunes Music folder) click on File > Library > Consolidate. On older versions of iTunes it's Advanced > Consolidate Library.

Out of curiosity, why do you want to uninstall and reinstall? You should just be able to upgrade.

-Betta

And what exactly do you mean when you say there's a risk of losing music that "isn't entirely managed by iTunes"? All my music was put into iTunes via drag-and-drop, and it's in the library, so will I be able to keep all of it there?atm0073

If you consolidate your library, it will copy all music to the iTunes Music folder. If your iTunes library file gets deleted (which it shouldn't) all the music will be there, it just has to recreate it by readding the files to it. In your case though, it doesn't sound as iTunes is broken, but the iTunes library is. Consolidate your library like I suggested, and then delete the iTunes library file (it's called itunes.itl or something, should be in the folder iTunes Music). Delete it, reopen iTunes, do File > Add folder to Library and click on the iTunes Music folder.

-Betta

[QUOTE="atm0073"]And what exactly do you mean when you say there's a risk of losing music that "isn't entirely managed by iTunes"? All my music was put into iTunes via drag-and-drop, and it's in the library, so will I be able to keep all of it there?Thebettafish

If you consolidate your library, it will copy all music to the iTunes Music folder. If your iTunes library file gets deleted (which it shouldn't) all the music will be there, it just has to recreate it by readding the files to it. In your case though, it doesn't sound as iTunes is broken, but the iTunes library is. Consolidate your library like I suggested, and then delete the iTunes library file (it's called itunes.itl or something, should be in the folder iTunes Music). Delete it, reopen iTunes, do File > Add folder to Library and click on the iTunes Music folder.

-Betta