Microsoft started with removing this limitation during updates to Windows 10, and it was buggy at first. So, really this is only supported in newer versions of Windows 10 by Windows. MediaMonkey 4 actually supports up to 248, but MediaMonkey 5 supports Paths that are longer (it would be a bug if something fails because of a Path of more than 248 characters.

Lowlander wrote: ↑Sun Jul 05, 2020 5:41 pm Make sure full paths (drive and extension included) doesn't exceed 255 characters. This is an old Windows limitation and can cause weird things to happen when exceeded.

I thought Microsoft removed this limitation? And I did a regedit to enable longer characters/remove limitations completely after I had these problems.

But yes, this seems to be the problem. Strange thing is, I ripped my entire CD collection with MM4.1.01692 with Windows Vista and all paths+filenames were perfectly working THEN. Now with Win10 Pro and MM4.1.28.1905 it seems to be going a bit bonkers. I can play files fine when I import them, no problems. BUT if I change any ID tag entries on files with long paths and names, MM slows down, some tags get corrupted and MM generally slows down.

So I have som cleanup to do. It's all my DJ compilations that seem to be the problem....

I GUESS (because I'm finding Win10 a POS crap OS in general with lots of bugs, especially file handling) its WIN10 NOT MM who's causing problems. Are you sure WindowsDefender isnt causing any problems for MM?

Make sure full paths (drive and extension included) doesn't exceed 255 characters. This is an old Windows limitation and can cause weird things to happen when exceeded.

It appears that MM has been adding extra copies of covers to almost all of my files. Since I used to place covers within each album folder, it added them again. Perhaps that's why I've noticed some lag?

Lowlander wrote: ↑Sun Jul 05, 2020 1:25 pm
1) Yes, scanning picks this up when Scan File Directories for Artwork is enabled under Tools > Options > Library.

2) I assume it isn't applied to all selected files for which you opened Properties. Are you embedding or saving external Artwork? Could some files be Read-Only or WAV?

3) Are you removing embedded or external Artwork?

4) Can you locate and play them using the My Computer node in the Media Tree in MediaMonkey?

5) Did you Drag & Drop in the Location node in MediaMonkey? I suggest removing files from both locations from the Library (Music node) in MediaMonkey, move any remaining files in File Explorer (if any) and then rescan them in MediaMonkey.

6) Could be because they're large Artwork files or they have to be extracted from the files.

7/8) File > Maintain Library with complete optimization checked could improve things

1) I've changed this in the settings. My old behavior was to save the cover in the folder, then add that specific cover via MM. So MM picks up the same cover again. This is also why it wouldn't let me delete album art that I kept in certain folders, but tried removing from the ID3 tag.

2) I select all files within a folder, shift+enter, remove embedded cover, then add new cover from external folder, then save. Not Read-Only, mp3 , 320.

.......I JUST NOTICED the cover is ALSO saved within the Album folder even if I open the cover from an external folder/another location. Then it appears MM picks up the cover art within the folder, creating a duplicate. The settings were working against what I actually tried to do. I just want the cover art embedded, not in the folders.

3) Removing embedded.

4) The Blind Boys Of Alabama CD I just ripped, I could locate and play within the folder right after ripping. I checked all files would play. I only "lost" some files after I moved them. This was due to filename being too long apparently. The strange problem with cover art missing still persists. I also loose part of name in ID3 tag and album art. The behaviors seems to be related (missing album art + ID3 text issue), but I can play the file. I've repeatedly tried changing the info, but disappear after I play another song or restart)

5) Yes, dragged and dropped within the Location node. Problem appears to have been long filename for MM, but I didn't have that problem with Files in Windows. I could copy and paste to any folder.

6) Files were 500x500, I changed them to anything from 1000x1000 to maximum 1500x1500, file size maximum 300k. Should be ok?

7) Sorry, should have mentioned that I've done this repeatedly. And restarted and done all that...If I right click and rename within Location three, it very often hangs. I also get a duplicate ghost folder, where it keeps the old folder that's empty and the new renamed. This appears to disappear when I open close the folder three. Perhaps the slow behavior others are seeing in Win?



It appears, being an old fart coming back to MM I've become a bit of a noob again. I should pay the Noob Fine/Tax.....

1) Is MediaMonkey set to save tag changes when you're editing Properties (Tools > Options > Tags & Playlists)? Try Tools > Advanced Tag Management > Synchronize Tags on the problem files and see if that saves tag changes and Artwork.

2) Are they external Artworks? Then it's likely due to scanning picking them up as mentioned previously.

3) Close the Media Tree? Are you working in Music? Did you do database optimization as suggested previosuly?

The "Blind Boys of Alabama" behavior was apparently due to filename being too long. I did get a red highlight on them when I ripped, but didn't read it well enough. They DID play right after ripping though, I only experienced problems when I moved them. (And I was able to copy paste the files from Vista-Win10 without problems). I re-ripped again with shorter filename and I was able to move entire album.

1) BUT cover art won't save/stick to the ID3 tag on some files and I still loose part of name in ID3 tag when I move the entire folder.

2) I have just checked some folders I have edited these last days. I'm getting the duplicate album cover with "Image type not specified". This is more than 10++ albums and the cover is not stored in the specific album folder, but a generic PS folder. I haven't opened the files with any other media player either. This is solely within MM.

3) PS : The database "hangs" after editing. I have to close the three and reopen it for it to take effect

1) Yes, scanning picks this up when Scan File Directories for Artwork is enabled under Tools > Options > Library.

2) I assume it isn't applied to all selected files for which you opened Properties. Are you embedding or saving external Artwork? Could some files be Read-Only or WAV?

3) Are you removing embedded or external Artwork?

4) Can you locate and play them using the My Computer node in the Media Tree in MediaMonkey?

5) Did you Drag & Drop in the Location node in MediaMonkey? I suggest removing files from both locations from the Library (Music node) in MediaMonkey, move any remaining files in File Explorer (if any) and then rescan them in MediaMonkey.

6) Could be because they're large Artwork files or they have to be extracted from the files.

7/8) File > Maintain Library with complete optimization checked could improve things

I'M BACK! I'm a Looooooong time MM user, like waaaaaaay back.....and damn it feels good to be back.

BUT I'm having trouble with ID tagging that wasn't present the last time I was using it. I'm worried MM somehow is corrupting my ID3 info.

What I've done is this. I've migrated my old MP3 collection from a Vista system to Win10. Straight copy paste via external HDD to new system. I've used iTunes until now and I didn't want Apple potentially corrupting my tags somehow. So I on purpose lost some edits I made to the files in iTunes, which I'm redoing now. Mainly upgrading cover art to better resolution.


I've specifically noticed this behavior :

1- Multiple cover art duplicates when opening "Properties". It's the same cover, but it's got a duplicate without "Cover (front)" designation. I have some cover-art inside the folders, not always, but does it auto pick-up this?

2- Edits to cover art wont "stick". Let's say I open, remove old cover, add new cover and "apply to all files....". When I check, some wont have the new one saved.

3- I have some files where I can continuously delete cover art under properties (seems more prevalent in FLAC files), but they wont go away. They reappear while I delete. No changes will be saved, no error messages.

4- I have some mp3's that wont appear in MM, that I've ripped with MM before on old system, worked before. Files are in the folder, but MM won't add them and I can't "open with" via Files. BUT Groove will play them.

5- This one specific CD I just ripped again, to a separate folder. Everything worked, all files would appear and be playable. Deleted old folder, removed from database, moved (click & drop in MM) new folder into library. Now, some files didn't get moved. Half are stuck in the ripping folder. I removed the whole album from MM database, moved the rest via Files. Now MM wont add or play some of the files, those that got stuck. The files that show, will have some info missing from the ID3 tag. The CD is "Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama - There Will be a Light" but some files just show "Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of - There Will be a Light" after the move in the ID3 fields. Which I find odd.

As I said, these files where all OK before, they were "unadulterated" by MacOS or other mediaplayers. Now its acting funky all of a sudden.

I can edit the files I have problems with Mp3Tag (v. 3.01) and it sticks, and is updated in MM afterwards.

I don't get any error messages.




Not as important :


I've also noticed some "slowness" in general :

6- Sometimes it takes a few seconds for album art to appear, and I see the generic one for a second before it updates. Both with "Now Playing" and "Selected".
7- MM hangs for a second or so, for no reason, when doing things.
8- It also, but not often, hangs for longer, unsure what I do then to make that happen....
9- Minimizing MM to taskbar, then opening it again, it's very often VERY slow to "redraw" and it's done in a specific order, not at once. Playback not affected.


I went from a Windows Vista, Core Duo something sumtin, 8GB, 5400 HDD to a Windows 10 Pro (1904) Xeon, 32GB, SSD bla bla bla...so it shouldn't be slower.

It is same size database approx. 12.000 files, 100GB.

Still, it feels good to be back....