Erratic behaviour with mp3 playlist

[foxtrot48]

The mp3 playlist I've created with VLC is behaving erratically. The files were downloaded from YT to a Win7 PC and play perfectly as individual items, but when added to the playlist some play and others are skipped—sometimes, but not always. When it happens I get this type of error message:

Your input can't be opened:
VLC is unable to open the MRL 'file:///F:/Waltz_A%20Love%20Idea.mp3'. Check the log for details.
Your input can't be opened:
VLC is unable to open the MRL 'file:///F:/Foxtrot_Can't%20Take%20My%20Eyes%20Off%20You.mp3'. Check the log for details.

I have no idea where the log is, so that's not helpful.

All I want is to have the playlist on a USB drive. The same m3u file will sometimes play properly from one USB, but not when copied to a different USB. It's the same with the same m3u file on the hard drive: sometimes OK, sometimes not. Windows Media Player does much the same, but sometimes refuses to play the list at all.

I'm just a button-pusher so I don't understand any of the technicalities behind this stuff and would be grateful for any help.

[Lotesdelere]

Windows Media Player does much the same, but sometimes refuses to play the list at all.

You may not have full access to some of the files. Check them, one by one, by checking the Security tab of the file from a right click on the file then Properties -> Security

[foxtrot48]

Thanks for your suggestion. I've checked some of the files in the playlist that are skipped, but in each case all permissions are ticked except for Special Permissions. Full control, Modify, Read & execute, Read, Write—all are ticked (checked).

I have noticed that some files that I've renamed revert to the original name when added to the VLC playlist, but this doesn't seem to affect whether they play or not.

When I plug the USB with playlist into my car it appears not to recognise the u3u file. but it plays the individual files well enough. I just want to be able to change the order!

[foxtrot48]

In case anyone is interested, I've worked around the problem by abandoning the playlist and prefixing the individual filenames with numbers 01-58, sorting the files by name in ascending order, then copying the lot to the USB. It's a tedious process but at least and at last I have a playlist that works in my car. Also should mention that the car's system failed to recognise playlists created in Windows Media Player (.wpl) as well.