Apple iTunes for Windows crashes PCs

Apple iTunes for Windows crashes PCs
Microsoft often gets complaints about the bugs in their software. Now it seems that Apple's start on the Win32 platform isn't much better. The "Best Windows software ever" is crashing PCs on system boot up.

The Windows market is a huge challenge for Apple. The market is full of all-in-one jukebox software, which have already reached huge user bases. Also there is an over-supply of free, albeit illegal, MP3 music via the networks (Kazaa, Direct Connect, etc). I'd say that Apple's main target is the non-techie PC user group -- releasing a buggy software doesn't help Apple to achieve their goals.
However, not everyone has been so happy with their iTunes experience on the PC. One of the most serious complaints came from a number of Windows 2000 Professional users, who said installing iTunes appeared to crash their machines.
…
Apple recommended that those who have the problem boot their machine in Windows' "safe mode" by holding down the Shift key while restarting and temporarily uninstall iTunes. Some customers also reported having problems while restarting in safe mode, though.
Source: News.com

Written by: Lasse Penttinen @ 20 Oct 2003 0:26
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  • 24 comments

  • Ghostdog

    Whew! Glad I didnīt install it yet.

    20.10.2003 04:59 #1

  • across04

    I think this needs to be put into perspective. I've
    checked quite a few message boards, and while a
    few people said they had problems, including the
    WIN2000 boot up problem, the overwhelming
    majority are loving the program.

    I've installed it on a WinXP machine and it works
    flawlessly. I've spoken to other friends who've also
    installed in on their windows machines. None of
    them are having any problems.

    I seriously doubt that ANY windows program could
    be installed by millions of people without resulting in
    problems for some people. But clearly those having
    problems are miniscule compared to the rest that are
    enjoying a great application!

    Just my two cents worth!

    20.10.2003 07:01 #2

  • jtredway

    I should also point out that I've installed it on my Win2000 box with no problems.

    20.10.2003 07:06 #3

  • jdion81

    I wonder if those that are having problems with iTunes in win2k are the same people who bought the upgrade to Win2k thinking it was the "upgrade" from win98 for their home computers that microsoft rushed WinME out for.

    Ive installed iTunes on 3 PC's all with XP pro and I have not one problem to report.

    20.10.2003 08:46 #4

  • MacDuff

    I installed it on my sister's 1GHz Celeron running XP
    Home; about as mainstream a setup as you can get.
    All worked great. ripping from CD, burning to CD. All
    worked fine.

    20.10.2003 09:54 #5

  • Ghostdog

    Well I might try it out, but I donīt really have the time to re-install Windows at the moment.

    20.10.2003 10:05 #6

  • MacDuff

    Pity it has to be that drastic a solution, Ghostdog ;)

    20.10.2003 10:13 #7

  • radiomd

    Is sounds like a lot of sour grapes by Windows die-hards! I'm an IT Manager for 50 PC's and have installed iTunes on about 8 PC's with different configurations. It's a great program and runs without any problems. I'm glad I can finally replace Windows Media Player & RealPlayer as my MP3 jukebox/CD ripper, and as a bonus it makes burning CD a one-step process.

    20.10.2003 10:54 #8

  • MacDuff

    Hint to using iTunes:

    It is easier to use THAN YOU THINK.

    Unlearn the procedures imposed by archiac software.
    Just do what you want. Drag-and-drop where you
    want. ALSO, use the right-click! Apple has been
    using right-click in its apps and OS for about four
    years, now. It is just a Control key-click on the stock
    one-button Apple mouse, but it IS THERE.

    20.10.2003 11:11 #9

  • MacDuff

    Drag an MP3 from an iTunes playlist to your
    Desktop.

    Drag a song from a CD mounted in iTunes to your
    "Library" entry in iTunes' "Source" pane. Better yet,
    select a whack of tunes (or all of them) from the CD
    and drag them to A BLANK PORTION of the "Source"
    pane. Without fanfare, watch what happens.

    Simpler than you think, yet highly functional. It just
    works.

    20.10.2003 11:14 #10

  • passingby

    I installed it on my Win200Pro machine and didn't
    have a single problem. Works great, and I'm proud to
    be one of those 1st million Windows LEGAL
    downloaders!

    20.10.2003 13:16 #11

  • davidwb

    Let's be honest a minute. Any experienced Windows
    user knows about Registry Bit Rot. The longer we use
    the computer and add/delete software, the more
    brittle the OS becomes. Since I'm the computer
    'expert' at work, I've been called on twice to deal with
    iTunes problems. Or, more properly put, computer
    problems that iTunes made obvious.

    In one case the user admitted that his CD burner
    doesn't work most of the time unless he reboots and
    immediately burns a disk. Well gee, do you think
    maybe he had a problem BEFORE iTunes was
    installed?

    As for the people complaining that iTunes has a
    lousy interface...sorry. They just don't know what
    interface means if lousy is the word they use to
    describe iTunes. It is, as another user exclaimed
    after I showed him a few tricks, "Too cool for words
    and awesome simple."

    20.10.2003 13:18 #12

  • passingby

    Sorry, Win2000Pro, that is!

    20.10.2003 13:18 #13

  • bizzyguy

    Yup, Dell Precision 220 w/Win2K Pro[original w/o service packs] died on re-boot.

    Compaq 1500 laptop w/ XP Home - iTunes works well, but I couldn't buy a song - kept getting BUSY error message on Friday.

    I'm a Mac user [OS 9 on older Powerbooks & iMacs] so I was thrilled to see iTunes on Windows. Looking forward to OS/X 10.3 - Panther this week! Will buy new Powerbook.

    IMHO iTunes is a great Trojan Horse for Windozers

    20.10.2003 16:07 #14

  • BobL

    I've installed it in Windows 2003 Server, and it works pretty much fine. There's a few display update glitches, and I've heard a few skips, but the software itself is working fine. The problems I'm experiencing are VERY minor.

    iTunes is fantastic. Bye-bye to all those other awful MP3 player programs I've always HATED.

    20.10.2003 16:53 #15

  • billygwiz

    An application should never crash a *real* operating
    system. Problem with programming for Windows is
    you never know where the OS ends and the app
    starts.

    20.10.2003 17:47 #16

  • bertus

    I installed it on Windows 2000 pro.

    I works ok now

    I mean after it corrupted my user profile.

    It will probably take me 6 months to find all the stuff to reconfigure on my desktop.

    But so far this apple software works about as well as windows software

    SNAFU.

    2.11.2003 12:40 #17

  • mars_cat

    I have Win 2000 at work and Itunes doesnīt recognize audio-cdīs or mp3-cdīs. Have tried several times to uninstall and reinstall it but without luck. At home Itunes is superb on my Imac!

    8.12.2003 03:40 #18

  • here4fun

    Hi folks,

    Unfortunately itunes refuses to play on my dell XP. We installed itunes it worked just fine, than the system crashed XPCOM reciever problems and since than itunes will not even start, get the message report problem. no amount of installing and uninstalling is solving this issue. My browser is FireFox that ran perfectly before sarting with the XPCOM error. Not Dell nor Microsoft nor Netscape Mozilla have been able to solve the problem. I'm now reduced to make do with the XP media player but I'd love to have my itunes back. If someones could help. That would be appreciated

    23.5.2005 13:29 #19

  • tinu11

    I installed recent iTunes on my PC with Windows 2000 SP4 and I am not able to boot it again - not in save mode eighter.

    I am in PC business more than 20 years - never saw a software which crashes the OS!

    20.11.2005 05:48 #20

  • ireland

    tinu11
    go back to another registry,as win-2000 has one ye can go back to,pressing f8 on second start up window,select (meaning a back up registry}last known good configuration.

    if its up and running,uninstall the program and remove its folder..

    xp can do the same thing as i posted above
    cheers


    also read my post on backing up your system

    I AM GOING TO TELL YE A BETTER WAY TO BACK UP YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM..

    click here
    http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/226518

    20.11.2005 05:58 #21

  • tinu11

    @ireland
    Thanks a lot for your feedback. Seems to work - well I tried it before but I didn't wait long enough. It took quite a long time then Win2K started again. I'll uninstall iTunes - that's for sure.

    20.11.2005 06:14 #22

  • Jparadise

    I also got bit by the iTunes BUG. Worked like a charm
    on XP but cratered my 2000 machine.

    I wanted to post and say thanks for the help guys.

    Except for you arrogant Mac users, I swear you guys are worse than Microsoft. Overcompensating for your 1% market share I guess.

    22.12.2005 09:34 #23

  • ireland

    iTunes, Quicktime, security flaws

    p2p news / p2pnet: A heap overflow vulnerability exists for all current and prior versions of Apple iTunes and Quicktime for Mac OS X and Win32, says indie security researcher Tom Ferris.

    It could allow an attacker to cause a crash, and or execute arbitrary code in the context of the user who executes the player, he states

    How severe is the flaw? It's bad, says Ferris – "think about how many ipods sold this year alone".

    He gives links two testcases for the vulnerability and says Apple has been notified.

    http://www.security-protocols.com/poc/sp-x21-1.mov <(=-- this one crashes QuickTime
    http://www.security-protocols.com/poc/sp-x21-2.mov <(=-- this one will crash iTunes and QuickTime

    Ferris told eWeek he flagged the issue to Apple more than a month ago, "but only received a cursory confirmation that the bug was being investigated".

    Attackers can, "rig QuickTime movie files to trigger a denial-of-service crash that may lead to malicious code execution," says the story.
    http://p2pnet.net/story/7390

    22.12.2005 09:45 #24

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