Q: Apple Mobile Device failed to start

I had exactly the same problems. After trying on the suggestion of the other users, i started to update my service pack and also download the current updates from windows and now all features are working!

wanna let you and others know that there is an alternative ...

Navigate to Computer>Local Disk>Program Files. Look for iTunes folder to see if there is a numeric value in parenthesis after the file name [for example (537)]. Not sure if it was windows or a virus, but this was the root cause of the issue. Here also, this extension was added to my iPod folder.

Navigate to Computer>Local Disk>Program Files (x86) for Vista and Windows 7 users. check for the same there. Here, my Quicktime, Apple Software Update, and Bonjour folders also had the same random extension.

In the Control Panel>Programs and Features, I unistalled Quicktime, Apple Software Update, and iTunes from the computer. Then manually deleted the iPod, Apple Software Update, Quicktime, and iTunes folders within the two Program Files locations that had the random extensions to them.

Download and install iTunes again from http://www.apple.com/itunes/. This reinstalled all the necessary components. I launched iTunes without error. I connected my iPhone 5 and it synchronized without error.

Problem fixed.

I Had The Same Problem, It`s Very Easy To Solve That Problem.

Follow That Steps:

Open Control Panel > Programs And Features.

There Will Lots Of Softwares But You Want To Uninstale Same:

Apple Application support

Apple Mobile Device Support

Apple Software Update

Itunes (If You Have Crashed Install)

Next Only Install Itunes And it Will Not Write Any Errors.

I Tryed And It`s True 100%.

~ To 8D-Dave.... Thank you so much, this has solved my problem! I have been having problems with this for months, so tried your instructions and it WORKED!!! HOORAY!!! Thk u.

This worked for me

https://discussions.apple.com/message/23153908#23153908

You Are The Man. It worked on Win 7 ultimate

I fixed this by installing all Windows Updates as well as upgrading to Service Pack 1 (Windows 7, 64 bit). I'm not sure if there was a specific update that did the trick or if it was the service pack upgrade; it would take too long to troubleshoot to find out, but that did it for me.

I ran into this issue and fixed it. The problem is that the Apple Mobile Device service is disabled. Enable it, set it to automatic and click retry and it installs.

This worked for me:

Uninstalled ALL Apple software.

Rebooted PC (Windows 64-bit Ultimate)

Renamed my iTunes folder (yes, it still exists in ProgramFiles (x86) after uninstalling ALL Apple software) to "iTunes_OLD".

Created a new folder entitled "iTunes"

Pointed latest install (11.1.4 for Windows [64-bit]) to the new "iTunes" folder

Right clicked on latest iTunes.exe and selected "Run as administrator"

Install went perfectly and even though my iTunes library in on a completely separate drive, the latest install found it without my intervention.

I hope this helps all of you. :~)

Had this problem after I tried an update to v11.1.4 on Win7 32bit PC which failed. I could not start the Apple Mobile Device service.

I Uninstalled ITunes from Control Panel - Programs and Features. I then went to C:\Program Files\Common Files\ and renamed the Apple folder to AppleOld. This folder contains the Mobile Device Support folder. I could have just deleted the folder but I'm a coward.

I then downloaded the latest ITunes installation from http://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/download/, ran the installation using all default settings and it cured the problem. Hope this helps someone

Like philg146 I had this problem this morning after updating to v11.1.4 on Win7 32bit laptop.

I did exactly what he did, i.e., Uninstalled ITunes from Control Panel - Programs and Features. Then went to C:\Program Files\Common Files\ and renamed the Apple folder to AppleOld.

Except I downloaded the latest iTunes from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/. Ran installation, etc. This was my solution as well. Thanks philg146!

THANK YOU!!  Was driving me nuts...  Worked perfectly.

Thanks.. It was driving me nuts too! I felt coward like you. You think we can delete the AppleOld folder? Thanks again. Take care.

Yes, I think you can.

But it is better to uninstall the "Mobile Device Support" using the Control Panel - Programs and Features before reinstalling iTunes instead of renaming the Apple folder.

how were you able to go back to a previous version?