Q: iTunes 12 incompatible with Windows Vista Data Execution Prevention

I never installed any plug-ins or scripts for iTunes. When other recent versions were started in Safe Mode, I got the same BEX after exiting. However when iTunes 12.0.1 is started in Safe Mode, something new and exiting happens upon closing: an APPCRASH!

Product
iTunes

Problem
Stopped working

Date
10/16/2014 9:57 PM

Status
Report Sent

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: iTunes.exe
Application Version: 12.0.1.26
Application Timestamp: 543e558b
Fault Module Name: StackHash_1cd5
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6002.18881
Fault Module Timestamp: 51da3e27
Exception Code: c0000374
Exception Offset: 000b06fc
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 1cd5
Additional Information 2: f4a60206fa7575fc7801219875c249a7
Additional Information 3: 2dea
Additional Information 4: 937fb08c32477ccd4059486b89e1c140

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 575081675

Correction: I get an APPCRASH if I exit iTunes in Safe Mode rather quickly, but if I hang around a while I get the same old BEX.

I'm trying to follow the steps in iTunes for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8: Fix unexpected quits or launch issues. Created a new guest user account and found that it was not subject to BEX errors upon closing iTunes, as was earlier reported by Earlonics and Biggested on page 7 of the thread referred to in my original post. Therefore user-specific troubleshooting steps would appear to be called for. Tried removing iTunes Preference files as prescribed, but it didn't solve the issue. (However if I try another "clean" reinstall I'll make certain that the Apple folders in each user's AppData folder are deleted.) That brings us to creating a new iTunes Library. My administrator account doesn't really have a library, but is nevertheless subject to BEX errors upon closing iTunes. I created a new library and even added one song (not an AAC file from iTunes Store, heaven forbid), but that did not solve the issue. At the moment I'm much too tired to try any such thing with my standard user account that actually has a library, but I'll tell you this: Downgrading to iTunes 11.1.5 would solve the entire problem because Apple made some kind of change in version 11.2 that ruined this for Vista users!

Welcome tocguy. If I may ask you a question: How much memory does your Vista x64 PC have? I have 3 GB, which is the maximum that 32-bit Vista can recognize, but I seem to recall that 64-bit Vista can utilize much more than that, and wonder if that might be why 64-bit users are scarce in the 11.2 thread.

I have now also done a truly clean reinstall, deleting Apple folders in ProgramData and each user account's AppData folder, and even the iTunes folders in each user's Music folder. Of course I moved my iTunes Media folder to a safe location first, and one iTunes Library backup file suitable for version 11.1.5. I also cleaned the registry. The most I can say is that I sometimes don't get a BEX upon closing iTunes now, but usually I do. I deselected one default setting during installation, "Use iTunes as the default player for audio files." (If an audio file can be opened by Media Player 11, why would I want to open it in a program that gives me a BEX nearly every time I use it? Too bad my AAC files purchased at iTunes Store can't be opened by WMP, but I certainly won't be buying any more of those now.) My advice to other Vista users: Don't waste your time reinstalling, it won't solve the DEP problem.

Ran the Program Compatibility Wizard to run iTunes in XP SP2 compatibility mode, but abandoned that idea after the first BEX.

Thought I was onto something when I tried the registry fix at http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2008/06/17/to-dep-or-not-to-dep.aspx. Johnny DEP thought he was so slick when he saw iTunes listed as an exception in his DEP tab, but there was one minor problem (yes I did reboot):

Oh well, it's probably a bad idea to allow buffer overruns anyway. The fact that this didn't work causes me to think that Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit or Application Compatibility Toolkit would also be a waste of time. Vista users who wish to avoid BEX errors can either downgrade their iTunes (free) or upgrade their Windows (not free).

Morac, having replied to my thread even though you are not running Vista, I wonder if you would answer a question: Is it possible to exclude iTunes from DEP using EMET 3.0 without globally disabling DEP, and did you try that while iTunes 12.0.1 was installed? EMET 3 is rather old, I believe EMET 5 was released this summer. It seems possible that EMET settings were the actual cause of your problems. Downgrading to 11.4 certainly won't solve my  problem, because the most recent version of iTunes that was DEP-compatible for 32-bit Vista was 11.1.5. With Vista, the BEX errors occur when closing iTunes, not when accessing the iTunes store or downloading.

Gee fromsouth, two links explaining how to globally disable an important security feature? No thanks!  I would strongly advise other Vista users never to consider that course of action! If iTunes doesn't ruin your system, your next malware infection probably will. A much better idea would be to downgrade to a DEP-compatible version of iTunes, which for 32-bit Vista means 11.1.5 or earlier. BTW both of those links state that the way to re-enable DEP is with AlwaysOn, when in fact the default setting is OptIn. The DEP tab will be greyed out if AlwaysOn is applied.

Speaking of OptIn, it is clear to me that iTunes purposefully opts in to DEP, which is a good thing - or at least it would be, if only recent versions of iTunes were DEP-compatible on every version of Windows. The question of exactly how  iTunes opts in is rather difficult to answer. If anyone with high computer skills (perhaps a developer) would like to investigate, this link looks like a good starting point: http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2009/06/12/understanding-dep-as-a-mitigat ion-technology-part-1.aspx.

The last time I closed iTunes without getting a DEP notification, I checked Problem Reports and found that I got an APPCRASH instead.

BTW Quicktime was never  installed on this PC, and "Core Media is supported."

Thanks tocguy. I agree that allowing a DEP exception for iTunes might be risky, but I can't be certain because it seems to be quite impossible! I think all 64-bit processes are subject to DEP anyway. However if a satisfactory solution could be found, Vista x64 users could perhaps install 32-bit iTunes.

If you have nothing to offer Vista users except disparaging remarks, then please refrain from posting in this thread. It is not I who maintains that recent versions of iTunes are compatible with Vista, but rather Apple: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/. As recently as 5 months ago, I had no reason to disagree. And yes I have up-to-date antivirus - which has nothing to do with this topic.