Q: Exiting iTunes, "iTunes has stopped working".

What antivirus software are you running, if any? It may help to exclude the iTunes folder from any real-time AV scanning process.

See the second box in Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for steps to completely remove iTunes and all supporting components before a clean install which might also help.

tt2

Michael.Harding wrote:

 

iTunes starts "saving the library" but then alerts that "iTunes has stopped working." I select the option "Close the program" and the "saving" finishes...When iTunes is reopened it reports that the Library.itl file is damaged and builds a new, empty library.

 

Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8...

 

iTunes updated to version 12.4.3

 

QuickTime updated to version 7.7.9

 

Error does not happen when loading iTunes in safe-mode. The program ends by saving the library correctly. iTunes Library.itl is not updated. Here's what the error produced by way of a report: "Appcrash."

My first suggestion is to uninstall QuickTime for Windows from all systems, which should've been done 4 months ago for security reasons: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA16-105A. This might actually solve your "appcrash upon exiting iTunes" on Windows 7 and 8 systems. If not, please post again with further details.

As for Windows Vista, a chronic issue of appcrash and BEX errors on exiting iTunes was well documented in Windows Vista problem reports after latest Itunes 11.2 update. That thread was mistakenly marked as "solved" at an early stage, but in fact the problem was never fixed - and never will be because support for Vista ended with the release of iTunes 12.1.3 nearly a year ago.

Please focus on Windows 7 and/or Windows 8 systems running iTunes 12.4.3.

Try launching iTunes while holding down the ctrl+shift keys which opens in safe mode.

Does it exit cleanly this time? What happens now if you open and close normally.

Locate the iTunes icon in the start menu, right-click and use Run as Administrator.

Same questions.

Looking here, I have 53 copies of ntdll.dll, most in the winsxs folder, many of which are duplicate file versions. I don't have that particular build anywhere. I'd still suggest a full tear down and rebuild.

tt2

Not Windows safe mode, iTunes' own safe mode which you access by clicking the icon that launches iTunes and then immediately pressing and holding down shift and ctrl until you see a message saying "iTunes is running in Safe Mode. Visual plug-ins you have installed have been temporarily disabled."

See also Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash. If the current .itl is actually damaged that explains how to revert to a recent backup. Reinstalling iTunes shouldn't affect the library file.

tt2

Try to create a new library, see if that opens and closes successfully. Last modified date should be the time you close iTunes. Make a copy of the most recent dated library file in the Previous iTunes Library folder and try opening that. Assuming that opens and closes successfully and has your content listed, copy it up to the main iTunes library folder and shift-start iTunes to get connected. If your content isn't listed the compare the file sizes, make a copy of the largest one, and try the same steps with it instead.

Back to the antivirus question. iTunes updates the library file by making a new temporary copy, deleting the original, and then renaming the temporary file. Sometime AV software disrupts this process leading to corruption. Check the iTunes folder for hidden .tmp files. Exclude the iTunes folder from real-time AV scanning if possible.

tt2

Unless this was the first version of iTunes ever used on this computer there ought to be dated .itl files inside <User's Music>\iTunes\Previous iTunes Libraries, or in what was the active iTunes library folder the last time everything was working normally. If push comes to shove you can create a new library and import your content to it. If you have any devices see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on recovering ratings, play counts, playlists, and associating the device with the new library.

tt2

Sorry, I've obviously not been clear. When you upgrade iTunes if the new build introduces some change to the internal structure of the iTunes database that isn't compatible with the previous version then the current library is copied into the Previous iTunes Libraries folder, renamed with the date of the upgrade, and used to construct the new version of the library that will be used thereafter. These files can be used to get back to a working version of your library after some calamity that has affected the main version. and if you don't have a backup.

iTunes shouldn't open a library if it doesn't have permissions to write back to the file. Are you saying that iTunes has opened and closed, but date modified on the test library database file hasn't changed, and it hasn't got any changes made like adding a few test tracks to it? See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows just in case.

Assuming iTunes is now behaving normally with a test library you'll now want to try to get back to a working copy that lists your media.

tt2