Error -208 : There was an error in the music store

Question

Error -208 : There was an error in the music store

This is truly getting old. I made the jump from 5.0.1 (which had sound problems) to 6 last night. I can play my music I imported from CD just fine (skips every now and then). But, when I try to play any of the music I paid handsomely for through iTunes, I first got other errors. Now, this morning, it's Error -208: There was an error in the music store.

What is the problem here?

Is the problem with the music store or with iTunes 6?

When can a truly working fix be expected?

Whatever happened to Apple's QA? Every upgrade of iTunes since 4.7 causes more and more problems. I'm embarassed because I recommended a friend buy the new iPod two weeks ago. He's probably cussing me out left and right at the moment. And, these problems aren't just relegated to us Window's folk - the Mac folks are having their share of problem as well.

I am running on Windows 2000 SP 4 on an ASUS motherboard with 1GB RAM. I meet the minimum recommended requirements.

When can I expect the situation to be remedied?

Posted on Oct 14, 2005 6:44 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 14, 2005 8:22 AM in response to Charles Stack

I'm having the same problem here! It also gives me that error when I try to preview new music in the store.

I e-mailed Apple yesterday morning telling them about my problem and I have yet to hear back.

I will post if and when I hear from them.

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2005 8:35 AM in response to Charles Stack

Just tried iTunes 4.7.0.42 on my laptop vs my desktop which run iTunes 6.0 It reports error -1401 when accessing the Music store. But, at least I can access some of the music that I had purchased on this machine. Of course, most of my music is on my desktop and my iPod.

It would be nice if Apple acknowledged that there's a problem and give us an idea when it will be corrected.

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Answer 3

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Oct 14, 2005 4:46 PM in response to Charles Stack

hi y'all!

I understand that 4.7.1 no longer allows music store access. i've had reports that people can use 4.9 to connect. at this stage, i'm unsure if you can still connect with 4.8.

see (view all):

CA Steve, "Upgrading to itunes 6/possible problems?" #5, 11:18am Oct 14, 2005 CDT

love, b

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Answer 4

Oct 14, 2005 5:25 PM in response to Charles Stack

Same error here. I cannot access any music I have bought. Over 2,500 songs to be exact. Bought another video just now, asked me again for pass word to authorize the computer for the 900th time. Error 208! Get this crap right apple or I am gone.

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Answer 5

Oct 14, 2005 5:42 PM in response to Charles Stack

Same error 208 here on a Mac, iTunes 6, Quicktime 7.0.3
4 out of 5 authorisations

I got a gift from a friend today which downloads okay but I can't play it. Nasty bug. Fix it Apple, Quick.

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Answer 6

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Oct 14, 2005 5:57 PM in response to Shuffle me up

hi Shuffle me up!

Same error 208 here on a Mac, iTunes 6, Quicktime 7.0.3

4 out of 5 authorisations

so it's
b cross-platform
too? the
b (-206)
usually indicated that the itunes version wasn't high enough to use the store, but that can't be what's going on here.

hmmm. i still haven't seen much
b troubleshooting
on this here in "Installations & Upgrades" ... has there been any progress in either of the "using itunes music store" forums?

love, b

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Answer 7

Oct 14, 2005 6:20 PM in response to Charles Stack

Ok. I read just about everything on in this discussion group and Apple notes.

I then declared all out war on this this evening. I won.

Here's what I did:

1. Assumption - you have Norton AV or Norton System Works installed. I suppose it will work if you have NIS installed.

2. Removed ALL my anti-spyware programs (i.e. Spybot 1.3 and Microsoft's Anti-Spyware).

3. Rebooted.

4. Opened up Norton AV settings in Norton System Works and selected Internet Worm Protection.

5. Under Applications - Added iTunes and iTunes Helper. Set operation to PERMIT ALL.

6. Under "General Rules", I added a new rule named "iTunes".

7. Under the "Communications Tab", I added a rule to allow UDP traffic to both local and remote ports 5353.

8. Rebooted.

9. This time, when the system started, I got a message indicating that "application iTunes is trying to access the internet." Clicked on "Remember and allowed the operation.

At this point, things started working.

The removal of the Anti-spyware programs MAY or MAY NOT be necessary. I will add them back in to see if they make any difference or not.

Now - Apple, my suggestion to you is to PUBLISH the ports and protocols and network targets. I was only able to gleam the ports used because Sygate indicated that iTunes was using UDP port 5353 to communicate.

Anyway, for those of you with this problem and are running ANY of the programs mentioned here, try my recommended course of action.

Charles

P.S. Now, I need to figure out what causes the occassional skip/stutter. But, my iTunes is working.

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Answer 8

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Oct 15, 2005 5:41 AM in response to Charles Stack

well done Charles!

let us know if it's the Norton or not.

Now - Apple, my suggestion to you is to PUBLISH the ports and protocols and network targets. I was only able to gleam the ports used because Sygate indicated that iTunes was using UDP port 5353 to communicate.

🙂 been available since 2001 ... here's the relevant Apple KB base doc on '"Well Known" TCP and UDP Ports Used By Apple Software Products' if you're worried about this:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106439)

Now, I need to figure out what causes the occassional skip/stutter.

first try working through this document (you'll need to try the QT 7 version of the waveout quick fix):

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93610

keep us posted.

love, b

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