"iPod Service Failed to Start" message when upgrading iTunes

I had the exact same problem on my computer. I bought a new iPod, went to install it and was told I had to upgrade iTunes in order to do so. When I tried to upgrade iTunes to 8.2, I got the "iPod service" error that is stated above. I'd love an answer, too!

1. Quit iTunes.
2. Right click on My Computer/Computer and click Manage. If Windows requires your permission to continue, click Continue.
3. Click the plus symbol to the left of Services and Applications.
4. Select Services listed under Services and Applications.
5. Double click iPod Service in the right hand panel.
6. Click the Stop button under the General tab and leave the iPod Service Properties window open.
7. Connect your iPod and wait until it is visible in My Computer/Computer.
8. Click the Start button in the iPod Service Properties window.
9. Open iTunes.

I'm having the same problem! I have a brand-new Ipod Nano 4th gen., just got it. Today I decided I'd download itunes. We recently got a new computer and haven't gotten around to downloading it on the new hardrive. So this would be my first time downloading. As I said, I get the "IPOD SERVICE FAILED TO START" thing. I looked through disscussions and support pages but everything they said didnt help. When I saw that I shoulf find IPOD SERVICES in the manage window i did just that, but like others, no IPOD SERVICES section. I ended up repeating everything like this for some 4 hours.So, my dad comes in to see if he can help. When I pull up the manage window this time, of course, the IPOD SERVICES is there. After I close it, I go back and this time... no IPOD SERVICES. It's driving me INSANE and nothing's helping! Ideas?

Some anti-virus programs (e.g., McAfee) have this rule that can be invoked under the "maximum protection" settings: PREVENT PROGRAMS REGISTERING AS A SERVICE. If that rule is set to BLOCK, then any attempt to install or upgrade iTunes will fail with an "iPod service failed to start" message.

If you are getting this problem with iTunes, check to see if your anti-virus has this setting and unset it, at least for as long as the iTunes install requires. Exactly how to find the rule and turn it on and off will vary, depending upon your anti-malware software. However, if your anti-virus or anti-malware software produces a log of its activities, examining the log may help you find the problem.

For example, here's the log entry for McAfee:

9/23/2009 3:18:45 PM Blocked by Access Protection rule NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\iPod Service Common Maximum Protection:Prevent programs registering as a service Action blocked : Create

Note that the log says "Common Maximum Protection: Prevent programs registering as a service". The "Common Maximum Protection" is the location of the rule, "Prevent programs registering as a service" is the rule. I used that information to track down the location in the McAfee VirusScan Console where I could turn the rule off.

After I made the change, iTunes installed without complaint.

I was having the same issues as well when installing iTunes on a new computer. (This may be a little different for some because I had an old laptop and got a new one, so my files, and a working version of iTunes, were still on the old one.) To fix the problem, I did the following:

1. I copied over the folders under c:\Program Files for "iTunes" and "iPod" from my old computer to the same location on my new computer.

2. Next, I ran the installation for the new iTunes.

3. When the installation got caught up at the end and told me that I didn't have privileges to run the iPod service, I copied over a version of cfgmgr32.dll from my old computer (under Windows\System32 folder) into Windows\System32 folder on my new computer (replacing the one that was already there).

3. Then I found the file called setupapi.dll in windows\system32, right clicked and selected "open with", then I browsed to find iTunes.exe (under program files) and opened the dll with this executable.

4. I pressed retry on the iTunes installation and it worked.

Are you logged in as an administrator? That's all I can think of for the error message you mentioned in the first post.

I uninstalled AVG antivirus and reinstalled iTunes. This worked for me.