Uninstalling iTunes

When you get this kind of thing happening, you need to use the Microsoft Installer Cleanup Utility to clean up your installer files.

Here is a method for removal, clean up and reinstall of iTunes.

== uninstall with cleanup ==
Download a fresh copy of iTunes and the stand alone version of Quicktime (the one without iTunes)

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Save the files on your PC.

Download and install Microsoft Installer cleanup utility, there are instructions on the page as well as the download. Note that what you download is the installer not the program – you have to run it to install the program. The installer doesn't give any message to confirm the installation.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301/

(To run the program – All Programs>>Windows Install)

Now use the following method to remove iTunes and its components:
XP
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1925

Vista
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923


*If you hit a problem with one of the uninstalls don't worry*, carry on with the deleting of files and folders as directed in the method.

When you get to deleting Quicktime files in the system32 folder as advised in the method, you can delete any file or folder with Quicktime in the name.

Restart your PC.

Run the Microsoft Installer Cleanup Utility. (Start > All Programs > Windows Install Clean Up)

Remove any references you find to the programs you removed - strictly speaking you only need to worry about those programs where the uninstall failed.

If you don’t see an entry for one of the programs that did not uninstall, look out for blank entries or numeric entries that look like version numbers e.g. 7.x for Quicktime or 1.x for Bonjour.

restart your PC

Install the stand alone Quicktime and check that it works.

If it does, install iTunes.

===

I can't get rid of some of the help files when uninstalling itunes, how do I do it please? The files are these:

itunes
itunes helper
itunes helper.resources
itunes helperlocalized.dll
itunes helper localized.dll
itunesmobiledevice.dll

Thanks

One reason may be that iTune is running in the background. Check your notification are for any iTunes icon. If you see an iTunes icon in the notification area close the application and then try to remove the program. If that doesn’t work install a fresh copy of iTunes and then uninstall it. That’s all what I can say.



Message was edited by: David Traubb

< Edited by Host >

Try restarting your PC, that should ensure iTunes is not running. Then check in the task manager processes tab to see if iTunesHelper.exe is running, it probably will be if you can't uninstall iTunes. Try ending the process.

Then go into services, either from Control Panel>>Administrative Tools or by typing Services.msc into the run box on the start menu.

Stop the Apple Mobile Device service and see if that will allow you to carry on.

the iTune related processes in the task manager are AppleMobileDeviceSupport.exe, iTunesHelper.exe, iPodService.exe and if you have the Quicktime icon in the system tray - qttask.exe

Deleting all the files isn't really vital to the process of cleanup and reinstall unless one of the files has become corrupt so that the iTunes installer can't access it, but you get a different error message then such as "Unable to write to ...".