iTunes crashes

BUT: when I try to fix this problem by clicking on the ipod, then clicking on 'Podcasts' tab, iTunes crashes.

Do you get an error message with that crash? If so, what does it say? (Include error message numbers if you're getting any.)

*b noir:* Since the original poster has not yet responded to you, I'll add my experience to this thread and see if this gets us anywhere.

Two user ids (in Windows XP), a copy of iTunes (version 9.0.2.25) on each user, with an iPod Classic on one and iPod Touch on the other. In both cases, when the iPod is connected, when I click on the Podcasts pane iTunes will close immediately with no message, but Windows will send a crash report to Microsoft. (The crash report has so much info in it, that if I post it here I'll clog up the internet forever! {Yes, I'm joking - but unless the detail of the report is really required, it's probably best not to include it as it's so large})

This only happens when selecting Podcasts, all the other panes are okay. In addition, this problem was occurring with the previous version of iTunes as well and at that time I sent a bug report to Apple, hoping that the next version would correct the problem.

Phil

Thank you Phil!

I'm curious ... have you tried investigating whether or not you've got an issue with your iTunes preference files? (Sometimes, if they're only slightly damaged in a single spot, they can produce alarmingly specific crashes, even though other preference tabs are working perfectly fine.)

Hi b noir, no - I haven't. Where do I find the iTunes preference files?

Phil

Where do I find the iTunes preference files?

Okay ... let's take one step back from that in the troubleshooting to begin with. If this is a preference file issue, then it's going to be specific to a single user account on your PC (there's a seperate set of pref files for each user account). So let's check first to see if the crash is user-account-specific.

On your PC head into your "User Account" control panel and create a new user account *with full administrative rights*. There's help documentation on how to do that to the left of the Control panel screen.

While you're in that control panel, also head into "Change the way users log on or off" and switch off Fast User Switching.

Now, log out of your old account and log into the new account. Launch iTunes. You'll eventually see a blank library. (Don't worry about that ... your Content is safely tucked away in the old account.)

In iTunes, go "Edit > Preferences". Go to the "Devices" tab and make sure that "Prevent ipods and iphones from syncing automatically" is checked. If you had to check it yourself (I can't remember what the default setting is), then click OK.

Now try attaching the iPod (which should not sync, but if it asks you to associate the iPod with the blank library ... say no!), and heading into your podcasts tab.

... do you still get the crash? or does it open normally in the new user account?

I've had the same Podcasts Tab crash in iTunes 9.0.1 with my Nano. Over the weekend I tried with my iPhone 3GS ... it crashes not only when the Podcasts Tab is clicked, but also when the Applications Tab is clicked! (I didn't test any other contents tab, e.g. Movies.) Any other news since the other person mentioned the possibility of a preferences problem? If necessary, I'll start playing around with that.

Dave

Have you tried the experiment I recommended that the fiend tried, Dave?

Okay, I've set up another user account (which I'll try later), but ...

If I don't allow the iPod to Sync with iTunes, how does the iPod show up +in iTunes?+ It's not the Podcast section of the iTunes Library that's the problem, it's the Podcast pane just along from the Summary pane. So, I allow iTunes to Sync with the iPod, then once Sync-ing has completed, I try to look on the Podcasts section (pane) of the iPod so that I can changes settings such as which Podcasts to put on and keep on or remove from the iPod. This cannot be performed in the library, but only when the iPod is connected for Sync-ing.

Phil

If I don't allow the iPod to Sync with iTunes, how does the iPod show up in iTunes?

Remember that connected and syncing are two different things, Phil. For example, if you had your ipod set up to manually manage songs (rather than automatically syncing, or automatically syncing selected playlists), the ipod will appear in iTunes, and you can get to the iPod tabs, but it won't sync.

If you prefer, you could do that ... set the iPod to manually manage content (while you're in the old account), then quit out of iTunes, log out of the old account, log into the new account, and connect the ipod. (That's what we used to do in the old days to test this sort of thing, before that "don't automatically sync" preference was added to the iTunes preferences.)

Okay, sorry - obviously having a bad day! (Working too hard!)

This afternoon, I tried the new user account and with fast switching turned off. When I connected my iPod Touch I was able to select and see the Podcasts pane. I then logged off that account and onto the account for my Touch and allowed it to Sync. Once completed, I selected the Podcasts pane and (much to my relief) it worked!

However, I then logged off that account and onto my "iPod Classic" user account and tried the same thing. Unfortunately, when I selected Podcasts it closed iTunes and another error report was sent.

I think I need to try this process again and I'm currently trying the Classic as I type....

No, the Classic still doesn't work. I'll try the Touch again - probably tomorrow now, as it's time for me to inspect the inside of my eyelids for several hours. More of that work stuff in the morning!

I'll post again with the results.

Phil

This afternoon, I tried the new user account and with fast switching turned off. When I connected my iPod Touch I was able to select and see the Podcasts pane. I then logged off that account and onto the account for my Touch and allowed it to Sync. Once completed, I selected the Podcasts pane and (much to my relief) it worked!

Good lord ... I wasn't expecting that (although I'm pleased that you've got past one of the crashes, Phil).

🙂 Looking forward to hearing about your next batch of experimental results.

Well the bad news is that the Touch caused iTunes to close again. So presumably, the previous success was simply a fluke.

That was yesterday. Today I thought I would experiment again, so from initial PC start up I then started the Touch account and tried clicking on the Podcasts pane once the Sync had finished. No luck, iTunes closed and another error report was generated. I then logged off that account and went to the new account (with Sync devices turned off). This time, I was able to select and successfully see the Podcasts pane. Switched back to the Touch account but once again iTunes closed.

As a last-ditch attempt at some progress, I then tried the iPod Classic's account, but once again iTunes closed down.

So in fact, the only progress is that the _new PC account_ will allow me to select the Podcasts pane without closing iTunes. Where does this get though?

Phil

So in fact, the only progress is that the new PC account will allow me to select the Podcasts pane without closing iTunes. Where does this get though?

🙂 It's ruled out a bunch of possible causes of the crash, Phil, so we've made some progress towards trying to get that Podcasts tab working properly again in your usual user account.

An iTunes preference file issue is still on the table. So we'll check that now.

The basic technique for what we're going to be doing can be found in the "Remove iTunes preferences files" section of the "User-specific troubleshooting" section of the following document:

[iTunes for Windows XP: Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1421]

Prior to starting the testing, be sure that your PC is set up to view hidden files and folders as per the instructions at the beginning of the "User-specific troubleshooting" section.

We should start with dragging the following folder out to the desktop:

*C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes*

... because doing that restores to default the preferences that show up in your iTunes "Devices" tab (in particular, it unchecks "Prevent iPods and iPhones from syncing automatically"). After launching iTunes it would be prudent to head back into the "Devices" tab and recheck "Prevent iPods and iPhones from syncing automatically" prior to connecting the ipod to see if the pref file rebuild has got us past the Podcast tab crash.

*Things to watch out for prior to doing the test:* Make a note of any custom preference you may have set up in iTunes. They may be returned to their defaults (like the things in the Devicess tab) and you may have to set them up again from scratch. The test may also remove any third-party plugins/add-ons you may have for your iTunes, and you may have to reinstall those after the testing.

*Things to watch out for during the test:* Deleting that set of preferences on XP *forces the iTunes Setup Assistant to run* again. *Do not* allow the Setup Assistant to add media files on the computer to your iTunes, otherwise you'll end up with duplicates for every track in your entire library. You may also need to reinstall any third-party plugins/add-ons you may have for your iTunes.

Good luck! If no joy with that set of preference files, try testing what happens when you rebuild the other set. (The same warnings apply, except that instead of forcing the iTunes Setup assistant to run again, rebuilding the other set forces you to agree to the license agreement for iTunes again.)

Hi b noir,

well after a delay (caused by too much work, yet again!) I've tried removing the preference files in turn as directed (on my Touch's iTunes) but iTunes still closed/crashed when selecting Podcasts. There are no plug-ins by the way, I did check the plug-ins folder.

One other thing, recently, when I plug the Touch into my computer, the iPod does not appear in iTunes and *Windows Task Manager* will show iTunes as "not responding". If I unplug it and try again, it typically takes three attempts before it will appear in iTunes. Although this could be a separate problem, I mention it in case you think it has any bearing on this.

Phil

I am having a similiar issue. I convert some tv shows to mp4 using a couple different programs (each one with the same results). I upload the file into itunes, I can watch it. But when I try to sync to my ipod classic, itunes crashes. I delete the file and I can sync with no issue. I try updating apple support software with no issue. I do not think messing with the preference file will be of any assistance, because I know it is the one file.

any ideas