cannot uninstall itunes 8.02.20

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Level 1

8 points

cannot uninstall itunes 8.02.20

I recently purchased a new ipod nano for my father and wanted to load it up with my music as a gift. when I tried to connect his ipod to my computer, I was informed that I would need to update my itunes version (currently have 8.02.20 installed). the update was unsucessful and I next tried to "download only" and update only the itunes software. that still didn't work, so I hunted around various message boards and came up with the possible solution - uninstall my current version of itunes. however, when I go to add/remove programs and attempt to remove itunes, I get the error message "The installation package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package." any experience with or solutions for this type of problem would be greatly appreciated.

HP, Windows XP, SP3

Posted on Dec 14, 2009 10:50 PM

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Answer 1

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Dec 15, 2009 1:33 AM in response to triple A

These uninstall problems can often be fixed by using the Microsoft Installer cleanup utility.

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

== 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.

===

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