iTunes wont load Apple Application Support was not found

With that one, let's try uninstalling both iTunes and Apple Application Suppport. When we reinstall iTunes, that should reinstall Apple Application Support as well. We'll take a few additional explicit precautions along the way too. Best to print these instructions out, because at one stage of proceedings you won't be able to use a web browser.

Preliminaries

Download and save a fresh iTunes installer to your hard drive. (Don't run the install on line and don't start the iTunes install just yet.)

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Now, quit QuickTime (if you have that open) and Safari 4.0.4 (if you have that installed and open). Both applications use Apple Application Support, and they will interfere with the uninstall if you have them open.

*Uninstall phase*

Head into your "Add or Remove Programs" control panel. Uninstall iTunes. Uninstall Apple Application Support (if it is listed in there).

(From this point on until we reinstall Apple Application Support, neither QuickTime nor Safari 4.0.4 will be able to run.)

Next we'll remove any leftover program files and folders.

(1) Open "Local Disk (C:)" or whichever drive your program files are stored on.
(2) Open the "Program Files" folder.
(3) Right-click on the iTunes folder (if it still exists) and select "Delete".
(4) Open the "Common files" folder.
(5) Open the "Apple" folder.
(6) Right-click on the Apple Application Support folder (if it still exists) and select "Delete".

Now empty your Recycle Bin and restart the PC.

*Reinstall Phase*

After the PC restarts, do not open any other applications. Disconnect from your network and/or the internet. Switch off all your security software (firewall, antivirus and antispyware).

Now start the install by doubleclicking the iTunesSetup.exe file you downloaded earlier.

Reenable all security software prior to reconnecting to your network and/or the internet.

Did the install seem to go through okay? If so, does iTunes start launching properly again?

Crikey. It's fighting back.

Okay ... Download and install the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from Microsoft:

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

Now run the utility ("Start > All Programs > Windows Install Clean Up"). In the list of entries that appears in CleanUp, select any *Apple Software Update* entries and select "Remove".

Quit out of CleanUp, restart the PC, and have another go at the *Reinstall phase* instructions. Any better luck this time?

... It's fighting back hard.

Can you check something for me, hugh? Have a look in your Add/Remove Programs control panel. Is QuickTime currently listed in there?

On add/remove Quick time installer is in there, but Quicktime th program is not?

QuickTime Installer?

If you select that entry, Hugh, is there a little "Support information" link for that QuickTime Installer thingy? If so, please click it and post back to say what it says.

(I'm suspecting that some other non-Apple program has dropped that there, and that it has been interfering with our install attempts up to now ... the support information may give us a heads up on what we're dealling with.)

Sorry about the delay hugh.

Just doublechecking ... so instead of "QuickTime" in Add/Remove Programs, we're seeing an entry called "QuickTime Installer", and the support link for that says the following?

Publisher Apple Inc
Version 9.0.25
Contact: Apple Care Support
Support Info www.apple.com/support
Support telephone 1 800 275 2273
Product Updates: www.apple.com/itunes/

... That's not normal. My QuickTime entry in Add/Remove Programs gives QuickTime version information rather than iTunes information.

Try uninstalling that *QuickTime Installer* entry ... does it properly uninstall? If not, do you get an error message?

(If it does, try another standalone quicktime install ... does that put a proper QuickTime entry in your Add/Remove Programs?)