Help! I can't install Itunes on my laptop!

This message often relates to a problem with Apple software update.

Go to Add remove programs and find Apple Software update. Try repairing it.
Select Change>>repair.

If that works, try installing iTunes.

Otherwise try uninstalling any instance you find of Apple Software update. That probably will not work if repair didn't.

Next try an installer cleanup.
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.

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

To run the program – All Programs>>Windows Install Cleanup

Remove any instance you find of Apple software update with the cleanup utility.

Download a fresh copy of the iTunes installer and save it on your desktop.

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

Restart your computer and try installing iTunes.

+You mean Apple Application Support under Programmes and features?+

No, you should also have an entry for Apple software update. If it is missing completely that may be your problem. Could you clarify if it is missing and also give details of the problem with the cleanup utility.

We have had a lot of problems with permissions getting screwed up lately.

You have not given your operating system, I assume it is Vista but if it is XP home you will have to do something different.

Go to your Program files file and look to see if you have a folder for Apple Software update. If you do, right click on it and select Properties then the security tab. What accounts have entries and what permissions do they have?

I just dealt with what may be a similar case so might like to look at the thread to see if it looks familiar. Unfortunately the thread dos not contain a clear cut solution for you to try.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2294181

And i can't run my Windows Installer Cleanup.

Sorry about butting in p.

What error message do you get when you try to run CleanUp, Mr Pacifier? (Precise text, please.)

While installing, there is this error 1310.

(Sigh) Okay, I've seen that happen before (in one of the threads in which your other error message appears when one of the weird permissions problems was afoot) so I concur with polydorus's diagnosis of a possible weird permissions issue.

In that case (where I've seen it happen before) it was associated with the person's normal Vista user account lacking permissions on the C:\Program Files\ directory.

Does your user account have full control of the Program Files folder?

Yes i do, i am the admin.

Best to check the permissions on the folder ... even if you're the administrator, sometimes a user account can lose permission on a folder.

Right-click the Program files folder and select "Properties". Click the Security tab. Select the name of your user account. Is the account listed as having Full control?

Could you confirm which operating system you have.
These permission problems can be tricky and your problem is with Windows rather than iTunes. I am afraid there is no simple set by step solution that be given until a proper diagnosis has been made so you need to help by answering questions fully.

I will be disappearing fairly soon, but hopefully bnoir will pick this up again as he is in a different time zone.

It appears from the message that you now have an Apple Software Update directory, assuming you have Vista, what are the permissions set to?

Also what are the settings for Program Files?

OK could you give me details of how the permissions are set up for program files.

Go to computer and open the c: drive.

Right click on Program files, select Properties>>Security tab.
Click on Advanced and select the Permissions tab.

To View the permissions of individual accounts, double click on them.

There should be entries for:
TrustedInstaller, Administrators (2 entries), System (2 entries) Users and CREATOR OWNER.

If there are any others, give those too.

Here is how the permissions are set up on my Vista laptop.


Permissions:
Trusted Installer: Full Control
SYSTEM (This folder) All boxes ticked except - full contol, delete subfolder &files, take ownership, change permissions.
SYSTEM (Subfolders & files only) Full Control
Administrators (This folder) All boxes ticked except - full contol, delete subfolder &files, take ownership, change permissions.
Administrators (Subfolders & files only) Full Control
Users (This folder and subfolders) Read & excecute
CREATOR OWNER (Subfolders & files only) Full Control

Are yours the same?

If you go do any of the folders in Program Files such as iTunes, Quicktime etc you should find that Administrators and SYSTEM have full control which has been inherited from the entry for Program Files.
If you had an Apple Software Update folder, the permissions should be similar.

.

Finally have you tried installing with all security software disabled?
Disconnect from the Internet and disable your Firewall, antivirus and any antispyware software that you might have.
Do this using "Run as Administrator" ( Right click on the installer to see this option)

Blocking by security software can produce misleading error messages about Access Denied.

Message was edited by: polydorus