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Older Version of iTunes cannot be removed .... Help....

After removing everything in my Windows XP Pro SP3 station that's related to iTunes (Quicktime, Bonjour, apple software)etc, plus removing registry keys (which we all know is the last thing you want to do). I'm still getting this message (Older Version of iTunes cannot be removed).

How can I install the latest iTunes version (9.2)?

Ive tried 4 plus times and no success.

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

PS: I did have everything working with my iPod and iPad, with this latest version.

Message was edited by: psanchezjr

Message was edited by: psanchezjr

Dell, Windows XP Pro, SP3

Posted on Jul 14, 2010 7:41 AM

Reply
18 replies

Jul 14, 2010 3:34 PM in response to psanchezjr

That might make things a bit trickier. (The variations of this where a missing iTunes.msi is mentioned tend to be a bit more straightforward.)

Investigation of what's going on requires the Windows Installer CleanUp utility. Unfortunately, Microsoft pulled the utility from their Download Center on 25 June. So first we'll need to hunt down a copy of the utility.

Let's try Googling. (Best not to use Bing, I think.) Look for a working download site for at least version 3.0 of the Windows Installer CleanUp utility. After downloading the utility installer file (msicuu2.exe), scan the file for malware, just in case. (I use the free version of Malwarebytes AntiMalware to do single-file scans for that.)

If the file is clean, to install the utility, doubleclick the msicuu2.exe file you've downloaded.

Now run the utility ("Start > All Programs > Windows Install Clean Up"). *Do not remove anything using CleanUp at this stage.* We're having a look first.

In the list of programs in CleanUp, do you see any iTunes entries?

If not, look up at the top of the list. Do you see any entries which start with (All Users) but lack a program name, but give a version number in square brackets? If so, what are the version numbers? (Best not to include the square brackets in your reply, or the forum software will format the contents into a hyperlink ... harmless, but disconcerting if you aren't expecting it.)

Are you also seeing any lines that start with (All users) but lack a program name and a version number?

Are you also seeing any *completely blank* lines at the top of the CleanUp screen?

Jul 14, 2010 5:33 PM in response to Katja Mimms

*Replying to Katja*

YES!!! I AM PLEEEEEEEZ HELP MEEE!!! ... IT CONSTANTLY SAYS THAT itunes does not exist and I need to find that file.


Okay. If you're being told the itunes.msi file is missing, find a working (and clean) Windows Installer CleanUp download, as per my instructions earlier in this topic.

Once you've got your copy of CleanUp installed, run the utility (Start > All Programs > Windows Install CleanUp).

In the list of programs that appears in CleanUp, select any iTunes entries and click "remove".

Quit out of CleanUp, restart the PC, and try reinstalling iTunes. Does it go through properly this time?

Jul 14, 2010 6:44 PM in response to b noir

After following your instructions with the malware software and the Windows Install clean up, this is what I have found.

b noir wrote:

Now run the utility ("Start > All Programs > Windows Install Clean Up"). *Do not remove anything using CleanUp at this stage.* We're having a look first.

In the list of programs in CleanUp, do you see any iTunes entries?

The only things I see related to "iTunes" is; "Apple Application Support", "Apple Mobile Device", "Apple Software Update", "Bonjour" and "Quick Time"

b noir wrote:
If not, look up at the top of the list. Do you see any entries which start with (All Users) but lack a program name, but give a version number in square brackets? If so, what are the version numbers? (Best not to include the square brackets in your reply, or the forum software will format the contents into a hyperlink ... harmless, but disconcerting if you aren't expecting it.)

I am seeing a "All User" Entry with no Program name and no brackets next to it. The only thing I can do is click on the "All User" entry and it gives me the option to "Remove" (Which I wont do, until you tell me too ;-))

b noir wrote:
Are you also seeing any lines that start with (All users) but lack a program name and a version number?

Are you also seeing any *completely blank* lines at the top of the CleanUp screen?


I believe I answered this on the prior question.

Hopefully this will help.
By the Way, I really appreciate this help.

Jul 14, 2010 8:55 PM in response to psanchezjr

I am seeing a "All User" Entry with no Program name and no brackets next to it. The only thing I can do is click on the "All User" entry and it gives me the option to "Remove" (Which I wont do, until you tell me too ;-))


🙂 perfect, thank you. That (All users) line that is otherwise completely blank is almost certainly the "iTunes" entry that is producing the "older version" message. (If an msi file is damaged in the right/wrong way, it can appear in CleanUp without a program name ... damaged a bit more, and it can show up without a version number too. When that's afoot, often the installer doesn't report the "missing .msi" message either for the program in question ... it just says the older version can't be removed.

So, in CleanUp, select that (All users) and-nothing-else line and click "Remove".

Quit out of CleanUp, restart the PC and try another iTunes install. Does it go through without the "older version" error message this time?

Jul 22, 2010 5:26 PM in response to b noir

Here's something else I have found during 9.x itunes uninstalls: The Apple support page on this subject http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1925 says to uninstall in this order:

1. iTunes
2. QuickTime
3. Apple Software Update
4. Apple Mobile Device Support
5. Bonjour
6. Apple Application Support (iTunes 9 or later)

What I noticed was that the itunes uninstall would fail unless I did that one LAST.

Older Version of iTunes cannot be removed .... Help....

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