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Level 1

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Recovering playlists after ugraded iTunes

After I have upgraded to newer versions of iTunes in the past, I always have lost tons of music, although most was recovered either by reripping CDs or by scouring my harddrives to locate the original files. Understanding that from the saved iTunes library I can recover most of what is eliminated during an upgrade is there any way to recover playlists intact? Some of these I have spent countless hours composing and in the past I have always had to recompose after an upgrade. Does anyone have any pearls on maybe how to preserve my library intact as well as my current playlist? My phone needs a software update and iTunes states that this cannot happen without upgrading to the most recent version. Any help here would be greatly appreciated. I am currently using iTunes version 9.0.3.15 and am using Windows 7 Home Premium OS. Thanks in advance for any help to this matter.
Keith

Custom Build, Windows 7

Posted on Aug 18, 2010 6:49 PM

38 replies

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Aug 26, 2010 12:20 PM in response to joyof60

+I continue to get the same message. (running in compatability mode)+

For the compatibility mode, first check out these directions
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1489

If that doesn't fix it, I'd do a clean install. I don't care for that Apple Software Updater program that is within itunes.

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 27, 2010 6:40 AM in response to joyof60

thanks for the link. And I also do appreciate your time. I have before and again several times done the exact instructions that the link gave me. none to any avail. I think I might try with a fresh install. good suggestion. This shouldnt affect my ID or my store ID?

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Aug 27, 2010 7:46 AM in response to joyof60

No, reinstalling should not touch your music files or have anything to do with your store id.

If you want to be really thorough, uninstall all the apple software by hand. Then do a fresh install of itunes.

Make sure to do it in the order listed!
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 3:08 PM in response to joyof60

OK, again I do appreciate your patience, I completely uninstalled iTunes as recommended and then attemped a fresh install of iTunes 10. I get an error that states a problem with 'windows intaller' that it is not intalled properly. Any help here. Again running Windows 7 home 64 bit OS.

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Sep 4, 2010 4:07 PM in response to joyof60

What installer file did you run?
Is it named just iTunesSetup.exe? Or iTunes64Setup.exe?

the exact error message would help. It almost sounds like window is complaining not about itunes, but the windows installer program itself (msiexec.exe).

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 4:30 PM in response to joyof60

The apple download site appears to be attempting to run "iTunes64Setup.exe". The error code states "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance." I am currently running Windows 7 Home premium 63bit OS

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Sep 4, 2010 4:47 PM in response to joyof60

I am currently running Windows 7 Home premium 63bit OS

That would be 64bit. 😉
And you need to change your signature as it shows Windows XP.

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 6:10 PM in response to joyof60

sorry Chris,..typing in the dark..the 3 on my keyboard is right next to the 4,I should have proofread. Included the OS description as Windows 7, I apologize for the signature as I thought the content of the post would suffice. Sorry again.

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 6:13 PM in response to joyof60

Any suggestion as to the fix of my problem other than grammatical correction??

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Sep 4, 2010 6:39 PM in response to joyof60

Well, it does make a BIG difference between Win 7 and Win XP how you'd go about fixing this.
That message is really common for XP - not so much for Windows 7.

Click on Start then type in services.msc and press enter.
Is "Windows Installer" in the list? If so, in the Status column, does it say started?

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 7:01 PM in response to joyof60

Sorry again, I just was stating that I did say in the beginning and in subsequent replies that my OS was Win 7, I did understand the difference that running win XP would make, that is why I stated it again. I just failed to change the default sig. to Win 7 as it defaults to Win XP. Sorry again. I did indeed start the service for the installer and will see if that works. Thank you for your help. It is most appreciated.

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 7:18 PM in response to joyof60

iTunes 10 remains unable to install with the same message the windows installer is not correctly installed or I am running in safe mode which is not the case. Installer has been started. I have uninstalled completely the previous version of iTunes as recommended and now that it appears that iTunes 10 will not install is there any way that I can install maybe a previous version or maybe return to a restore point that occurred before the uninstall to recover so at least I can maybe sync my iPhone?

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Sep 4, 2010 9:49 PM in response to joyof60

This is a tough one! No worries on the win 7/XP thing. Although if you were using XP I'd know what to tell you. Window 7 has very little troubleshooting info for this, but XP has lots.

I figured you would also tell me if you were in Safe Mode ; )

Windows Installer does depend on 3 other services being starting and running:
~DCOM Server Process Launcher
~RPC Endpoint Mapper
~ Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
All 3 of those services should be started and they should say "Automatic" in the Startup column.

The built-in windows help for "windows installer" says this
+In earlier versions of Windows, it might have been necessary to reregister the Windows Installer files in the registry if those files became damaged or corrupt. In this version of Windows, damaged system files needed by Windows Installer can be repaired automatically.+

Erm, except they obviously AREN'T getting repaired automatically, now are they?!

If this was happening on my PC, I would try booting into Safe Mode and seeing if it would install from there and repair it self like it's supposed to.

+Hopefully, you would not get an error message on install.+

+1. Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press the F8 key when you see the boot menu.+
+2. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select Safe Mode, and then press Enter.+
+3. Log onto Windows by using the Administrator account or any user account with the Administrator privilege.+

+Note: In Safe Mode, your system display and Desktop will look and perform differently than in Normal Mode. This is only temporary. To return the system back to Normal Mode, we can simply restart the computer.+

joyof60 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 10:19 PM in response to joyof60

Thanks K for the reply. Yes the other three services are running as automatic and are indeed started. I will try to install in safe mode, a good idea although I haven't tried it yet due to the reference in the error message that that may cause the error. I will give it a shot, Thanks again!

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Sep 4, 2010 11:34 PM in response to joyof60

Oddly enough, that might actually work despite the error message.

If no joy there, next thing I'd try is steps 2 and 3 from this page.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/6828-63-windows-installer-correctly-installed- windows

Recovering playlists after ugraded iTunes