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iTunes 10.1 Missing Text

Hi All,

I have problems with missing text in iTunes since 10.0, but it's just gotten much worse since I installed 10.1. Prior to 10.1, text was missing next to the colored legend showing how much storage of different types was in use on a device (e.g. iPad, iPhone, iPod). I would just get the colored box without saying what that box referred to (e.g. Music, Video, etc...) or how much storage was actually in use.

Since installing 10.1, I now have pretty much no text anywhere on that page. On the 'Summary' tab for a device, the only text showing is the headings of each section (e.g. 'iPad', 'Version' and 'Options'. Even the names of the tabs up the top are gone, as is all the text about version, text on buttons, everything.

Also, the tabs at the top of the iTunes Store are gone. There's now just a 'Home' icon, and nothing else (no Music, Apps, Movies, Ping, etc.).

Also, the status window up the top shows the progress bar, but no text.

I assume this is probably something to do with Windows fonts, but it's dramatically changed since 10.1...Help!!!

Windows 7

Posted on Nov 13, 2010 6:11 PM

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100 replies

Nov 13, 2010 7:57 PM in response to mhill64

Okay ... basic principles troubleshooting idea to follow.

Perhaps this is some sort of unorthodox variation on a blown-out iTunes display preference.

If that's what is going on, the problem should be specific to a single user account on the PC (because there's a different set of iTunes preference files in each different windows user account).

So let's check to see if this is user account specific or if it is systemwide.

Create a new user account on the PC with full admin rights. Log out of your usual user account and log into the new account. (Don't use fast user switching to move between accounts.)

Launch iTunes in the new account. The setup assistant should run. don't add any files when requested to do so ... just let it open to a blank library.

Go "Edit > Preferences". In the Devices tab, check the box that stops iPods, iphones, ipads from syncing automatically. Click okay.

Attach your device to the PC. (Don't associate it with the blank library.

Do you see text now in the various tabs and so forth for the device? Or are they just like the other user account?

Nov 13, 2010 9:39 PM in response to mhill64

Exactly the same result. No text.


Systemwide, then. That rules out a lot of possibilities. The fact that you're 64-bit suggests another possibility.

I'd like to try another complete uninstall/reinstall, with modified instructions. The modifications are because the instructions in the standard Apple document:

[Removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows Vista or Windows 7|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923]

... are still inaccurate for 64-bit systems (at the time I write this post). Mistakes in the "Verify iTunes and related components are completely uninstalled" section allow for the possibility that damaged Apple Application Support program files may stay on your PC after the uninstall procedure, allowing problems caused by them to persist through after the reinstall of the newer version.

So, try running through that document again with the following amendment. When you get to the "Verify iTunes and related components are completely uninstalled" section, at *step 9* stop using the instructions in the document, and start instead using the following instructions:

(9) Right-click the Apple folder (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
Note: If you have a 64-bit version of the Windows OS, continue with step #10. Otherwise, skip to step #17.
(10) Open the Program Files (x86) folder.
(11) Right-click the iTunes folder (if it still exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion.
(12) Right-click the iPod folder, choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
(13) Right-click the QuickTime folder (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
(14) Right-click the Bonjour folder (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
(15) Open the Common Files folder.
(16) Right-click the Apple folder (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
(17) Open Local Disk (C:) located in Computer or whichever hard disk your operating system is installed on.
(18) Open the Windows folder.
(19) For 32-bit versions of Windows: Open the System32 folder.
For 64-bit versions of Windows: Open the Syswow64 folder.
(20) Right-click the QuickTime file (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
(21) Right-click the QuickTimeVR file (if it exists), choose Delete, and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
(22) Right-click the Recycle Bin and choose Empty Recycle Bin.

After that, restart the PC and try another iTunes reinstall. Does it go through okay? If so, do the text problems clear up for you in iTunes?

Nov 14, 2010 1:18 AM in response to mhill64

Could there be some font corruption in windows maybe?


Possibly ... but I've never seen it hit someone in their iTunes in this particular way. Still, that might be a failure of my observational skills rather than a strike against the theory. And a font corruption problem would probably cause a systemwide problem (which is what we've got).

If we're talking Windows OS fonts, then sometimes an sfc /scannow can sometimes identify the font for us, even if it doesn't fix the problem with the font.

Here's scannow instructions:

[How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7|http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833]

If the scannow says it can't repair a file, does the sfcdetails.txt file report a font file as one of the files it can't fix?

Nov 14, 2010 12:59 PM in response to b noir

Other than the device screen, the only other place I've noticed the issue is the menu bar at the top of the iTunes store. The only thing visible is the 'Home' icon (picture of a house). The 'Music', 'Movies', 'TV Shows', 'Apps'... tab titles are not there.

I've tried plugging in an iPod and an iPhone4, and both have the same result as the iPad. No text on the device page.

Thanks again for your persistence...

Nov 14, 2010 1:05 PM in response to mhill64

The only thing visible is the 'Home' icon (picture of a house). The 'Music', 'Movies', 'TV Shows', 'Apps'... tab titles are not there.


Hmmm. Some visual elements missing from the Store and a systemwide issue.

What make and model of video card or display adaptor do you have in the PC, m?

(Wondering about a non-standard manifestation of the radeon troubles some people have been getting.)

iTunes 10.1 Missing Text

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