iTunes freezes after upgrading to Windows 7 SP1 German

samsousa wrote:
No Need for USB fix It's already fixed with Windows Updates and it does not help in anyway.

Windows update reports that my copies of Windows are up to date, and yet both usbehci.sys and esbport.sys were the wrong (pre-SP1) versions on my computer, so I'm not sure about your claim that it's already fixed. However, you're right that fixing it didn't help!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2782150&tstart=0

Bless you! Running in Vista compatibility mode really does seem to do the trick! In more than ten consecutive tests it only froze up once (and I think that time may have been my fault--plugging it back in without waiting long enough after unplugging, and/or madly clicking around to test responsiveness right after plugging in).

What are the drawbacks of running in compatibility mode?

My earlier post was wrong. I still have the problem.

My 3G only worked that one time. Once I unplugged it and replugged it iTunes was 'Not Responding' again.

Also, the problem has appeared in all my Apple devices now (3G, 3GS, and Touch).

Apple or MS Help!

NewMacMiniUser,

Did you try running under Vista compatibility mode (not Vista SP1 or SP2) following the instructions here: <http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2782150>?

Just find the shortcut you use to launch iTunes (I don't have one on the desktop, so I found the one in the "Start" menu and right-clicked on it) and follow the instructions in the post linked above.

I was skeptical, but it was worked pretty reliably for me. 17 out of the last 22 plug-ins worked fine after I changed that setting.

This is horrible... I can't sync my phone (3Gs 4.2.1) either. Exacly the same as described here. It works maybe once when you reboot the computer but after that iTunes just freezes when connecting it.

Compatibility mode does seem to help but it's not a real fix (neither is uninstalling Windows 7 SP1). I really hope Apple or MS responds quicky to this issue.

I know Apple is looking closely at it. I've spent more than two hours on the phone with them over the last few days and they've taken logs and process dumps from my computer to help them diagnose it.

But in the meantime running it in Vista compatibility mode does seem to work pretty well. It still freezes occassionally when I plug in my phone, but nine times out of ten it works fine.

Has anyone had any luck working with Apple or Microsoft to resolve this problem?

I've got the problem with the English version of iTunes 10.2.1.1 and Windows 7 SP1. I contacted BOTH Apple and Microsoft technical support on the first day that SP1 began being distributed widely, but so far neither has been able to help.

Well, it depends on what you mean by luck. If you saw my post above, you'll know that Apple is looking closely at the issue and spent significant time with me on the phone, as well as taking logs and process dumps from my computer to help them diagnose the cause. They also assured me that they work closely with Microsoft to ensure their stuff works well together. (And since the death of the Zune, it's probably in Microsoft's interest more than ever to ensure iTunes works on Windows.)

Not sure we can ask for more than that at the moment. When they figure it out I expect we'll see an update.

But in the meantime running it in Vista compatibility mode does seem to work pretty well. It still freezes occassionally when I plug in my phone, but nine times out of ten it works fine. Have you tried this?

See here for instructions: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2782150

Yes, I saw your previous thread. It sounds like they're doing the same thing with you as they are with me.

I have had less luck with running iTunes in compatibility mode than you apparently have. Specifically, whether it works or not seems to be related to how many (and which) OTHER USB devices I have connected at the same time as the iPod Touch or iPhone.

I just though I'd chime in here since it's been several days of silence. It sounds like we all just need to wait.

dkaleita wrote:
I have had less luck with running iTunes in compatibility mode than you apparently have.

Sorry to hear that. (Not just because of your pain but because it might make this harder to solve.)

I appologize if this is asking the obvious, but have you set compatibility mode to Vista (not Vista SP1 or SP2). And then have you subsequently closed iTunes and only ever restarted it using the shortcut you modified? I think the compatibility mode setting it an attribute of the shortcut, so if you have several shortcuts, like one on the desktop and one in the start menu, they might not be set up the same way. Also, if you don't have iTunes running and simply let it start itself when you plug in a device, then it probably won't start in compatibility mode. You'll know if it's starting in compatibility mode because Windows will warn you.

Edit: I'm wrong about this. See next post.

Message was edited by: chcn

I guess I should have tested before spouting off.

It turns out that if you change the compatibility setting using the Properties dialog for any one shortcut, Windows retains that information somewhere else (I guess in the registry) and applies it regardless of how you start the application, whether from another shortcut or even autorunning by plugging in a device. So as long as you get that pop-up warning you're starting in compatibility mode, you know you did it right.

You do need to make sure it's set to Vista and not Vista SP1 or Vista SP2 though, according to the guy who originally posted this workaround.

I've noticed that method doesn't work 100% of the time. I still get the freezing maybe 2 or 3 times out of 10.

Try waiting a few seconds between the end of a sync and unplugging (or click the eject icon), and then wait a good 10 seconds before plugging back in. I'm not sure, but this seems to reduce the frequency of the freezes too. When running in Vista compatibility mode and waiting/ejecting in this way, I got very few freezes.

However, after uninstalling SP1 I've got no freezes—24 successful plug-ins in a row so far. (And that's launching in normal mode, not compatibility mode.) That's not a permanent solution either, and I will try reinstalling SP1 at some point soon to see what happens, this time from the full-sized installer instead using Windows Update.

Do you open iTunes first before connecting? I notice im more successful doing it that way then connecting first then launching iTunes.

Always. I think you're right that this works better, but as I'm sure you've noticed it doesn't cure the freezing problem.

thanks for the help! This is still infinitely better that having it not connect at all like it was after I first downloaded SP1!