10.6.7 Freezes when attempting to run iTunes 10.2.1

I was able to resolve my crashing. After testing and 6 days, it's been crash-free. Here's how in the following order:

1. Disk Util > Repair Disk Permission, multiple times! = _still crashing_

2 Spotlight > iTunes preferences > deleted all preference files, including iTunes Library Genius.itdb = _still crashing_

3. Reinstalled OS X 10.6.7 Update Combo = _still crashing_
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1361

4. Reinstalled iTunes 10.2.1 = _FIXED CRASH_
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

So far so good, it's been crash-free for 6 days.

I was able to resolve my crashing. After testing and 6 days, it's been crash-free. Here's how in the following order:

1. Disk Util > Repair Disk Permission, multiple times! = _still crashing_

2 Spotlight > iTunes preferences > deleted all preference files, including iTunes Library Genius.itdb = _still crashing_

3. Reinstalled OS X 10.6.7 Update Combo = _still crashing_
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1361

4. Reinstalled iTunes 10.2.1 = _FIXED CRASH_
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

So far so good, it's been crash-free for 6 days.

MBA 2,1Mhz 4Gig RAM 256HD same problem...

I've performed all of those steps you just mentioned, at least 3-4 times each actually, yet I am still unable to listen to iTunes... Not quite sure why I'm the only fella with a MAC PRO having this issue, but it certainly happened immediately after I updated to 10.6.7 yesterday...

I even tried reinstalling SNOW LEOPARD and then the 10.6.6. update combo... After creating a new iTunes library and re-adding(?) all my files (188,000 songs), I went to sync my iPhone's apps with the new library and the freezing started up again... When will this Winter end?

For those still having that freezing problem: could you check the output of following command:

defaults read com.apple.iTunesHelper

If it shows "Installed = 1;", could you then check whether iTunesHelper appears among your login items?

I noticed that a file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunesHelper.plist had been created around the time of the 10.6.7 update, which made remind that I had disabled iTunesHelper years ago. I thus re-enabled iTunesHelper, and things now seem to be in better shape: I may now launch iTunes, reboot, shutdown... in whichever order.

I guess that what is needed is some consistency.
iTunes and iTunesHelper expect process usbmuxd to be running (even if iTunes by itself seems to be able to handle the case of a non-running usbmuxd).
If above plist pretends that iTunesHelper has been installed, iTunes probably expects iTunesHelper to be running.

Anyway, such freezes shouldn't happen; at worst, one should just have iTunes and/or iTunesHelper crashing.
Some more info about those freezes: when they happened here, processes hidd and iTunes were stuck while process WindowServer was eating 80-90% CPU.

HTH,
Axel

Message was edited by: Axel Luttgens

These steps, repair permissions, remove iTunes preference files, reinstall 10.6.7 and re-installing iTunes seems to have fixed things for me, too. However, I did them in a different order over several days, and I suspect that it's just one of them that really fixed things up.

I restarted iTunes several times before and after putting the Air to sleep and it's stable so far.

As someone else mentioned, the problem seems to lock up the graphics/graphics-driver layer rather than freeze the entire machine. I could still hear the music, and another fellow mentioned being able to ssh in to the machine (which means the network subsystem was still working, not to mention the core OS.)

I've had similar problems on a 2010 Macbook Pro model but they were never as consistently reproducible.

Message was edited by: drkirwin

i thought i had fixed the iTunes problem by using the power-up no-iTunesshutdown procedure, but it came back. but i later let iTunes continue to run through my library and it eventually locked up.
my latest attempt involves enabling Genius immediately after launching iTunes, then updating Genius, then quitting Genius. this have worked so far for a run through my entire library, which isn't all that big, but considerably longer than before.

I am also have problems, that are slightly different than most, on Macbook Air 11". After updating to Snow Leopard 10.6.7 using Software Update, iTunes10.2.1 crashes with "*+You do not have enough access privileges for this operation+*" error and then it dumps me into a crash log.

Upon reading these forums detailing similar problems, I have have tried the following with no success:

Repairing permissions.
Verifying/Repairing the Disk.
Unchecking iTunes Helper from Login Items.
Downloading and installing the 10.6.7 Combo Updater on top of the Software Update I already performed.
Installing Combo Updater, doing manual Shutdown without opening iTunes and rebooting.
Deleting all iTunes preference files.
Manually uninstalling iTunes and reinstalling iTunes 10.2.1.
Opening the iTunes directory under Users and applying Read/Write permissions to all subfolders manually.
Creating another Admin User Account and trying similar tactics from a fresh account.

Please note that NONE of the above change the crashing results whatsoever. It is 100% repeatable.

This problem began immediately following the OS update. I am hoping for a fix soon.

Same problem...

I have the same problem and I'm using the same speced MBA - 2.13GHz with 4GB RAM. I hope Apple to release a fix very soon.

I have the exact same problem with itunes after doing an update. This issue does exist. I am going to restore my AirBook from a timecapsule backup and probably it should fix it.

If you really need iTunes for your so very important mobile devices, use it on a different Mac (or PC). Just dont use iTunes on your MBA and everything is fine until Apple eliminates this new feature, wich can take some time as we know from the past.

Same problem here: when using itunes to sync my iphone the MBA freezes after 20-30 seconds. Happened exactly after new update of OS was downloaded and installed! Given I just converted back to Apple after being forced to switch to Windows in the mid-90s by my company, this is EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING AND FRUSTRATING! I expect Apple will come up with a fix VERY QUICKLY through another automatic OS update (and not by me needing to reinstall itunes or anything else as suggested in this thread - I don't have the time for this)!
Thomas

I have read about and experienced this issue myself. My suggestion to fix things:
1) boot computer and launch iTunes, but DO NOT click any songs or anything in iTunes.
2) Quit iTunes and do a restart.
3) Launch iTunes again and test it out.

All should be well.....it was for me.

Same Problem. Same System. MacBook Air 2.12GHz, 4GB, 256GB SSD.