I recently updated to vista service pack 2 and I updated to itunes 10.2.1 and ever since I did that my itunes won't open any more. Itunes starts but before anything loads a window pops up saying that the prograam has encountered a problem and shuts down.

well ever sence i have swiched to windows seven i havent had a single problem nock on wood lol bu i mean if u got it working then good just giving my thought lol

Is it still an "iTunes has stopped working" message, marlene?

If so, could you post the contents of the latest problem report for the error, please?

like i said the first time its vista my dad works on coms and the people ask him about it all the time for some reasion itunes is not compatible with windows vista just because it was the "dummy" operating system for windows 7

Sorry about the delay, marlene. I've been brooding over what to try next.

Let's throw a more old-fashioned sort of Apple Application Support and iTunes uninstall/reinstall procedure at this one, involving a few additional explicit precautions. Best to print off a copy of these instructions, because at one stage of proceedings you won't be able to use a web browser.

The details of the procedure differ depending on whether you've got a 32-bit Vista or a 64-bit Vista. If you're unsure which variety you've got, see the following Microsoft document for advice on how to distinguish the two:

32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions

Preliminaries

Download and save a fresh copy of the iTunesSetup.exe (32-bit installer file) or iTunes64Setup.exe (64-bit installer file) to your Hard drive. (Don't run the install on line, and don't start the uninstall just yet.)

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Quit any recent version of the QuickTime Player, Safari for Windows and/or the MobileMe Control Panel for Windows if you have them installed and open. (They all use Apple Application Support, and may interfere with the AAS uninstall if they are open.)

Uninstall Phase

Head into your "Uninstall a program" control panel. Uninstall iTunes. Uninstall Apple Application Support.

(From this point onwards, recent versions of QuickTime, Safari and the MobileMe Control panel will not launch, until we get AAS reinstalled by reinstalling iTunes.)

Next we'll remove any left-over program files and folders.

On a 32-bit system:

In "Computer" open "Local Disk C:" (or whichever drive you have your program files installed on).

Open the "Program Files" folder.

Right-click on the "iTunes" folder (if it still exists) and select "Delete".

Open the "Common Files" folder.

Open the "Apple" folder.

Right-click on the "Apple Application Support" folder (if it still exists) and select "Delete".

Empty your Recycle Bin.

On a 64-bit system:

In "Computer" open "Local Disk C:" (or whichever drive you have your program files installed on).

Open the "Program Files" folder.

Right-click on the "iTunes" folder (if it still exists) and select "Delete".

Go back into "Local Disk C:" (or whichever drive you have your program files installed on).

Open the "Program Files (x86)" folder.

Right-click on the "iTunes" folder (if it still exists) and select "Delete".

Staying in the "Program Files (x86)" folder, open the "Common Files" folder.

Open the "Apple" folder.

Right-click on the "Apple Application Support" folder (if it still exists) and select "Delete".

Empty your Recycle Bin.

Reinstall Phase

Restart the PC. After the PC restarts do not open any applications. Disconnect from your network and/or the internet. Now switch off all your security software (firewall, antivirus, antispyware).

Now start the reinstall by doubleclicking the iTunesSetup.exe or iTunes64Setup.exe file you downloaded earlier. (This should also reinstall Apple Application Support.)

Reenable all security software prior to reconnecting to your network and/or the internet.

Did the reinstall seem to go through properly? If so, does iTunes launch properly for you now?

Then I restarted the computer and restarted my internet connection and itunes started crashing again with the same apple application support problem.

Good gracious. That's a twist that I wasn't expecting.

Can you check something else for me please, marlene?

Restart the PC, disconnect from the internet again, disable all security software again. Try launching iTunes. Does it launch again?

If so, quit iTunes. Reenable all your security software, but don't reconnect to the internet. Try launching iTunes.

Do we get the error then?

(Trying to work out if it's an issue with your internet connection or your security software that is causing the grief here.)

Crikey.

Okay ... how are you connecting to the Internet, marlene?

For example, once upon a time, my Lenovo T61 was connecting wirelessly to a LinkSys WRT54G wireless router that was plugged into a Dynalink ASDL modem.

What sort of setup do you (currently) have?

Okay ... we'd first better just check to see if "power cycling" (switching on and off) everything in the chain helps.

When switching off, work "towards the wall". Start by shutting down (not restarting) the PC. Next, shut down the router. Next, shut down the modem.

Wait a few minutes. Then work back "away from the wall". Switch on the modem. wait a few minutes and switch on the router. Wait a few minutes and then start the PC.

Try another iTunes launch (while connected to the internet). Do we still get the error, or does she launch properly this time?

B noir is providing Great help. All I have to say is iTunes will work with Vista I have been running it since I got my iPhone in 2009. We do have to go through hoops though but, only with some Versions of iTunes. I had major problem in 2009 which Apple fixed with iTunes updates (upgrades?) months later. All was good until 10.2. came out. Issue was with Apple Mobile Support Device. You are not there so i hope you do not have the issue. Routers can create their own problems get over that and move on Best of Luck and B Noir You are a major help on this site, we all thank you!

Drat.

I want to check to see if this is a user-account-specific issue, or if it is systemwide. (This isn't going to be a cure in itself, but it might be able to help us narrow in on some further troubleshooting possibilities.)

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

Try launching iTunes in the new user account while you're connected to the internet. The iTunes Setup assistant should run. Don't add any files when prompted to do so, just let iTunes open to an empty library.

Does itunes open to an empty library? Or do we get another error?

If iTunes opens, try visiting the Store from the new account. Does the store open for you, or do you get an error instead?