Q: itunes is using 100 % CPU

My solution on XP was to remove the APSDaemon startup entry from the registry and stop it in the task manager.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

"APSDaemon"=""

We have a winner . Worked first time . Xp SP3 same crappy problems as every one else but this solved it first time Dos as proven kick stated the only thing i done was kill nod32 and spysweeper just in case . Apple sort yourselves out even your own tech desk couldnt solve this

Proven Kick when your in Ireland ill buy you a Guinness

Noel

find proven kick post and follow it worked first time

Noel

I think you may find that the latest update from Apple actually takes care of this problem... Since updating I can now sync wirelessly again and the cpu is not being commandeered by any of the previously rampant processes such as APSdaemon...

I have been mad at Apple and iTunes for a few months now.  I have had this CPU issue and everytime I tried to visit the store, I received a blank screen.  I have taken a number of updates and am now at 10.5.2.11.

The fix "netsh winsock reset" worked for me.  Thanks everyone....

The Winsock reset didn't work for me on WinXP service pack 3. The APSDaemon keeps maxing one core after a while running iTunes 10.5 :-( I'm getting VERY tired restarting iTunes.

What update? I just checked and there's none above 10.5.2.11 which has not fixed this issue :-(

If you are using Internet filtering software, this could be causing the 100% CPU usage problem. I tried just about every suggestion without any luck. I unstalled and reinstalled iTunes about ten times. Finally just uninstalled Bsecure from my computer and that took care of the problem. I am running Windows XP. Good luck.

I finally sorted it - I hope (no CPU maxing in several hours) - by switching to Avira antivirus, which unlike five others I tried does not interact badly with iTunes (or I should say the other way around, as this is obviously a problem with iTunes 10.5). I hope I hope... but going on past results APSDaemon ought to have run amok by now.

And confirmed - Avira was the workaround for me. It's not my preferred antivirus, but it's better than having one core worked to death by craptastic iTunes.

That's the one, 10.5.2.11... it solved my CPU issue. I'm running WinXP SP3 and McAfee A/V

I am running Windows 7 64 bit with all the same problems. What fixed it for me was to uninstall my virus toos (Spyware Doctor), do the full uninstall of iTunes and Apple software as intructed by Apple, then did the full install of iTunes 10.5.2.11, checked it out, then reinstalled teh Spyware Doctor. Everything seems to be working OK now, iTunes store is no longer MIA and CPU utilization has gone back to normal.

Nope, NM, Avira hasn't solved it for me. For some reason it just didn't crop up for a day. Weird.

It amazes me Apple didn't catch this problem before release.

I'm running AVG Internet Security 2012 without any problems.

Resolved!

Thanks so much! - NetNanny was our problem with access to itunes store. 

We've been pulling our hair out trying to figure out what was wrong.  We've spent days uninstalling software, re-updating, re-setting, searching for solutions, you name it. This was a very strange solution since Net Nanny has worked fine with itunes for years and disabling Net Nanny made no difference. I don't know why a few months ago itunes store just stopped connecting. 

I did not uninstall Net Nanny, but instead went into Net Nanny Admin Tools|Exceptions|Applications...Add  "itunes.exe".  This worked.