iTunes has stopped working ...Running Windows 7(64)

I upgraded my home PC Desktop to Windows 7 earlier this year and had no trouble bringing over iTunes from my previous platform (Windows XP).

I recently returned home to the US from a work assignment out of the country and because my iTunes resides on my home PC desktop, I didn't open up iTunes for the past 6 weeks. During this time Apple released iTunes 10.5. When I returned home, the old version of iTunes was still working. However, when I upgraded to iTunes 10.5, iTunes stopped working. The error message: "iTunes has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available."

I have worked through the following knowlege bulletins (nothing has fixed my problem):

(a)" iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7: Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues"

(b) "iTunes: Troubleshooting issues with third-party iTunes plug-ins"

(c) "iTunes 10.1 for Windows: iTunes may stop working and need to quit while importing or syncing audio"

(d) "Removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows vista or Windows 7"

(e) "iTunes for Windows: system restarts, blue screen, or quits unexpectedly when accessing iTunes Store"

the last bulletin (e), recommended ensuring that my drivers were up-to-date. So I also updated my drivers.

Lastly, I contacted iTunes Store Customer Support (although my problem isn't with the store, it is upgraded iTunes running on windows 7). They told me the issue was "outside (their) expertise" and recommended I look at this discussion board.

Here is the information I found under Event Viewer:

==================================================================

Log Name: Application

Source: Application Error

Date: 11/27/2011 11:46:01 AM

Event ID: 1000

Task Category: (100)

Level: Error

Keywords: Classic

User: N/A

Computer: Theresa-HP

Description:

Faulting application name: iTunes.exe, version: 10.5.1.42, time stamp: 0x4ebf7d7c

Faulting module name: MSVCR80.dll, version: 8.0.50727.6195, time stamp: 0x4dcddbf3

Exception code: 0xc000000d

Fault offset: 0x00026b72

Faulting process id: 0x13b0

Faulting application start time: 0x01ccad3d27f6b2ff

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.vc80.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.6195_none_d 09154e044272b9a\MSVCR80.dll

Report Id: 6ef58025-1930-11e1-a798-e06995d0a503

Event Xml:

<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">

<System>

<Provider Name="Application Error" />

<EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>

<Level>2</Level>

<Task>100</Task>

<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>

<TimeCreated SystemTime="2011-11-27T19:46:01.000000000Z" />

<EventRecordID>9927</EventRecordID>

<Channel>Application</Channel>

<Computer>Theresa-HP</Computer>

<Security />

</System>

<EventData>

<Data>iTunes.exe</Data>

<Data>10.5.1.42</Data>

<Data>4ebf7d7c</Data>

<Data>MSVCR80.dll</Data>

<Data>8.0.50727.6195</Data>

<Data>4dcddbf3</Data>

<Data>c000000d</Data>

<Data>00026b72</Data>

<Data>13b0</Data>

<Data>01ccad3d27f6b2ff</Data>

<Data>C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe</Data>

<Data>C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.vc80.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.6195_ none_d09154e044272b9a\MSVCR80.dll</Data>

<Data>6ef58025-1930-11e1-a798-e06995d0a503</Data>

</EventData>

</Event>

==================================================================

It seems that I am not alone in having this problem! Are there any experts out there who want to earn the undying gratitude of the technically challenged (or a few expert points?)

Thanks for listening,

Theresa

PS - someone recommended uninstalling Apple Quick Time Player. I don't have Quick Time Player.