Can't Install Gears Drivers

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Can't Install Gears Drivers

I'm trying to install iTunes 10.5.2, the version as seen here, on my new HP Pavillion dv6t laptop. It's running Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit, SP1.

Installing iTunes goes smoothly, but when it opens I got a "iTunes was not properly installed. If you wish to import or burn CDs, you need to reinstall iTunes." message. I reinstall it, even reinstall it from scratch (removing all folders and accesory programs, such as Bonjor, Apple Software Updater, etc.). I still get the message. I remove all other CD-related programs (Roxio, ImgBurn, CDBurnerXP, etc.) to see if those are causing conflicts, but to no avail.

After running the iTunes CD Diagnostics, iTunes sees my optical drive but can't read any discs in it.

After doing some research I install the Gear drivers found here. The message still pops up.

After looking at this help article I dive into the registry and discover that there is no UpperFilters in the appropriate registry. Sure enough, looking at the optical drive in Device Manager shows that no UpperFilters is present within the driver details. As per the article, I manually type in the entry, restart, but now neither iTunes or Windows itself can see my drive. I have to remove UpperFilters from the registry just to get the drive to appear.

I copy the necessary .sys and DLL files from another Windows7 64x machine with iTunes and copy them to my computer. No luck. I even try reinstalling the Gears installer and iTunes. Now I get this error message on iTunes startup: "Warning! The registry settings used by the iTunes drivers for importing and burning CDs and DVDs are missing. This can happen as a result of installing other CD burning software. Please reinstall iTunes."

After taking a cue from this article I try removing LowerFilters from my registry to determine if it's conflicting with Gears or iTunes. After rebooting iTunes and Windows can't see the optical drive at all.

I even try reinstalling Gears and iTunes while in Safe-Mode, to hopefully bypass other programs. But alas, while in Safe-Mode I'm not allowed to run any installers.

After all this, I can only surmise that something in my new laptop is causing some sort of conflict, keeping the drivers from Gears or iTunes from ever installing at all. Otherwise, they would have by now. During the install/reinstall/uninstall process I never get any hang-ups, error messages, etc. According to their respective installers, everything installs successfully. But clearly they aren't. The Gears drivers are not being installed, and not being assigned to the UpperFilters that iTunes is looking for, hence prompting the error messages.

I can't think of anything else to try. Any advice would be appreciated.

Here is my latest iTunes CD Diagnostics report:

Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)

Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC

iTunes 10.5.2.11

QuickTime not available

FairPlay 1.13.37

Apple Application Support 2.1.6

iPod Updater Library 10.0d2

CD Driver 2.2.0.1

CD Driver DLL Not Available

Apple Mobile Device 4.0.0.97

Apple Mobile Device Driver not found.

Bonjour 3.0.0.10 (333.10)

Gracenote SDK 1.9.5.502

Gracenote MusicID 1.9.5.115

Gracenote Submit 1.9.5.143

Gracenote DSP 1.9.5.45

iTunes Serial Number 00CAA854039BA470

Current user is not an administrator.

The current local date and time is 2011-12-21 00:29:52.

iTunes is not running in safe mode.

WebKit accelerated compositing is enabled.

HDCP is not supported.

Core Media is supported.

Video Display Information

ATI Technologies Inc., Radeon (TM) HD 6770M

ATI Technologies Inc., Intel(R) HD Graphics Family

**** External Plug-ins Information ****

No external plug-ins installed.

iPodService 10.5.2.11 (x64) is currently running.

iTunesHelper 10.5.2.11 is currently running.

Apple Mobile Device service 3.3.0.0 is currently running.

**** CD/DVD Drive Tests ****

LowerFilters: PxHlpa64 (2.0.0.0),

No drivers in UpperFilters.

Failed loading CD / DVD drives, error -43. Try doing a repair install on iTunes from the “Add or Remove Programs” control panel.

iTunes-OTHER, Windows 7, 64 bit, HP Pavillion dv6t laptop

Posted on Dec 21, 2011 12:35 AM

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Answer 1

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Dec 21, 2011 12:10 PM in response to Idyllwyld

After looking at this help article I dive into the registry and discover that there is no UpperFilters in the appropriate registry. Sure enough, looking at the optical drive in Device Manager shows that no UpperFilters is present within the driver details. As per the article, I manually type in the entry, restart, but now neither iTunes or Windows itself can see my drive. I have to remove UpperFilters from the registry just to get the drive to appear.

That (the drives vanishing when the correct filter goes in) can sometimes be associated with a conflict with older Oak Technology drivers on the PC (although typically the diagnostics will report the presence of the drivers on the system, and I'm not seeing that in your diagnostics).

Just in case, let's try solution 2 from the following document:

iTunes for Windows: Optical drive is no longer recognized, or "Disc burner or software not found" alert after install

If you find and then move the driver files, try adding the UpperFilters entry back in your registry. Do you still have the drives visible now even though the UpperFilters entry is now in place?

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Answer 2

Idyllwyld Author

Level 1

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Dec 21, 2011 12:54 PM in response to b noir

Thanks for getting back to me.

I never saw those .sys files at any time during my troubleshooting, so their presence/absence has never made any effect on my situation.

Could their absence imply something, perhaps some other conflict or something that should have been installed prior, but wasn't?

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Answer 3

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Dec 21, 2011 1:25 PM in response to Idyllwyld

Could their absence imply something, perhaps some other conflict or something that should have been installed prior, but wasn't?

Possibly. There's a hint of a new kind of conflict out there (based on a few reports only, though, so it's difficult to tell at this stage if there's something new afoot).

Would you mind posting another set of diagnostics, please? This time, put in the UpperFilters entry prior to generating the diagnostics. I'd like to see if the messages change at all when the UpperFilters are in place.

Could you also post a screenshot of the registry key you've been editing too? Put the entire regedit screen in the screenshot, including the left-hand column. Arrange the left-hand column so I can see the entire "branch" of the key that you're in. Here's an example of a screenshot taken of my key (arranged in that manner), for reference:

To take the screenshot, after you've got the regedit screen arranged as above, hold down the Alt key and press your PrtSc (or PrtScrn) key. Paste the screenshot into an image file using an application like Paint and save the image file. (Preferably save it as a .png file.) To insert the image into a reply, click the wee camera icon at the top of the reply window and select "Choose file". Browse to the file, open the file, and then click "Insert file".

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Answer 4

Idyllwyld Author

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Dec 21, 2011 2:03 PM in response to b noir

Here's the Diagnostics from iTunes:

Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)

Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC

iTunes 10.5.2.11

QuickTime not available

FairPlay 1.13.37

Apple Application Support 2.1.6

iPod Updater Library 10.0d2

CD Driver 2.2.0.1

CD Driver DLL Not Available

Apple Mobile Device 4.0.0.97

Apple Mobile Device Driver not found.

Bonjour 3.0.0.10 (333.10)

Gracenote SDK 1.9.5.502

Gracenote MusicID 1.9.5.115

Gracenote Submit 1.9.5.143

Gracenote DSP 1.9.5.45

iTunes Serial Number 003AA65403579DF0

Current user is not an administrator.

The current local date and time is 2011-12-21 14:01:23.

iTunes is not running in safe mode.

WebKit accelerated compositing is enabled.

HDCP is supported.

Core Media is supported.

Video Display Information

ATI Technologies Inc., Radeon (TM) HD 6770M

ATI Technologies Inc., Intel(R) HD Graphics Family

**** External Plug-ins Information ****

No external plug-ins installed.

iPodService 10.5.2.11 (x64) is currently running.

iTunesHelper 10.5.2.11 is currently running.

Apple Mobile Device service 3.3.0.0 is currently running.

And here's a screenshot from my registry

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Answer 5

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Dec 21, 2011 3:16 PM in response to Idyllwyld

🙂 Many thanks. That ruled out a bunch of exotica.

I think we should pursue this result;

CD Driver DLL Not Available

After some testing on my system, I worked out I could replicate that in my diagnostics if my GearASPI64.dll was missing. So presumably it could also be returned if the dll was damaged. (Or possibly if the 32-bit version GearASPI.dll also on our systems was damaged.)

Doublechecking ... prior to installing the gear drivers, did you do a manual uninstall of the GEAR drivers, as per the following GEAR instructions?

http://www.gearcdr.com/wiki/index.php?title=DRIVERS:_Windows_-_Updating,_removin g,_64_bit_versions,_etc#Manual_Removal_.E2.80.93_64-bit

(Thinking that if we've got a damaged dll here, if it isn't removed ahead of time it might not be being removed/replaced when the drivers are reinstalled. So the trouble could persist after the GEAR driver reinstall. If we clean the dlls and other associated whatnot out prior to the reinstall, then we might be able to move forward.)

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Answer 6

Idyllwyld Author

Level 1

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Dec 21, 2011 11:51 PM in response to b noir

Just to be sure, I've uninstalled EVERYTHING at this point:

Apple Application Support
Apple Mobile Device Support
Apple Software Update
Bonjour
iTunes
Gear Driver Installation

As per that wiki link, I then made sure no Gear dll's or drivers were in my system32 files (none were), and then looked through my registry where specified to remove any lingering Gear-related entries (none were present).

For good measure, here's a screenshot of my optical drive from Device Manager:

Now before, there wasn't even an UpperFilters entry in that drop-down. I left the UpperFilters entry in this time, I only cleared out the GearAspiWDM assignment.

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Answer 7

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Dec 22, 2011 11:05 AM in response to Idyllwyld

Okay ... after a reinstall now, do we start seeing an entry for the dll showing in the diagnostics? Or does it still say "not available"?

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Answer 8

Idyllwyld Author

Level 1

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Dec 22, 2011 6:39 PM in response to b noir

Well, iTunes is back to its original message of "iTunes was not properly installed. If you wish to import or burn CDs you need to reinstall iTunes."

I think having the GearAspiWDM.sys file in my System32/drivers folder was what made iTunes display "Warning! The registry settings used by the iTunes drivers for importing and burning CDs and DVDs are missing. This can happen as a result of installing other CD burning software. Please reinstall iTunes." instead.

Anyways, since that message is popping up that means the Gear drivers didn't install. Again. Here's the iTunes Diagnostics Report.

Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)

Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC

iTunes 10.5.2.11

QuickTime 7.7.1

FairPlay 1.13.37

Apple Application Support 2.1.6

iPod Updater Library 10.0d2

CD Driver Not Available

CD Driver DLL Not Available

Apple Mobile Device 4.0.0.97

Apple Mobile Device Driver not found.

Bonjour 3.0.0.10 (333.10)

Gracenote SDK 1.9.5.502

Gracenote MusicID 1.9.5.115

Gracenote Submit 1.9.5.143

Gracenote DSP 1.9.5.45

iTunes Serial Number 0022AC94037799D8

Current user is not an administrator.

The current local date and time is 2011-12-22 17:50:42.

iTunes is not running in safe mode.

WebKit accelerated compositing is enabled.

HDCP is not supported.

Core Media is supported.

Video Display Information

ATI Technologies Inc., Radeon (TM) HD 6770M

ATI Technologies Inc., Intel(R) HD Graphics Family

**** External Plug-ins Information ****

No external plug-ins installed.

iPodService 10.5.2.11 (x64) is currently running.

iTunesHelper 10.5.2.11 is currently running.

Apple Mobile Device service 3.3.0.0 is currently running.

**** CD/DVD Drive Tests ****

LowerFilters: PxHlpa64 (2.0.0.0),

No drivers in UpperFilters.

Failed loading CD / DVD drives, error -43. Try doing a repair install on iTunes from the “Add or Remove Programs” control panel.

For good measure, here's a screenshot of the driver details from my optical drive post-installation:

And what the UpperFilters itself reads:

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Answer 9

Idyllwyld Author

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Dec 23, 2011 3:40 AM in response to Idyllwyld

Slight Update:

So I hadn't tried actually importing any music from CDs yet. This is a new laptop, and I wanted to get everything squared away before bringing in my library or any files. But I tried importing an audio CD anyway, and it worked perfectly fine.

I even tried deleting the (empty) UpperFilters slot in my registry, and iTunes can still import CDs.

However, when I tried to burn a CD from iTunes then I notice a problem:

So the Gears driver only seems to apply to burning, not importing as well as I had originally thought.

So far, iTunes seems to be functioning; with two notable exceptions:

On opening the program there is a delay, then that error message about iTunes being improperly installed pops up
iTunes cannot burn to disc

Message was edited by: Idyllwyld

For good measure, here's a Diagnostics Report from that time:

Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)

Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook PC

iTunes 10.5.2.11

QuickTime 7.7.1

FairPlay 1.13.37

Apple Application Support 2.1.6

iPod Updater Library 10.0d2

CD Driver Not Available CD Driver DLL Not Available

Apple Mobile Device 4.0.0.97

Apple Mobile Device Driver not found.

Bonjour 3.0.0.10 (333.10)

Gracenote SDK 1.9.5.502

Gracenote MusicID 1.9.5.115

Gracenote Submit 1.9.5.143

Gracenote DSP 1.9.5.45

iTunes Serial Number 0019A9D40B1C4560

Current user is not an administrator.

The current local date and time is 2011-12-23 03:37:33.

iTunes is not running in safe mode.

WebKit accelerated compositing is enabled.

HDCP is not supported.

Core Media is supported.

Video Display Information ATI Technologies Inc., Radeon (TM) HD 6770M

ATI Technologies Inc., Intel(R) HD Graphics Family

**** External Plug-ins Information ****

No external plug-ins installed.

Genius ID: 412239068d93a8c93ccaa941e52ffe9d

iPodService 10.5.2.11 (x64) is currently running.

iTunesHelper 10.5.2.11 is currently running.

Apple Mobile Device service 3.3.0.0 is currently running.

**** CD/DVD Drive Tests ****

LowerFilters: PxHlpa64 (2.0.0.0),

No drivers in UpperFilters.

Failed loading CD / DVD drives, error -43. Try doing a repair install on iTunes from the “Add or Remove Programs” control panel.

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Answer 10

Idyllwyld Author

Level 1

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Jan 3, 2012 10:43 PM in response to Idyllwyld

Just as a final update:

I finally had my problems fixed. So apparently my installation of Windows might have had some corruption which was preventing the Gear files to properly install.

I ran Window's System File Checker to scan and fix the issues, which it did. After that, the necessary Gear files should install properly.

See the following Microsoft knowledge base articles for details on how to run the System File Checker:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/s ystem_file_checker.mspx

Users may need their original install disc if SFC can't find the original files.

After running the SFC, uninstall the Gear installer, reboot, then reinstall it.

If problems persist, visit the admins on the Gear Software forums. The acting site admin, Frans, helped me there. Here's my thread.

I admit, my particular solution involved some advanced tinkering and manual creation of registry keys, and is not recommended for the uninitiated. For any users dealing with this problem, please try running the SFC first if nothing else (as outlined in this thread and on the Gears forum) doesn't work. If the problem persists, then email the Gears admins.

Good luck.

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