Q: iTunes song preview time is cutting off.

if youre running 64 bit version of windows vista or windows 7, click this link and reinstall itunes here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1427.

I havent tried purchasing and downloading a song, but this download fixes the song preview crash for you 64 bit people.

  I thought this might be my birthday present...but it didn't work for me.  Not only can I not preview tracks (at ALL), but I cannot even see the album covers.  Hey - I'm 61 today - I don't have forever to get this problem solved!!

I can't believe this is still going on. I think I was one of the first to post the DNS fix a month or so ago in another thread and Apple is stilll blaming everyone else. I burned my last remaining iTunes balance, bought Google's new 16gb Nexus 7 (came with $25 in free app/music/TV credit) for $249 , clicked 2 buttons and uploaded my entire itunes library to Google play and now can play/use my music anywhere without worrying about authorizing devices or dealing with bizarre Apple DRM foo that makes it as hard as possible to use stuff you own without big brother Apple restricting you to their ecosystem. I can't believe Apple owners are so brainwashed that they put up with such lousy customer service and unreliable products. If a seller of any other product did this they'd be toast. Apple gets apologetic sheep with the patience of Job.  Speaks to the diabolically effective Apple business model of slick industrial design (ooooohh shiny) and poor quality internals that locks you into a closed ecosystem  quicker than a dealer on street corner with the first taste free.

Sleek Nexus 7, any music/app vendor, freedom to use purchases anywhere on many vendor's devices - $199-$249

A clunky 10" iPad: - $500

An iPod: $50 - $300

Short previews, incomplete downloads, condescending lousy service, intrusive unreliable control freak products.................... PRICELESS

As Benjamin Franklin said - " Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither"

Well....quick follow on regarding the fix I posted.  After approx. a week of song sampling working flawlessly, I'm back to square one.

Not sure why song samples aren't working again.  I haven't changed any settings on my PC, iTunes, or network connections, but most song samples are now cutting off at exactly the 5 second mark.

So, guess this is the way it's going to be while I use iTunes.  I saw the posts about migrating iTunes libraries to other services, so I think I have no choice but to look to move elsewhere.  A shame considering the amount of money I've given Apple.

R.I.P. Steve J, as those left behind tear apart your legacy....

@Andro28, took your advice step # 1 only, enabled Genius.  Went no further, and problem resolved.

Hello everyone. I'm brand new to this problem and equally frustrated.  Since this thread is now 17 pages long, would someone kindly summarize the steps that can be taken (with links to idiot proof instructions for how to implement, if possible) that MIGHT fix it?  I've already downloaded the latest version of iTunes (10.6.3.25), I have Windows 7 64 bit, and use Verizon Fios as my internet service provider.  Thank you in advance for your help!

I've been having the same problem and iTunes help is NO HELP.   I've done everything they've suggested including completely uninstalling iTunes and resinstalling.  I plan on calling the corporate offices tomorrow and raise "H E L L" until someon listens to me and gets this fixed.  Maybe if everyone called we'd get a response from Apple!  It's worth a try since no one at Apple is trying to fix this. 

Absolutely nothing that Apple support tells you to do will work. Many on this thread have spent hours with them and it's always the same fix and it never works. The only thing that does work is the DNS fix. Since I don't  know how to link to another thread -- here is the copied and pasted fix I used. I used the developers.google.com link but note Donb's add on that you need to change IPv4. If you do that - it should work. Everyone who's tried it seems to be fine. I don't disagree with calling Apple HQ though. This is really customer service at its worst (well maybe after Verizon 

Donb1360

Re: iTunes song preview time is cutting off.

Jul 17, 2012 2:29 PM (in response to barbpf)

You may be trying to change the IPv6 verses IPv4. I ran into the same thing. I changed both to the Google Public DNS. Here are the directions I used: https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/using

I got to the settings on my Windows PC by right clicking Network on my desktop and going to Properties; Change adapter settings; right clicking the IPv6 and then the IPv4. To enter the IPv4 type 8 then period, and so on. I'm no expert but hope that helps.

Thanks Barbpf,

I appreciate you responding.  I will try all this tonight when I go home from work.  I'm still going to call Apple Hdqtrs though and b i t c h.  I expect better customer service and someone there should know so many of their customers are getting the run around from the "help" desk and that no one is helping to resolve this.  You know the "squeeky wheel" and all that.  I'll let you know how this all goes and thank you again...oh and yea Verizon does leave alot to be desired!  LOL ....  Have a really nice day 

Jobs dies, doe's that mean ITunes die's to?

I've lived with the 5-7 sec preview for weeks/months.  The first suggested change I made worked.. for a couple of days.  None of the other suggested changes had any effect.  I've pretty much ignored it all now for a few weeks.

A couple of days ago I logged in to itunes for the first time in about a week, and the previews worked.  I tried dozens..  didn't matter what I picked, they all worked, all the way through.   Today..   back to the 5-7 sec previews.  I made no changes to my laptop or my network either  before or after. 

Jut for what it's worth.

Well, I've been on the phone with a really nice guy at Apple Headquarters number.  He helped me alot and fixed my problem.  I am a noob at the computer but what he said is that the problem is with my internet provider not having the proper DNS server information.  Now I have no clue what a DNS is but he took control of my computer and rerouted my DNS info to use google's DNS numbers and Yahoos DNS numbers.  So, at least for me this was a DNS issue just like Barbpf said.  The DNS numbers for google are 8.8.8.8 and Yahoo is 4.2.2.1.. We went to Control Panel>>Network Connetions>>right click Local Area Connections Properties>>Internet Protocol Version (whatever) and then click on Use the following DNS server address--preferred dns was google above and then alternate was Yahoo above.  Listen, I know I didn't explain this very well but maybe there is someone out there that knows what I'm trying to articulate and you can do a better job.  Sorry I can't do this better.  Anyway, I hope this helps some of you folks....I can totally relate to how frustrating this is for y'all.  Have a great night and holler if I can be more help... 

Holy crap ! I just changed it and iTunes actually works now. Keeping my fingers crossed, thanks for sharing

I had the same problem with songs cutting off after only a few seconds. After trying  some of y'alls suggestions without fixing the problem, I finally tried a system restore to about a month ago and it seems to have worked. I think a lot of these kinds of glitches have to do with automatic updates.

Possible Solution To The Issues For Most Users

1. This isn't Apple's fault, their system only irritates the issue. This is why they can't offer much suppot. It is not their job to be IT experts to you.

2. Chances are you may have been experiences other issues like - internet dropping out occasionally and renewing on it's own, interference with iphone/ipad service, poor downloads of purchased material, facebook feeds or messages loading poorly, gmail loading poorly, services which have a high adobe or java use failing, etc. If these things have been happening as well, this can help you.

Possible solution is? This is a DNS problem. In short, your DNS server is having a hardtime working with more advanced software and webpages that utilize a lot of heavy script (flash, java, etc).

Here is a video showing you how to access your internet setting and change your DNS. For other windows or OS, it will be similar. In short, you are looking for internet protocol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFI8Uio4LHQ

This tutorial shows only google based DNS and alternatives. You can use the same steps to put an openDNS

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

You can also alternate the set up by doing 1 open DNS (208.67.222.222) and one google (8.8.8.8)

At times, you made need to reset your router and even move back to an automatically optain for 5-10 mins and then move back to an open DNS. Why? No idea, but it seems to "flush" the problem.

For 90% of you this should solve the problem of cut off downloads and preview music streaming.