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lavintek Author

Level 1

0 points

Apple Software Update Blank List Issue

Hello,

I am experiencing a wide-spread issue with apple software update on windows. In an attempt to update itunes and quicktime, apple software update is run but comes up with a blank list (see figure 1). This has happened on 3 machines that were freshly imaged (with an older version of itunes), and 5 machines that have been in use for months/years. Operating systems include windows vista, 7 and 8 Release Preview; they all have varying internal specifications.Some computers are x32 others are x64. I have also had a friend who is outside of the network system the other mentioned computers are in, in an attempt to use software update. He came across the same results. Also as a note, the current versions of itunes that are being targeted to be updated range from 10.5 to 10.6.1.7.

I have attempted running a repair on apple software update on one machine, with no change.

Has anyone else experience this issue? I see one other similar discussion post at the moment found here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4040644?answerId=18688827022#18688827022

But no where else am I seeing mention of issues of this sort.

Thanks for any input!

-Rob

Posted on Jun 19, 2012 8:39 AM

66 replies

mrroulo

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2012 7:24 AM in response to lavintek

Same problem here. Sad that Apple eiher doesn't care enough or can't fix this issue. I tried running the updater with Quicktime as suggested and it doesn't work. I have a feeling it is simply hit or miss whether the server is working.

Dear Apple, you should fire the individual responsible. How many potential converts did this cost you?

Sep 3, 2012 4:26 PM in response to lavintek

That is unbelievable embarrasing for Apple... some hundred billion Dollars in cash, but can't afford somebody to fix this small problem!!

A clever guy found the problem for them (DNS issue!), yet MONTHS later Apple hasn't FIXED this crap!

Here's the workaround:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4040644?answerId=18935862022#18935862022

Oct 3, 2012 11:08 PM in response to lavintek

I have the same problem. The Apple Software Update says New software is available but the list is blank. I tried all the tips i found from uninstalling to reinstalling, DNS host file entry, running the softwareupdate.exe as admin but nothing worked.

I hope they can fix this soon.

chcn

Level 1

75 points

Oct 8, 2012 7:32 AM in response to lavintek

I'm having the very same problem described here. Two more symptoms:

Apple Software Update does not seem to even know about what is currently installed. I updated iTunes to 10.7 and the iCloud Control Panel to 2.0, each by downloading and running the installer from apple.com, but when I look under Apple Software Update > Edit > Preferences... > Installed Updates, it lists iTunes 10.6.1 and iCloud Control Panel 1.1.0. It doesn't list QuickTime (which is also installed) at all. So I wonder if there is also a problem with some registry entries or something.
Also, when I try to update QuickTime from within QuickTime itself (Help > Update Existing Software...), I get this message after a bit of a wait: "A connection with the QuickTime software server could not be established. This computer may be having trouble accessing the internet or the server may be offline." When I tried to update iTunes 10.6.1 to iTunes 10.7 from within iTunes, I had a similar failure, except that instead of giving me a wait and an error, it just did nothing. That's when I downloaded the full installer and ran that instead.

chcn

Level 1

75 points

Oct 8, 2012 7:55 AM in response to chcn

P.S., overriding the DNS lookup by adding an entry to my hosts file as described at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4040644?answerId=19940078022#19940078022 worked for me. So this definitely appears to be a server-side issue.

Oct 14, 2012 10:13 PM in response to lavintek

I called Apple about this issue on Wednesday (October 10), and actually managed to get it escalated. Late Friday afternoon (October 12), the rep called me back and said someone was able to duplicate the issue, and it had been sent to the engineers at the appropriate department. As of this evening, my Apple Software Update on a 64 bit Windows 7 install is magically working again.

Apple Software Update Blank List Issue