I am unable to uninstall itunes (to install new version as well). It says I don't have sufficient access rights yet I am the Adminstrator. Anybody else with this problem? Is there a fix?

Question

I am unable to uninstall itunes (to install new version as well). It says I don't have sufficient access rights yet I am the Adminstrator. Anybody else with this problem? Is there a fix?

I have had a problem updating iTunes on my PC using Windows 7. It will not allow me to uninstall the current version of iTunes (10.2.2). The first Windows Installer box says: "The system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation."

Then a Programs and Features box comes up and says: "You do not have sufficent access to uninstal iTues. Please contact your system administrator."

Well, I am the Administrator yet it won't let me do this uninstall. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Dave

Windows 7

Posted on Jun 24, 2012 12:41 PM

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Answer 1

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Jun 24, 2012 3:27 PM in response to DaveFromSebring

The first Windows Installer box says: "The system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation."

Let's try something relatively simple. Download and save a copy of the installer to your hard drive (don't run the install on line and don't start the install just yet):

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Now right-click on the iTunesSetup.exe (or iTunes64Setup.exe) that you downloaded and select "Run as administrator".

Does that go through any better for you?

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Answer 2

Jun 25, 2012 5:09 AM in response to b noir

The install failed again...in a different way. An iTunes box popped up with the following message?

"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."

Obviously, I am not in safe mode but I suppose it is possible that the Windows Installer is not correctly installed.

I don't know if it has anything to do with it but my OS used to be Vista but I upgraded to Windows 7 after it came out. If I remember right, iTunes was already on the system when it was still Vista.

Any more ideas are welcome.

Thanks very much for your reply.

Dave

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Answer 3

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Jun 25, 2012 4:58 PM in response to DaveFromSebring

"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."

Is that a 64-bit system, Dave?

If so, perhaps try the following user tip:

"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed" error messages when installing iTunes for Windows on 64-bit systems

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Answer 4

Jun 26, 2012 5:43 PM in response to b noir

My system is a 64 bit system. I tried the Regedit as detailed in your message (changed the register word to a 0) and the install still failed for the same reason. I was hoping this would work as it made the most sense.

I don't suppose you have any more ideas. It seems like we are getting down to the end of the possibilities at this point. Microsoft makes things so difficult; I know, I should have bought an Apple.

Anyway, if you can think of anything else, I sure would appreciate it. I thank you so much for helping me through this issue.

Dave

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Answer 5

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Jun 26, 2012 5:48 PM in response to DaveFromSebring

My system is a 64 bit system. I tried the Regedit as detailed in your message (changed the register word to a 0) and the install still failed for the same reason. I was hoping this would work as it made the most sense.

Can you post a screenshot of the contents of the key you've been editing, please? Include all of the regedit screen, including the left-hand column. Save the screenshot to an image file, and insert the image file in a reply by clicking the wee camera icon at the top of the reply window.

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Answer 6

Jun 29, 2012 4:52 AM in response to b noir

I hope this is what you want.

Thanks once again.

Dave

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Answer 7

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Jul 1, 2012 3:08 PM in response to DaveFromSebring

Hmmmm. Nothing instantly springing out at me as looking wrong there.

Let's try reregistering the Windows Installer service.

First, launch a command prompt as an administrator. In your Start search, type cmd then right-click on the cmd that comes up and select "Run as administrator".

At the command prompt:

Type %windir%\system32\msiexec.exe /unregister and hit enter.
Type %windir%\syswow64\msiexec.exe /unregister and hit enter.
Type %windir%\system32\msiexec.exe /regserver and hit enter.
Type %windir%\syswow64\msiexec.exe /regserver and hit enter.

Restart the PC and try another iTunes install. Any better luck this time?

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Answer 8

Jul 2, 2012 4:32 AM in response to b noir

It is fixed!!! Thanks so much b. noir.

What do you think the issue was? Is it because I used to have Vista on the system (with iTunes installed) and I switched to Windows 7?

Anyway, I am up and running. Thanks again for staying with me and solving the issue.

Dave

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Answer 9

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Jul 2, 2012 1:43 PM in response to DaveFromSebring

🙂 excellent news, Dave. Glad you got things sorted out.

What do you think the issue was? Is it because I used to have Vista on the system (with iTunes installed) and I switched to Windows 7?

Good question ... I'm not sure what drops the DWORD value on people's systems. (I had to create it from scratch on my Windows 7 system when writing up the user tip and getting the screenshots for the user tip.)

The deregistration issue might have just been happenstance ... it's pretty rare, and I don't think of it as a standard complication of the DWORD variation of the "cannot access" error messages. Plausibly, you were just unlucky ...

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