iTunes.exe not found (iTunes installed but not working)

Navigate to c:\program Files(x86)\iTunes for 64 bit windows or program files\iTunes for 32 bit.

Double click on iTunes.exe

Does iTunes start?

If so, you may have a corrupt short cut and you can make another by right clicking and selecting Send to>>Desktop (create shortcut).

OK, so the the quick thing didn't work.

Could you post the full error message exact text please.

It might also help to see if there is a useful error message in the windows error logs.

Control Panel>>Administrative Tools>>Event Viewer>>Windows Logs>>Application.

Do it immediately after generating the error so the message is top of the list.

Probably the next thing to try is a full uninstall of iTunes and related programs followed by reinstall. but it would be nice to try to see exactly what is going on first.

I already tested this with no luck, when I double click iTunes.exe on windows explorer I get the same error.

Apologies for barging in, p, but I'd like to doublecheck the malware situation with this one. It's not especially common, but there is a security hijack that can produce that particular symptom. (It gloms on to the image execution options for iTunes in the registry.)

If it's the one I'm thinking of, Malwarebytes Antimalware has been able to pick it up in the past.

Download and install the free version of Malwarebytes AntiMalware:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Update your MBAM definitions and then run a full scan of the PC. (Takes about 2 hours on my Lenovo.)

Does the scan find any infections? If so, please paste the contents of the log file for the scan in a reply here so we can have a look.

Thanks for dropping in b noir and reminding me of the malware angle. I have a note that the problem key is:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\itunes.exe

I do not have this key on my PC.

If the malware search was negative it might be worth trying a full uninstall of iTunes and it's components and reinstalling.

Compete uninstall method:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923?viewlocale=es_ES

Downloads

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

Quicktime if required

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html

But before you do that did you find a helpful error message using the event viewer?

I have a note that the problem key is:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\itunes.exe

I do not have this key on my PC.

🙂 Yeah, that's the one. if I recall correctly, I don't have it either.

(Just a thought for later with this one if further joy with standard procedures. It might be worth attempting to run iTunes as an administrator if nothing else seems to be working. Sort of working on the principle that weird permissions **** can fake any given set of symptoms.)

Thanks for the suggestion b.

I think the OP may have given up now.

I was hoping for an error message from the event viewer to see if that helped.

Also it would have been intersting to see if ProcessMonitor showed anything useful.

Added:

After searching around, I found a suggestion that combofix was required to fix a similar error with iexplore.exe, even though another removal program had apparently removed the threat. I wonder if that would be the case here, I haven't had any experience with combofix myself.

Message was edited by: polydorus