Why does iTunes delete my itunesprefs.xml?

racerx

Is this fix still working for you? I received a call from McAfee Tier 2.5 last night and spent another 3 1/2 hours with them....uninstalling iTunes, Quicktime, Apple Updater software, clearing out registry files, and then re-installing the programs again. After all this, I still have the same problem. My security center is still dated 6/20. I don't have time for this. Not sure why they decided to call me. I was under the impression that they were working to whitelist the itunesprefs.xml files. While McAfee has been responsive, it's not clear to me whether they really think that their AV is the source of the problem. If my observation is true, I'll be looking for another anti-virus provider...Has anyone heard of this problem occurring with Norton 360?

Thanks!

When I turn off McAfee real time scan that fixes it. I spend long time chatting with McAfee last night. Now they want me to uninstall/run a cleanup tool/reinstall McAfee to see if that fixes it. I doubt it!!! But I will try. I read where others have tried and it did not work. Apple had me do all the reinstall iTunes and all that other stuff - no luck.

CJ Green

Yes, I know that the problem does not present itself when McAfee real time scan is disabled. To be more specific, as long as McAfee real time scan is turned off at the time when the iTunes program is closed, the preference files are not deleted.

To me, that's an interim fix, not a solution. I would be willing to operate in this mode if I had confidence that McAfee is working on a real solution, but my patience is running thin with McAfee.

Guys, you are not working with program designers. That is support personnel, they got no way to help you. They reported problem and have no idea when fix is going to come. I do not use McAfee, but had same situation with AVG. TT mentioned that at the start of the thread. They will fix it, but no saying when. There are so many AV alternatives, I got MSE now, like it even more then AVG. Plus McAfee is going to speed up process if they are reported that people leave. Two really good and free alternatives are Microsoft Security Essentials and Avast. You do not have to pay for good AV, ask around for recommendations, if you need another opinion.

McAfee Real Time Scan turned OFF while you sync etc keeps the preferences etc. McAfee had me uninstall/run removal tool/reinstall - I knew it would not resolve the issue and it did not. I am going to live with doing this (Turning off Real Time/open iTunes/Close iTunes before you turn Real Time Scan back on) till I find another tool that does not do this. Someone said MSE did not conflict.

I think this is not only a McAfee issue (and other anti-virus) but iTunes as well. Frustrating that they both act like they have never heard of this issue!

CJ Green

PS from my post yesterday - many of you reported this around June 16 - BUT - Apple and McAfee told me that they had no knowledge of the issue!!! Supposedly T3 is researching, but i do not have high hopes.;

MSE user: what version do you have that works? Thanks for your help. CJ Green

There s only one, but do your own homework, ask second opinion and then

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download

Just think of slogan, "nobody cares more for Windows then Microsofty"!😁

I first talked with McAfee about this issue on June 15, so I'm surprised that McAfee is claiming they have no knowledge of the issue. If that's true, they must not be associating the requests (and probably not working on a solution). I installed MSE on my older PC to try it out. If I like MSE and McAfee can't assure me that they're working on a solution, I'll be moving over to MSE on my newer PC and asking for a pro-rated refund from McAfee.

Please let me know if you decide on MSE and how you like it. Thanks, CJ Green

FWIW I switched from AVG to MSE around December 2012, slightly before AVG started causing similar problems for some users. So far as I'm aware nobody that I've recommended MSE to has come back to say they've had a problem with it. It is lightweight and updates automatically via Windows Update. I've experienced fully updated commercial AV letting machines get infected often enough to know that paying doesn't guarantee protection, or even necessarily offer a better level of service.

tt2

Thank you! CJ Green

I removed McAfee and installed MSE on my PC, and iTunes is working great. Thanks for the suggestion fromsouth and turingtest2.

iTunes is also at fault - They opened a ticket for me June 16th - have passed it from dept to dept. Now (Sr Tech) I am working with has sent it to programing (again) and promised to get back to me. That was a week ago! I have sent him emails requesting an update and he has not responded!!! I think they are trying to sweep this under the carpet! Shame of them!!!

Sorry - I just had to comment on the lack of real support any of us have been given by any of the vendors!

CJ Green

The programming fix from Apple's end would be to add to extra steps into the way it updates the files, so that if any step didn't complete it could either finish the process on the next start up or roll back gracefully to a last known good version. Whether they feel the need to do so is another matter. 😐

tt2

Essentially the question is "will Apple write the virus for my Antivirus or not?". Wonder what the answer would be...😉