I am running the 32-bit version of Windows 7.
I too, encountered these problems when attempting to update.
I began the update from within iTunes. It got past the download phase, but during the installation phase, for the first time ever, I encoundeted an installation failure. It told me to try again, but if it failed, to download the standalone file and install it manually. Unfortunately, though, the (failed) installation still managed to have gotten far enough along so as to leave my machine in a state that I could no longer launch iTunes.
When I tried to launch, I received the missing MSVCR80.dll--just like others have reported. I tried to install this "missing" file by downloading the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (I forget which one, as there are several flavors, but "SP1" and "MFC" were part of the descriptive name from the Microsoft Download Center). DO NOT, under any circumstances, TRY TO OBTAIN THIS MISSING FILE FROM ONE OF THOSE WEB SITES OFFERING THIS (or other) FILE(s). Most if not all of these sites, are likely malicious in nature.
At-any-rate, while I ran the installation of the vcredist_x86.exe file, I briefly saw some form of positive progress, I never seemed to get a definitive completion (i.e., nothing told me the install completed successfully). Nor did I see any error message. I also tried a .NET Framework 4.0 repair as this suggestion was also offered elsewhere on the Apple iTunes Forum. Unfortunately, neither of those suggestions solved my problems, as I still continued to receive the missing MSVCR80.dll message, and iTunes would not launch.
I then followed the directions found elsewhere in this thread by uninstalling the Apple applications (in the order listed), rebooted (and for good measure) I also ran ccleaner after the system came back up), and tried the install again using the iTunesSetup.exe file (RunAs Administrator option).
During this attempt, now I received a DIFFERENT error message: Specifically, the Apple Mobile Device service could not be started. Attempting to start it manually from the Services panel, wouldn't work, either. I told the install to "Ignore" this error, and even the installation made it to the end and stated the installation was successful, it definitely was not.
The Apple Mobile Device error encountered during installation mentioned ensuring there were sufficient permissions. As the installation was performed using the RunAs option, this should have used Administrator permissions. Still no dice, however. So I completely uninstalled everything again (in the order specified). Rebooted. This time, I also manually removed directories left behind in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple directory.
I kept any plugins that existed, but dumped all of the *.resources files I could find. They all had today's date on the file directories, so I knew they'd been "touched" by the various installation efforts--and who knew whether something left behind might be causing issues. I blew these away since it got left behind by the uninstall operation (a major annoyance these applications don't do a better job of cleaning up after themselves when "removed").
Did the same sort of thing in C:\Program Files\iTunes. I also Re-ran ccleaner (again), and rebooted one more time, as there was still some reference in Registry to APSDAEMON.exe, which, now, no longer existed, but was still trying to be started via the entry in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Found the entry and simply deleted it, which kept me from getting that paticular error at restart.
Last, but not least, I downloaded the FORMER version of iTunes from Filehippo, since they keep all of the previous versions. Apple might do that, too, but I didn't know for sure, nor did I know where to find it, whereas, I knew exactly where to get this from Filehippo....
Right, wrong or indifferent--that's what I did. I know some might not recommend obtaining a file from a source other than the company creating the application--especially since this seems to fly in the face of my own recommendation about sites that offer missing files. While similar, it's not quite the same, and I've had good success with Filehippo. A risk I was willing to accept....
I ran the installation file for 11.1.3.8, and voila: iTunes (the former version not the ill-fated new one) was reinstalled (no error messages during installation); best of all, no missing MSCVR80.dll file upon application launch.
While others seem to have gotten success by removing the apps and reinstalling, I, on the other hand, did not.
Therefore, I will now sit tight at my current version level until Apple better addresses this issue, which, is definitely tied to the new update, as the former version works just fine.
I share this, just in case others, like myself, followed the directions and still had the problem. At least, by visiting Filehippo, one can garner the previous version, and in so doing, re-establish a working version of the application. If Apple provides former versions for download, then, by all means, obtain the file from them. My method was more expedient at the time.
Shared for whatever it is worth.
Good luck to folks who experience this issue.... Hope you either get the matter solved, or you, at least, get back to a version that worked before your parade got rained on....