Problems with iTunes 11.1.4 - advice about AMDS doesn't work for me - help please

First timer here so apologies for any inadvertent protocol mishaps.

Like many others I was prompted to update iTunes to 11.1.4 this morning. The update failed and I received the message "Apple Mobile Device failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to start system services".

I Googled the message and tried restarting AMDS using the advice here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1567 It wouldn't restart so I then tried to follow the advice on uninstalling iTunes completely here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923

I uninstalled iTunes and Apple Software Update without problems but the AMDS won't uninstall via Control Panel. It prepares, gathers required information, configures and the green bar shoots over to the right, but at the last minute it rolls back, the action window closes, and AMDS is still there.

I don't want to uninstall the other components without getting rid of AMDS as the advice says this could cause problems. But right now I have no iTunes and no means of installing it :-(

Help would be appreciated - thank you!