When I open Itunes it works fine, but it becomes completely unresponsive (doesn't crash, just stuck and does not responds) when I either connect my device (which is recognised by my PC W7 62bit) or when I try to go into preference via the edit tab (same results)
A preference file may have gone bad for you. (That can produce both sorts of symptoms.)
I'd try a rebuild of the preferences files.
First, quit iTunes if you have it open.
Next, you'll need to make sure you are set up to view hidden files and folders in Vista (or 7).
1. From the Start menu, click Open.
2. In the Organize menu, click Folder and Search Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. In the "Advanced settings" pane under "Hidden files and folders" make sure that the "Show hidden files and folders" option is selected.
5. Click OK.
Next, you'll rebuild the preference files. We'll do it one at a time, testing connection of devices and trying to go into the preferences after each one.
6. In Computer, open Local Disk: C or whichever drive your documents are stored on.
7. Open the Users folder.
8. Open the folder with the name of the Vista user account in which Pat is getting the Books tab hang.
9. Open the AppData folder.
10. Open the Local folder.
11. Open the Apple Computer folder.
12. Drag the iTunes folder out onto the Desktop.
Now you'll rebuild the preference folder and file.
13. Launch iTunes. This will cause iTunes to rebuild that preference folder and file. The license agreement will appear for you again. (That is expected behavior when that particular preference folder and contained file are being rebuilt.)
14. Go "Edit > preferences, and check to see if there's a hang
15. Attach the device and check to see if there's a hang.
If there's still a hang, you can replace the "rebuilt" iTunes pref folder with the one on the desktop again. Then we'll try rebuilding the other preference files.
16. In Computer, open Local Disk: C or whichever drive your documents are stored on.
17. Open the Users folder.
18. Open the folder with the name of the Vista user account in which Pat is getting the Books tab hang.
19. Open the AppData folder.
20. Open the Roaming folder.
21. Open the Apple Computer folder.
22. Drag the iTunes folder out onto the Desktop.
Now we'll rebuild that one ...
23. Launch iTunes. This will cause iTunes to rebuild that preference folder and file. The iTunes Setup assistant will run. (That is expected behavior when that particular preference folder and contained file are being rebuilt.) *Do not add any files when prompted to do so.* Otherwise you'll end up with a library full of duplicates.
24. Go "Edit > preferences", and check to see if there's a hang.
25. Attach the device, and check to see if there's a hang.
Any better luck with rebuilding the second set of preferences? (If no joy, the ones on the desktop now can be swapped out for the rebuilt (Roaming) set.