key not valid for use in specified state

Question

Level 1

0 points

key not valid for use in specified state

On the latest update for iTunes for Windows the updated couldn't complete and said to download the full version. When I ran the iTunes64Setup I got the following message " key not valid for use in specified state". I then uninstalled iTunes, rebooted, ran the iTunes64Setup and still got the message " key not valid for use in specified state". I'm now without iTunes. I did a Google and searched this community and couldn't find anything on this. Can someone guide me to a solution?

Thanks,

Mike

Windows 8.1 Enterprise

trying to get to iTunes 11.3.1.2x64

iTunes-OTHER, Windows 8

Posted on Aug 13, 2014 11:42 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

274,540 points

Aug 13, 2014 12:37 PM in response to Mike3143

For general advice see Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates.

The steps in the second box are a guide to removing everything related to iTunes and then rebuilding it, which is often a good starting point unless the symptoms indicate a more specific approach. Review the other boxes and the list of support documents further down page in case one of them applies.

Your library should be unaffected by these steps but there is backup and recovery advice elsewhere in the user tip.

The section Install missing components has advice on breaking down the iTunes installer into the individual .msi files which might prove useful if one component won't install normally. It might at least narrow down which component isn't installing right now, but unless we know which (registry?) key it is complaining about it may still not install. See this post for a method to generate log files during the install of the problem component: Re: AppleMobileDeviceSupport64.msi for windows 8.1

tt2

Reply

Answer 2

Mike3143 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 14, 2014 8:49 AM in response to turingtest2

Here are my results:

following the steps in the second box I received the same error "key not valid for use in specified state".
When I tried the second step, Install missing components, I received the same error on all the".msi" files when I executed them direct.
My results on installing from the command prompt while generating the log files were different. All the components installed except the "AppleSoftwareUpdate.msi" install. What part of the log file do I need to look at to find the cause of the error?

I do have all the other components working now including iTunes and thankful for your help on this.

Mike

Reply

Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

274,540 points

Aug 14, 2014 8:55 AM in response to Mike3143

You can always update iTunes manually so the failure to install ASU is not a huge issue. If you open the log file in a text editor you could look for keywords like "failed", "invalid", "state", on the offchance that the error is described in the log when it occurs. It might then be clearer what key is causing the problem.

Good to hear you at least have iTunes working. 🙂

tt2

Reply

Answer 4

Mike3143 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 14, 2014 9:22 AM in response to turingtest2

I'm guessing I will need to extract the msi files to update the components individually, correct? I tried running the latest version of iTunes64Setup but it just ask if I wanted to repair or uninstall. I will look through the log files to see if I can find something but this got me what I needed.

Thanks again,

Mike

Reply

Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

274,540 points

Aug 14, 2014 9:28 AM in response to Mike3143

A repair shouldn't hurt and may install the missing ASU component.

tt2

Reply

Answer 6

Mike3143 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 14, 2014 9:46 AM in response to turingtest2

The repair did run without the error but it didn't install the ASU component. I will just see when the next update is release and go from there. ~mike

Reply

Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

274,540 points

Aug 14, 2014 9:58 AM in response to Mike3143

Cool. 🙂

tt2

Reply

Answer 8

Lison99

Level 1

4 points

Aug 16, 2014 7:50 AM in response to Mike3143

Hello!

I had this issue also and this morning i saw something in the logs related to java, so as i had a java update around august 10 si i did a restore of my pc previous to that update and iTunes installed perfectly.

Good luck!

Reply

Answer 9

aniwack

Level 1

5 points

Aug 18, 2014 1:23 PM in response to Mike3143

C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA

Deleted content in the above location, and the problem is resolved

Reply

Answer 10

aniwack

Level 1

5 points

Aug 18, 2014 1:25 PM in response to Mike3143

C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA

Deleted content in the above location, and the problem is resolved

Reply

Answer 11

turingtest2

Level 10

274,540 points

Aug 18, 2014 1:34 PM in response to aniwack

Thanks, that looks like a useful tip, though it might be best to copy the folder elsewhere just in case.

Mike, if you're there it would be great if you could see if it works for you.

tt2

Reply

Answer 12

Mike3143 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 18, 2014 2:03 PM in response to turingtest2

Yes it did resolve the problem. I verified this by the following steps.

Uninstalled iTunes with the installer file "iTunes64Setup.exe" and rebooted.
Ran "iTunes64Setup.exe" and received the "key not valid for use in specified state" error.
Moved the contents of "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA" to another location.
Ran the install again (iTunes64Setup.exe) and everything installed without an error.
iTunes does work.

There are other files and one folder that are now longer in the contents of the folders I moved. I don't know if it will affect any other programs yet.

Thanks,

Reply

Answer 13

turingtest2

Level 10

274,540 points

Aug 18, 2014 2:15 PM in response to Mike3143

Thanks for that. I've read elsewhere that it seems to be a safe action to take for this type of error but it is nice to confirm it is also effective. I will add a note to the troubleshooting user tip.

tt2

Reply

Answer 14

user202

Level 1

0 points

Aug 19, 2014 2:06 PM in response to turingtest2

Hi there, I have the same issue with iTunes. I wasn't able to update iTunes, so I uninstalled iTunes and tried to reinstall it. It is not installing as I keep getting an error message saying that “the key not valid for use in specified state”. I have tried the steps you have mentioned to do but nothing is working! I have uninstalled each component for iTunes, I have also tried 7-zip. Even in 7-zip in each component is giving me the same error message. I have tried calling Apple support and they are unsure what the problem is. The guy told me to create a new user on my computer and install iTunes there, but that didn’t work. Please help!! 😟

Reply

Answer 15

turingtest2

Level 10

274,540 points

Aug 19, 2014 2:15 PM in response to user202

Try this based on aniwack's contribution.

For "Key not valid for use in specified state" errors try moving the folder RSA from C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA to say C:\RSA (just in case there should be a need to restore it) then try installing again. This folder appears to act as a cache and should be rebuilt automatically as required.

tt2

Reply