Johnny DEP
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: iTunes 12 incompatible with Windows Vista Data Execution Prevention

I just did a clean install of iTunes 12.0.1 after removing 11.4 and other components as described in Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates. I'm running Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP2 with 3 GB RAM. Soon after closing the iTunes GUI, I get a Data Execution Prevention notification:

iTunes DEP.JPG

I have already tested with every DEP setting except AlwaysOff, which would globally disable an important Windows security feature and is therefore not to be recommended. The problem is apparently a Buffer Overflow Exception. Here are the details from one instance:

 

Product
iTunes

Problem
Stopped working

Date
10/16/2014 7:37 PM

Status
Report Sent

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BEX
Application Name: iTunes.exe
Application Version: 12.0.1.26
Application Timestamp: 543e558b
Fault Module Name: StackHash_d697
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 00000000
Exception Offset: 105059cc
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Data: 00000008
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: d697
Additional Information 2: 2bd40df4cf0a606a4574668730104c34
Additional Information 3: d700
Additional Information 4: cb2d139a5bee9dfc5c0d03df08159e62

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 50

 

This is actually not a new problem. As an experienced user of 32-bit Vista, I would have to say that the last compatible iTunes version was 11.1.5. See also Windows Vista problem reports after latest Itunes 11.2 update.

iTunes for Windows, Windows Vista

Posted on Oct 16, 2014 9:00 PM

by Johnny DEP,Solvedanswer
Johnny DEP Johnny DEP
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

If there's a program on your PC that causes a buffer overrun (BEX) every time you use it, the sensible thing to do is uninstall that piece of junk and use different software that is compatible with your operating system. I have completely uninstalled iTunes 12.1.2 and installed 11.1.5 for the 8th or 9th time. True, version 11.1.5 is now more than a year old and lacks certain security patches, but I have no intention of using it for online shopping or anything other than file playback. Amazon has plenty of mp3 files that can be played using software that is compatible with Vista, including Windows Media Player 11 and iTunes 11.1.5. Some of the links posted earlier in this thread are no longer any good, but iTunes 11.1.5 32-bit can still be found at Apple - Support - Downloads . The direct links that turingtest2 posted on pages 2 and 3 appear to be still good (including the 64-bit version), and you could always try oldapps.com.

 

Caution: If you have an Apple mobile device running iOS 8, you would not be able to support it using iTunes 11.1.5 or any other version that is fully compatible with Vista. You could simply leave iTunes open on the taskbar as long as possible to reduce the number of annoying DEP notifications, and you could add iTunes to the Block list for problem reporting as discussed above. Do not "shoot the messenger" by disabling DEP and/or WER. They are just doing their jobs by alerting you to iTunes crashes, and disabling them will make your Vista PC more vulnerable to malware andd other problems.

 

Posts by cneufeldhq on page 4 of this thread give me the impression that an iPhone running iOS 8 cannot be supported from a Vista PC even if your iTunes is up to date. If you are running Vista and have an iPhone running iOS 8 that you can't support, I would urge you to Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support. You might also want to start your own thread, since this one is about to be marked "Solved." (I've wasted enough of my time on a problem that only Apple could solve, and I'm more certain than ever that they will never solve it.) Frankly, your best solution is probably to buy a new PC or perhaps a Mac. It's long past time for Apple to stop listing Vista in the system requirements on the iTunes download page. Compatibility has been broken for nearly a year now.

Posted on Apr 19, 2015 4:04 PM

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Johnny DEP

Q: iTunes 12 incompatible with Windows Vista Data Execution Prevention

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  • by Johnny DEP,Helpful

    Johnny DEP Johnny DEP Oct 23, 2014 3:04 PM in response to Johnny DEP
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2014 3:04 PM in response to Johnny DEP

    Help Menu.JPG
    Vista users can stop right there because DEP-compatible versions of iTunes are still available. I recommend iTunes for Windows 11.1.5 32-bit, which can be downloaded from Apple - Support - Downloads or from oldapps.com. (Unfortunately I cannot vouch for the 64-bit version of 11.1.5, in fact there was one comment in the 11.2 thread suggesting that it should be avoided.)

     

    Windows Help and Support goes on to say, "you can turn off DEP for the program that was closed." I was certainly willing to try that, however it cannot be done in the case of iTunes. Besides, on those rare occasions when 12.0.1 doesn't give a BEX error upon closing, it gives an APPCRASH instead. So what the unwelcome poster is suggesting is that you should disable DEP for everything  so that 12.0.1 can crash on its own without being stopped by DEP. Again I say NO THANKS!  Are there any other suggestions?

  • by Bob Foss,

    Bob Foss Bob Foss Oct 23, 2014 5:19 PM in response to Johnny DEP
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 23, 2014 5:19 PM in response to Johnny DEP

    Well, as an old-timer (I started with vinyls in the 1950s), I admire your breadth of knowledge in trying to sort out this sticky problem I have also with my 32-bit Vista.  I just installed iTunes 12 and I get the DEP notice ONLY when I close....iTunes 12 is running very smoothly and I find it easy to navigate, which surprises me since I'm often overwhelmed by technology today.  I just installed QuickTime but it didn't stop the notices when I closed iTunes, so I may uninstall it just like I did Bonjour.  I only use iTunes as my music library and don't share stuff.   I would like your opinion if possible.  Since iTunes 12 runs smoothly, quickly, and I've pretty much mastered it, if all I have to deal with is the notice (and some memory usage in the form of Windows Error Reporting which I delete with a System Restore), can I just continue on using iTunes and ignore the messages?  I have a security suite and I never get bugs or viruses according to my scans.  Should I leave well enough alone then?  Thanks, Johnny, you've been most helpful to this forum especially to tech-challenged people like me.

  • by Bob Foss,

    Bob Foss Bob Foss Oct 23, 2014 8:53 PM in response to Bob Foss
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 23, 2014 8:53 PM in response to Bob Foss

    I also noticed that every time I exit iTunes 12, I get the warning, and it uses about a half GB (500 MB) in Windows Error Reporting, which reports an error in an application of a program (iTunes).  I used the Disk Cleaner to eliminate some of it, and of course a System Restore, brings it back to where it usually is.  But I hope Apple can fix this as it consumes memory on every exit, though it is only temporary.

  • by Johnny DEP,

    Johnny DEP Johnny DEP Oct 23, 2014 9:15 PM in response to Bob Foss
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2014 9:15 PM in response to Bob Foss

    Well Bob, I started this thread because I want Apple to solve this problem - not because I think iTunes users running Vista should just grin and bear it. I never expected that other users would have some magic solution for what is clearly a software problem. Looking at your Content, I was surprised to find that you were active in these Support Communities before I ever installed iTunes. As you well know, Apple has unleashed a series of half-baked updates this year that were obviously never tested on Vista. My thoughts on this issue are no longer secret, but you can make up your own mind.

  • by Bob Foss,

    Bob Foss Bob Foss Oct 23, 2014 9:32 PM in response to Johnny DEP
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 23, 2014 9:32 PM in response to Johnny DEP

    Johnny:  As you can tell, I'm not really good at this stuff, but I dug into some writings and tried something that has been working the last two times I exited iTunes 12...that is, the DEP notice is gone.  Here's the step-by-step that worked for me, hoping it will work tomorrow when I turn my computer on.  This is for Vista and Windows 7 only.

     

    Go into Start Menu, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, click Run as Administrator, Click Continue if asked, then in the Command Prompt, type:  bcdedit  / set  {current}  nx AlwaysOff.  Click Enter to confirm success.  Then re-boot.  I did this and the DEP hasn't come back.  I think the key, Johnny, is making sure the spacing is correct when typing.  There are two spaces after the bcdedit and the {current}.  If it doesn't work, I'll try to find the couple of sources and post them.  Maybe this is just a fluke but thus far, it is working for me.

  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth Oct 24, 2014 6:00 AM in response to Bob Foss
    Level 5 (4,806 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 24, 2014 6:00 AM in response to Bob Foss

    Hi Bob, you misunderstood. Johnny did know that solution, he also feels it is too dangerous for anyone (including you). According to him your computer will be compromised shortly. Please if you don't mind come back in a week or a month and let us know if Johnny was correct.

  • by Marvin Martianul,

    Marvin Martianul Marvin Martianul Oct 24, 2014 5:20 PM in response to Johnny DEP
    Level 2 (417 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 24, 2014 5:20 PM in response to Johnny DEP

    Me too. I think it was the modified itl database format beginning with 11.2.

  • by Morac,

    Morac Morac Oct 25, 2014 11:54 PM in response to Johnny DEP
    Level 1 (121 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 25, 2014 11:54 PM in response to Johnny DEP

    I tried disabling DEP, but then iTunes 12 just started crashing in JavaScriptCore.dll, so the DEP "crash" is an actual intercepted crash. The odd thing is I only get that crash when on my work's network.  Everything works fine on my home network.  That leads me to believe iTunes 12 is trying to execute code it downloads and something about my work network is screwing it up.  That said, network differences shouldn't cause a crash like that as that's a security flaw that could lead to code execution.

     

    i Reverted to iTunes 11.4 since that works fine.

     

    To answer your specific question, EMET is used to force Windows to use DEP and ASLR on programs it doesn't do by default.  By default only Windows executables and libraries have DEP enabled.  Third party programs do not.  EMET by default enables all DEP and ASLR for iTunes, but DEP can be disabled specifically for iTunes in the EMET configuration.

  • by Johnny DEP,

    Johnny DEP Johnny DEP Oct 26, 2014 11:20 AM in response to Morac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 26, 2014 11:20 AM in response to Morac

    Hi Morac. Thanks for the explanation of EMET. The problem you are having with JavaScriptCore crashes running Windows 7 on one network but not another actually sounds quite different from the problem that Vista users have been experiencing for quite some time.

  • by Johnny DEP,

    Johnny DEP Johnny DEP Oct 26, 2014 11:29 AM in response to Johnny DEP
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 26, 2014 11:29 AM in response to Johnny DEP

    As for myself, I have downgraded:

    iTunes 11.1.5.JPG

  • by tocguy,

    tocguy tocguy Oct 26, 2014 10:25 PM in response to Johnny DEP
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 26, 2014 10:25 PM in response to Johnny DEP

    I tried to grab the 32-bit 11.1.5.5 version but it's Apple blocked from download to a Win x64 machine. So, the next best thing is the 64-bit version of iTunes 10.7 but in order to get it the site says you need the 64-bit installer which if you follow the link takes you directly to the 64-bit version of 12.0.01. Aaaaaand, we've come full circle. Sigh...

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Oct 27, 2014 2:56 AM in response to tocguy
    Level 10 (86,323 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 27, 2014 2:56 AM in response to tocguy

    Try these direct links:


    tt2

  • by tocguy,

    tocguy tocguy Oct 29, 2014 9:03 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 29, 2014 9:03 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thx tt2. I'll try that.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Oct 29, 2014 9:04 AM in response to tocguy
    Level 10 (86,323 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 29, 2014 9:04 AM in response to tocguy

    You're welcome.

     

    tt2

  • by Bob Foss,

    Bob Foss Bob Foss Oct 31, 2014 8:03 PM in response to fromsouth
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 31, 2014 8:03 PM in response to fromsouth


    Well, the only thing I noticed is the computer runs a bit slower, so I reverted to enabling the DEP to make it run a bit faster.  I have both McAfee and Windows Security so no real problems.  If Apple doesn't fix this in the next iTunes 12 update, I may just get the new iMac with Retina 5K and a fusion drive.  From what I understand, the DEP isn't an issue with the Apple iTunes but maybe it is, don't know.  Guess my bottomline is switching the DEP "AlwaysOff" saves memory but makes things slower.  Thanks.

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