iTunes won't open in Snow Leopard

Question

iTunes won't open in Snow Leopard

I set up a new 2009 Intel mini that had Snow Leopard pre-installed on it. I've been having to manually transfer my Leopard (10.5.8.) files from my G4 mini to it. I haven't transferred anything connected with iTunes yet. However, the iTunes app (v.11.4) on the new mini won't open at all. I've read posts that indicate I should uninstall and reinstall iTunes.

My questions are:

1. Should I uninstall/reinstall iTunes? If so, how do I do that specifically, i.e. does it entail more than just dragging the iTunes app that's in the Applications folder to the trash? Are there files in other areas of the computer that also need to be deleted? If so, what are they and where are they?

2. I have the Snow Leopard install disc. Is it possible use that to reinstall only iTunes?

3. If and when I get iTunes to open on the new mini, what do I need to do to get my G4 mini's iTunes content copied (manually) into the Intel mini?

Here is what is currently in the User>Library>Music folder on Intel Mini with Snow Leopard:

Thanks for your help!

EL

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM

Posted on Aug 23, 2016 8:28 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 23, 2016 8:31 AM in response to Esther Le Sieur

Have you tried updating iTunes?

Get the latest version of iTunes - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Aug 23, 2016 9:47 AM in response to Michael McCranie

Not sure what you mean by updating iTunes. I've updated Snow Leopard from the original 10.6 to 10.6.8, which is as high as it will go in Snow Leopard. I'd assumed in doing that, it would update all the Mac apps, including iTunes, to the level that they would still be compatible with 10.6.8. If that is incorrect, please tell me how I could update iTunes without being able to open the application, and what version I should update it to. It's now at v.11.4.

Thanks. :-)

EL

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Answer 3

Aug 24, 2016 7:03 AM in response to Esther Le Sieur

You can't install the latest iTunes (12.4) on a computer running Snow Leopard. I have never run the SL updater but I would not presume in advance that it installs iTunes of any version.

You say it won't open. What exactly happens when you try? Have you tried downloading iTunes 11.4 from Apple and re-installing it?

General search for available iTunes versions - http://support.apple.com/downloads/#itunes

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Answer 4

Aug 24, 2016 7:02 AM in response to Limnos

When I double click on the iTunes icon in applications (or click on the alias in the dock), there's a quick flash like it's trying to open, but after that nothing happens and it doesn't open.

So before I can try reinstalling it, HOW do I first uninstall the current iTunes? As per my original question "how do I do that specifically, i.e. does it entail more than just dragging the iTunes app that's in the Applications folder to the trash? Are there files in other areas of the computer that also need to be deleted? If so, what (which ones) are they and where are they?

If you could help me with that, I'd really appreciate it! (Mac for Dummies doesn't say how to uninstall applications.) I do know how to install one, so thanks for the link to the downloads.

EL

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Answer 5

Aug 30, 2016 11:33 AM in response to Esther Le Sieur

I think iTunes 11 and SL are old enough so you can drag it to the trash. At some stage in the past couple of OSX versions Apple changed it so iTunes is regarded as part of the system software and you have to do a more complex uninstall:

Apr. 2015 Niel post: Re-install iTunes application - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6990002?answerId=28055467022#28055467022 - delete the old application first, with instructions on how to do that.

April 2015 LincDavis post with a bit more detail on the method Niel outlines - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7002727?answerId=28101611022#28101611022

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Answer 6

Aug 30, 2016 11:55 AM in response to Limnos

I ended up using AppCleaner to delete the iTunes 11.4 on the Intel Mac. (I realize now that it froze after I did the OS update from 10.6 to 10.6.8.) Then I downloaded a fresh copy of iTunes 11.4 and installed it. After that, I consolidated my iTunes Media file on the G4 (open iTunes, go to the Menu bar>file>library>organize). On the G4 I then copied the iTunes folder from the User>Music folder to a flash drive, then installed it from the flash drive into the Intel's User>Music folder while the iTunes app was closed/not running, and clicked OK when the box asked me if I wanted to replace the existing folder. After that, I opened iTunes while holding down the option key. A dialogue box asked me to "Choose library". I chose the iTunes library that I had just installed, and then the "iTunes library .itl" file within that. iTunes then opened and all my songs and podcasts were in it!

Thanks so much for your help!

EL

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