This action is only valid for products that are currently installed

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Level 1

5 points

This action is only valid for products that are currently installed

I have had itunes on my computer for a while and have never had problems until recently. Apple Software update recommended that I update to itunes 7.1, so I did. However, after I closed itunes and tried to reopen it later on (through both the system tray and the start menu) it gave me the message " This action is only valid for products that are currently installed" and itunes does not open.

I tried restarting my computer, uninstalling itunes and reinstalling it, but neither worked. I also tried installing older versions of itunes but I got the same problem. itunes opens right after I install it, but if I close it, it won't open again unless I uninstall it and reinstall it.

Help please

Custom PC Windows XP

Custom PC, Windows XP

Posted on Mar 31, 2007 9:49 AM

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Answer 1

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Mar 31, 2007 10:26 AM in response to rycap

hmmmmm. the fact that you're getting that message and that you can uninstall iTunes from Add/Remove programs is actually a bit exotic. typically, with that one, folks will get a missing iTunes.msi message if they try to uninstall.

we'll work on the hypothesis that you've got skunky installation configuration information for your iTunes, which is causing your Windows Installer to constantly forget that iTunes is installed.

so, let's try the following procedure.

first, head into your Add/Remove programs and uninstall your QuickTime. if it goes, good. if it doesn't, we'll just attend to it when we attend to itunes.

next, download and install the Windows Installer CleanUp utility. use it to clear any existing itunes and/or QuickTime installation configuration information from the PC.

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

next, use the the following document as a guide for manual removal of leftover itunes and quicktime program files:

Removing iTunes and QuickTime for Windows

now try another itunes install. does it go through properly? if so, launch itunes, close it again, and then launch it again. does it launch the second time, or do you get the "... only valid ..." message again?

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Answer 2

rycap Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 1, 2007 7:38 PM in response to b noir

Thank you for responding.

I did everything up to number 14 on "Removing iTunes and QuickTime for Windows". Even after I went through Add/Remove programs and removed itunes and quicktime and restarted, the itunes folder was still there with all of the files in it. When I tried to delete the folder I got an error message saying "Cannot delete itunesHelper.exe: Access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file is not currently in use." So I'm not sure what to do now.

Custom PC Windows XP

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Answer 3

b noir

Level 9

72,336 points

Apr 1, 2007 9:28 PM in response to rycap

"Cannot delete itunesHelper.exe: Access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file is not currently in use."

that message is typically produced if the iTunesHelper.exe background process is still running.

bring up your Task Manager. Click on the "Processes" tab. Click "Image name" to sort the processes alphabetically. find iTunesHelper in the list and end the process.

can you delete the folder now?

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Answer 4

rycap Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 2, 2007 9:40 AM in response to b noir

Yes, that let me delete the folder.

I installed itunes and as far as I can tell, it works properly now. When I went through the start menu to itunes to open it again though, the itunes icon was replaced by the little Windows box and it gave me the same message about "only products that are currently installed". But I was able to open itunes through My Computer and I just created a shortcut that works in the start menu. So all should be well.

Thanks

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