Cannot access store after installing version 6

Question

Folks,
Katrina has been kind enough to lead me through the basics of resolving my problem, and has referred me to this forum.
The issue
When I attempt to access the music store in version 6, the progress bar freezes at about 90% and there is no further action. If I end the program, an iTunes process remains resident using every available CPU cycle. I had no trouble accessing the store with my previous version of iTunes.
What I've done to diagnose/resolve
- un-installed iTunes/Quicktime and re-installed (reboot in between)
- un-installed just Quicktime and re-installed (reboot in between)
- disabled all firewalls, virus scanners and antispyware software both during install and when running iTunes
- used msconfig to disable processes and determined that with non-MS processes disabled this problem still occurs. The only processes running are alg, csrss, ctfmon, explorer, iTunes, lsass, services, smss, spoolsv, several instances of svchost, System, System Idle Process, qttask, taskmgr, vsmon (a ZoneAlarm process which cannot be stopped, but all ZoneAlarm functions were disabled), wdfmgr and winlogon.
- confirmed with my ISP that they do nothing to filter/screen any data and they have have no reported issues with iTunes
- my Internet connection works fine for all other functions, in and out of iTunes
Data
XP Pro SP2 patched to 2-Jan-2006
iTunes 6.0.1.3
high-speed (500k) cable Internet connection
Thanks in advance for ideas that may help.
Jon

Answer 1

Well, sounds like a network problem. I can get into
iTMS just dandy, so I don't suspect an iTunes server
problem.
That might depend on how the servers are organized, are they geographic? I'd be surprised if Canadian customers weren't routed to a different server.
Report it to your cable provider. If you can connect
sometimes, your PC and the software are set up OK.
I'd say there's nothing to report to my cable provider, many other Internet services are running fast and with no problems (various browsers, Skype, MSN). 55ms average ping to Apple.com. 53ms to Apple.ca and iTunes.ca. Connection to many other sites is fast.
The cNet bandwidth test reports 500.6 kBps, which is what my ISP has my connection throttled to.
But even when I can sign on to iTunes the site is painfully slow in response.
So I don't think there's any problem with my internet connection.
I forget if you told me your PC is malware free?
That's the only other thing I can think of.
I have a variety of security software, and the last full spyware scan was today. Hopefully I don't have hidden malware installed surreptitiously by a music CD from a disreputable music company. But I'm thinking by now my security software (NOD32, Spysweeper, MS Anti-spyware, ZoneAlarm) would have cleaned that out.
Good luck!
Thanks!
Jon