Connection timed out, but diagnostics show I can connect OK. ***?

Question

Problem: iTunes has recently crapped itself. I have no new software of changes to make. I am running the stock XP Firewall, and iTunes was checked fine. I unchecked and rechecked to no avail. I ran diagnostics and all seems well. I am using Symantec Endpoint Protection, but have been running that for years. I even made a new HOSTS file, but I still have no luck getting to the store. I actually want to conduct commerce here, but cannot. This seems to be a huge issue of late and I need your help.
Firewall Information
Windows Firewall is on.
iTunes is enabled in Windows Firewall.
Connection attempt to Apple web site was successful.
Connection attempt to iTunes Store was successful.
Secure connection attempt to iTunes Store was successful.
Secure connection attempt to iPhone activation server was successful.
Last successful store access was 2008-07-08 13:19:45.

Answer 1

I don't have an answer, but I thought I'd back you up by saying that I've had exactly the same problem. I received the same diagnostic messages.
I have tried completely disabling Norton Firewall (where I had already allowed complete access for iTunes and anything that looked remotely related) and turned of the Windows Firewall without any luck. I could launch a basic browser and navigate to the iTunes website manually, but from within the iTunes app, I continue to receive the "unable to connect... connection timed out" message.
I also uninstalled and re-installed iTunes. This appears to have made the problem only worse in that now when I run the diagnostic, it returns the following:
Active Connection: LAN Connection
Connected: Yes
Online: Yes
Using Modem: No
Using LAN: Yes
Using Proxy: No
SSL 3.0 Support: Enabled
TLS 1.0 Support: Enabled
Firewall Information
Windows Firewall is off.
Connection attempt to Apple web site was unsuccessful.
The network connection timed out.
Connection attempt to iTunes Store was unsuccessful.
The network connection timed out.
Secure connection attempt to iTunes Store was unsuccessful.
The network connection timed out.
Secure connection attempt to iPhone activation server unsuccessful.
The network connection timed out.
iTunes has never successfully accessed iTunes store.
This is incredibly frustrating. I have done many searches for the problem and found several bits of advice: clearing the DNS cache, clearing history and cookies in IE, etc. I've tried all of these to no avail. I would like to now deauthorize the system iTunes is currently on and set it up on another system, but without a valid connection to iTunes I can't even successfully deauthorize the computer.
I've seen several other forum posts over the past couple of years regarding this problem. Seems like Apple could have, by now, consolidated the responses and provided a straightforward troubleshooting document.