How to get rid of the iTunes V5 and revert to V4.9

Question

A mass of postings has been prompted by the launch of the appalling iTunes Version 5. This has clearly not been beta tested (or the testers need sacking), and must have caused immense damage to Apple’s reputation. How they can sit there like a rabbit in the headlights, and not even revoke the launch of V5 until they’ve sorted it, is quite beyond me.
Most postings are desperate pleas for help, followed by suggested courses of action to persuade V5 to work. Some of these are quite complex for the average user and, whilst they have been a salvation for many readers, appear not to have worked for others. If, like me, you think that enough is enough, and just want to get back to V4.9, then here is my suggestion.
V4.9 is still currently available, but the installer refuses to run if you’ve installed V5, because it tells you that “A later version of iTunes is already on this machine. Installation cannot continue.” Attempts to uninstall V5 via Windows “Add or Remove Programs” appear to have got some users into serious difficulties, and I certainly wasn’t prepared to attempt it, so here is what worked for me. Please bear in mind that it only works if you Saved, the V5 Installer, rather than just running it without saving. Bear in mind also that you will have to recreate any custom Play Lists, and that the “Purchased Music” record will be empty (the music wilI still be there though, which is all that matters.
I offer no promises that this will work for you.
First I played safe by backing up on DVD my iTunes folder from My Music although, with hindsight, I didn’t need to. If you want to be safe, but can’t burn a DVD, then just open a new file in My Music called iTunes Backup, and copy everything to there.
Then I did Start/Search for “iTunesSetup”. If you find more than one, then go for the one whose date coincides with the day you were lured into doing the upgrade. That event should be scarred on your memory.
I double clicked on the offending installer, and encountered a request to know whether I wanted it to Repair or Uninstall. I chose Uninstall, and it worked. I then dealt it the final deathblow, by deleting that actual iTunesSetup program.
I then went to www.techspot.com and typed “iTunes” into the Search box at top right of the Home Page. This will take you to a page offering Apple iTunes 4.9 for Windows Download. Click on that, and proceed with the download, using the Save option, before running it.
I was then able to run the new Installer, and iTunes was up and running, but of course, my Music Library was empty.
Leaving the iTunes main screen open, I went into My Music / iTunes and opened the “iTunes Music” folder to reveal the various ‘Artist’ folders. I then reduced the size of that window, so that I could get at the iTunes window behind it.
In the iTunes Music window (the one with all the Artist folders now displayed) I did “Select All”, from the “Edit” drop-down menu, and then did a simple drag and drop into the large right-hand iTunes window. Note: there is no need to open the individual ‘Artists’ folders. iTunes will see to that.
Seconds later I was playing my music, and actually went into the Music Store, and bought some more (not that Apple deserve my custom).
I shall not be upgrading again, until I have seen plenty of approval notices in the media.
Good luck if you want to try it.

Answer 1

Paul--you are a life-saver!! Worked great. I did have to look around to make sure I was getting 4.9 instead of 4.7 (even when the file was named 4.9 at techspot.com), but I finally got the right file, did the install as you suggested, and everything is now fine. One note, though, that I haven't seen mentioned in any of this thread: when I first tried to open up iTunes after getting back to 4.9, the following message appeared: "The file iTunes Library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes." I merely went to the old .itl file that was created when I did the update to iTunes 5, renamed it, moved it over to my now new 4.9, and iTunes opened fine. My library was a few days out of date, because of the few days' lag from the time I did the iTunes update, but that was easily taken care of, and everything's now working fine. Thanks again!!!