Installed 4.9... now iTunes won't even launch

Question

Okay.... here it is: I downloaded and installed 4.9 and now when I click on the iTunes shortcut on my desktop, iTunes won't even launch. In addition, my laptop won't even shut down properly now. I get a bizarre error message and it hangs for 4 or 5 minutes (despite the fact that I try to End Program over and over again). I have had to take the battery out to shut it down because of all this. More important, I can't access my iTunes!
thanks,
P.

Answer 1

Try using the "Clean' method for uninstalling/reinstalling iTunes. See Da Gohpa's link, toonz' link, as well as all the related links and activities provided below.
You may first want to try a “Repair Install”:
- Start menu -> Settings -> Control Panels -> Add or Remove Programs
- Select iTunes, Select Change/Remove button, Select "Repair", Click OK.
If that does not work, then read all the below and apply it to your situation:
General Advise for Installing Programs: toonz, "Itunes 4.9 for Windows Foul Up" #4, 07:23pm Jul 11, 2005 CDT
Getting help with iPod and iTunes for Windows Installation errors
Possible Solution to Error 1406:
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0.html?forumID=31&threadID=46127&messageID=642 456
Da Gopha, "iTfW: stepwise clean uninstallation of iTunes", 09:51am Apr 5, 2005 CDT
b Uninstalling iTunes will not erase your music files,
or the two meta-data files iTunes uses to store your music info files (iTunes 4 Music Library.itl & iTunes Music Library.xml). However, it is
i always
a prudent idea to have backups of your music files on some external source (CD, DVD or External Hard Drive).
b Prior to implementing the info in the links above,
close ALL running programs. In addition, you
b should
i temporarily
disable any TSR programs like firewalls, virus scanners, spy sweepers and the like. You will need to disable them both before uninstalling ANY software and/or before installing ANY software. Most of these TSR programs have System Tray Icons (usually located in the lower-right corner of your XP screen), that allow for an ‘exit’ or ‘quit’ or ‘shutdown’. Usually a single right-click on the icon will bring up a selection menu.
These TSR programs can impede installation of some software or create conflicts later on during operation (or lack of operation) Some anecdotal reports suggest that iTunes 4.8 & 4.9 are affected. Based on the amount of success by folks here who have tried the Clean Install, this seems to be a good solution for a variety of iTunes operational ‘glitches’
Please note that your TSR programs will all restart upon reboot. You will not be left unprotected. This also means that you need to remember to disable them when reinstalling iTunes after rebooting.
b Also:
You may still need to turn off the 'Fast User Switching' even if no one else is using the computer.
==>Start/Control Panel/User Accounts/Change the way users log on and off/ ==> remove the check mark from FUS.
See: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93764 and http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93395