Installed recent Windows updates and now iTunes refuses to run

Question

I installed the most recent Windows 7 updates:
- Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package (KB2467174)
- Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
- Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package (KB2467175)
Ever since then, I have been unable to open iTunes. It will start up the iTunes process and before the window even comes up it quits. I have tried following some of the guides on the "Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues" folder in the iTunes Support section of the iTunes website. I've tried the msconfig thing but no luck. From what I see, there's nothing else that's changed with my computer other than the updates.
I really have no idea what to do. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

Also, seems like Quicktime isn't running. I didn't get an error message either.
many thanks! That suggests a possibility that would also be consistent with this cropping up after those particular updates.
In recent times, the error-message-free iTunes and QuickTime launch failures have been indicating that another application has stashed old QuickTime componentry in your system files. (Those sorts of applications often use the Visual C++ runtimes to keep track of the componentry, so it seems consistent that an update to those could cause the symptoms to flare up on a PC.)
So just in case we'll go looking for older QuickTime componentry in the most common locations for it to be stashed.
First we'll need to change some view settings.
In your Start menu, open Computer.
In your Organise menu, select Folder Options.
In the View tab, make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" is selected, and Hide extensions for known file types is unchecked.
Click OK.
Now in Computer, open your C:\ drive (or whichever drive you have your operating system installed on).
Open the "Windows" folder.
If you have a 32-bit Windows 7, open the "System32" folder.
If you have a 64-bit Windows 7, open the "SysWOW64" folder.
What files and folders can you see in there with QuickTime in the title? (In a standard installation of Quicktime you should be seeing precisely two files ... QuickTime.qts and QuickTimeVR.qtx ... and no QuickTime folders whatsoever.)