Is it possible to obtain an earlier version of iTunes?

Question

iTunes 6 WILL NOT RUN on my computer -- it's a new machine, running Windows XP. I've looked through these forums and tried the various pieces of advice, such as deleting and reinstalling iTunes (even re-downloading it), disabling virus protection (Norton, if it makes a difference), installing QuickTime separately, downloading a Windows installer clean-up, deleting a file (can't remember what it was called), and I can't recall what all else. Nothing happens. The iTunes install seems to work just fine, but when I try to run it, NOTHING. Literally. I get a brief flashing hourglass, then NOTHING HAPPENS. The only solution I can see is to obtain iTunes 5.something, which worked just fine for me. I don't give a flip about music video, etc.; I just want to be able to listen to the music that is on my computer, but can't be transferred to what is now a $400 paperweight !!!
I purchased the iPod because Apple products are supposed to be reliable and easy to use. What gives????
EMachine   Windows XP  
EMachine   Windows XP  

Answer 1

hi IrratedUser!
The iTunes install seems to work just fine, but when I try to run it, NOTHING. Literally. I get a brief flashing hourglass, then NOTHING HAPPENS.
yuck. one of the common causes of that kind of "error-less" launch failure (it's an unusually nasty kind of adware) is not cured by rolling back to an earlier version of itunes.
so it might be wise to just check up on the two major possibilities that you haven't explicitly mentioned having checked.
let's first make an observation. reboot the PC. open your Task Manager to the Processes tab. now try to launch your itunes again. does an itunes.exe process appear? if so, does it persist in Task Manager or disappear after a few seconds?
if itunes.exe persists in Task Manager (and especially if you're running Norton Internet Security 2005, first see:
iTunes 6 won't open on a Windows computer if firewall software is not up-to-date
... but also see the Lorraine technique:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=810222&#810222
(it's actually the firewall rather than the antivirus that causes this problem. in nasty cases, QT processes are also getting blocked, so even if you've got all itunes processes being permitted, the QT blockage ends up suppressing itunes launch en passant.)
if itunes.exe disappears from Task Manager after a few seconds, first try the following technique:
Using MSCONFIG to troubleshoot conflicts in Windows
... and post back to let us know the names of the startup items that you have to disable in order to get itunes to launch. (exact spelling please.)
love, b