ITunes 10.5 for Windows 7 not connecting to iTunes store.

Question

I updated to iTunes 10.5 today hoping that Apple fixed the connection problems which came with previous versions of iTunes for Windows. Unfortunately I was wrong. After installing 10.5, I cannot connect to the iTunes store...again. The progress bar at the top locks (along with the message "Accessing iTunes Store") and after 30 seconds all I get is a blank page. This is exactly what has happed in the last couple of versions of iTunes for Windows. I tried some of the 'netsh' fixes seen on other posts and this did not solve the issue. I also tried unistalling the specific AppleApplicationSupport software (in this case 2.1.5) and re-installing the 1.5.2 version (which fixed the connection problems on the previous version of iTunes) as seen on other posts but doing this will not work either. Any suggestions out there?

Answer 1

since other people aren't having this same issue you need to try troubleshooting your own machine and network connections to fix this, it's most likely not due to apple software.
Reconfigure any security software to allow Apple's servers to pass.
Useful information for configuring your security software:
IMPORTANT: iTunes must be allowed to contact Apple using the following ports and servers:
          ▪          port 80
          ▪          port 443
          ▪          phobos.apple.com, deimos3.apple.com, albert.apple.com, gs.apple.com, itunes.apple.com, ax.itunes.apple.com, ax.init.itunes.apple.com, ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net
iTunes uses well known ports and these ports may need to be opened for iTunes: 80, 443, 3689, 5297, 5298, 5353, 8000-8999, and 42000-42999.
iTunes also contacts VeriSign servers during an iPhone restore and activation:
          ▪          evintl-ocsp.verisign.com
          ▪          evsecure-ocsp.verisign.com
For more information see Update and restore alert messages on iPhone and iPod touch
Temporarily disable or uninstall your security software
If the current available version of your security software is incompatible with iTunes, you can disable the security software and test if it is the source of the issue. It might also be necessary to temporarily uninstall security software after making sure you can reinstall it and note any required licenses. A temporary deinstallation might be required because parts of some security software remain active in the background though they appear to be deactivated.
To reduce any security risks that security software is designed to prevent, consider making sure all files needed to reinstall it are available and disconnect network connections before uninstalling security software. Should this not be possible, such as if a download without active security software is required, that required step should be the only process completed without security software. For assistance in checking your configuration, disabling, or uninstalling your security software, please contact the manufacturer.
Once disabled or uninstalled, perform only the steps required to verify your issue has been resolved. Complete whatever update, restore, syncing, back up, activation, or other task you were troubleshooting. Once that task is complete, install and configure compatible security software to ensure your PC is protected.
If it isn't a program or software on the computer contact your Internet Service Provider and/or Router Company to configure or disable the firewall in the router settings.
To isolate the issue to this you can also try disconnecting the router and plugging your computer directly in to the modem but this does not help for troubleshooting time-out issues directly on any apple mobile devices only if you are syncing or going through iTunes on the computer.