ITunes 10.5 on Windows 7 (32bit) doesn't display the iTunes store

Question

Hello there,
on my Windows 7 (32bit) system, already with iTunes 10.4 I encountered the problem that the iTunes store remained inaccessible - it simply wouldn't load/display. Problem was solved by removing all Apple software, cleaning up the registry, rebooting, reinstalling iTunes 10.4.1, and NOT installing Safari 5.x - because as soon as Safari got installed, the problem would reappear.
Now with iTunes 10.5, the problem is back. Only that this time it does not matter if Safari is installed or not - the store simply won't come up.
I've tried the whole support articles suggestions up and down - to no avail.
It's not a problem of firewall, antivirus, hosts file etc. - the diagnose function says clearly that even https is OK, all settings in the internet options are right, etc. etc. - I've spent days on that, and believe me, I'm sure about it.
The diagnose function says, however, than QuickTime would not be available. No matter if QuickTime IS installed or not, before or after iTunes 10.5 that says it would neither contain nor need QuickTime anymore.
After cleaning out all Apple software and its traces, a reboot, and a reinstallation of iTunes 10.4.1, the store is accessible again - only that iTunes 10.4.1 can't use my iPhone with iOS 5 on it.
So I'm either stuck with an iTunes that CAN access the store, but can NOT sync my iPhone, or with one that CAN syn my iPhone, but can NOT access the store.
Besides, with iTunes 10.5, the separately installed iCloud control panel app simply won't come up - I can click until I get blue in the face...
Obviously, for iCloud control panel, although it is only listed as "recommended", it seems it's actually "required" to have Outlook 2007 or 2010 - and I have Outlook 2003 and do NOT intend to switch to a higher MS Office package.
I got an appointment at the Apple Store nearby now for Wednesday noon - to revert my iPhone to iOS 4. Then I could at least go on using the iPhone until again the first apps won't support iOS 4 any longer, as it happened shortly after the launch of iOS 4 when iOS 3.1.3 wasn't supported any longer.
Oh, I forgot to mention - during the update/upgrade to iTunes 10.5 / iOS 5, the sync destroyed my recent backup and hung - the only way out was to kill the backup process and continue, which resulted in a "new", blank phone. Lost some years' app data and a lot of important bookmarks that way.
Needless to say that the iPhone was my last Apple product ...

Answer 1

Peter Hah
After spending another two days on pinning down the iTunes 10.5 blank store page problem, here's the solution to be found: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3372617?start=0&tstart=0
Look out for "japiohelp".
In short:
a) press Windows key + "R", enter "cmd", and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter (= runs as admin)
b) enter "netsh winsock reset" and pres enter
c) reboot the computer
and Bob's your uncle.
P.