ITunes 7.3.1.3 Crashes When Trying to Start...

Question

OK, until less than 48 hours ago, iTunes 7.3.1.whatever was working JUST FINE. Despite installing no new software or making any major (or even minor, that I can recall) changes to my system (Windows XP), I now can't get the program to load at all - I just get the "iTunes has encountered an error and must shut down" message before the program even loads.
I've uninstalled iTunes - reinstalled, twice (fully cleaning registry both times). I've installed QuickTime separately (both after installing iTunes and before), nothing. QuickTime WILL open and play files (audio and video) but the usual QuickTime flash screen (with the advertisements for this and that) are absent (and while that isn't something I would usually mind, it is the only thing different I have noticed in regards to how that program is operating).
Any suggestions? Clearly a lot of people are having issues - is Apple doing anything to address this? Has anyone had any luck going back to a previous version?

Answer 1

+I just get the "iTunes has encountered an error and must shut down" message before the program even loads.+
+... QuickTime WILL open and play files (audio and video)+
If QuickTime is launching properly, then we'd better check first to see if this is a systemwide thing or associated with a particular XP user account.
Let's try an experiment. (Not a cure in itself, but it can help us narrow in on possible causes of your problem.)
head into your user accounts control panel and create a new user account with full administrative rights. (there's help documentation on how to do that at the left of the control panel screen.) while you're in that control panel, switch off "fast user switching" in your logging-on preferences.
now log out of the old account and log into the new account.
does itunes launch properly from inside the new account?