Itunes crashing at startup while trying to access Itunes Store

Question

Hey all, below is a reply I wrote in another thread.  I found a workaround to this issue that's working for me.. thought I'd also create this new thread... hopefully will work for you too until (hopefully) Itunes update/patch fixes the issue. 
Hello, bump for me on this really annoying issue.  Running Windows 7 SP1, fully updated drivers.  Using latest Itunes, 10.7.0.21.  Just like the others, every time I try to open Itunes, the Itunes store seems like it's trying to load.. and then I inevitably get the "Itunes has stopped working.. Windows is checking.. blah blah" and then crash. I have tried every fix I could find on these and other forums:
1.  Uninstalled/Reinstalled all Apple software as per http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1925 along with CCleaner to clean up any registry issues (after uninstall/before reinstall of course).  DIDN'T WORK.
2.  Did the winsock reset listed here https://discussions.apple.com/message/17412059#17412059.  DIDN'T WORK.
3.  Corrupt User Profile (Kernalbase.dll) Issue:  Did the renaming of corrupt Itunes folder listed here http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-HK/w7itprogeneral/thread/be53aac5- c560-478a-9598-e0c6a33d9da7 and that worked the FIRST time after renaming the folder to Itunes.old.. i.e. opening Itunes after doing this was successful and thus created a new Itunes folder.  However, after closing itunes and reopening.. I was right back to square one.. Itunes crashing.  (This did "work" partially so probable that issue has something to do with Corrupt Itunes User Profile??)  Ultimately, DIDN'T WORK.
*BTW, I also did a Run Diagnostics from the help menu of Itunes and got 3 green lights for network connectivity.. one of which is of course "Secure link to Itunes store verified".  So Itunes is telling me it seems to be communicating fine with Itunes Store. 
There's nothing else that I can see to do short of reinstalling Windows... which I really don't want to do. 
HOWEVER, after some trial and error, I found a weird little workaround.  It seems like the crash is happening upon the initial attempt by Itunes to connect to the Itunes store.  Here's what I did:
1.  After opening Itunes (and the initial opening event is so that Itunes tries to connect to Itunes Store -- this will happen if the last page you were on the last time you closed Itunes was Itunes Store), QUICKLY click on "Music" (or any other "offline" library) on the left upper pane of Itunes.  This will take you to your Music library and Itunes will STOP trying to connect automatically to Itunes store.  So now, Itunes is open at least.  Note:  Others have mentioned correctly that if you open Itunes with your internet connection off, it will at least allow you to open Itunes b/c Itunes doesn't try to open Itunes Store if you're offline.  My workaround accomplishes the same thing while still being connected to the internet.
2.  Now, if you now click on "Itunes Store" directly, it WILL CRASH as per usual. 
3.  Instead, click on "Purchased"  which is directly under "Itunes Store".  Click ok to the pop-up.  Then, on the bottom right of the screen, click on "Download Previous Purchases".  This will open the previous purchases page which is actually WITHIN the Itunes store.  If you look at the left pane, Itunes Store will now actually be highlighted.  You're now in the Itunes store.. just via the "sidedoor" if you will.  You will also now see all the usual Itunes Store categories along the top of this page like the Home Icon, music, movies, tv, apps, etc. etc.  Click on the Home Icon (music, movies, whatever) and VOILA, it will open Itunes store without crashing! 
4.  Now that you're "in", you can jump around freely during THIS session.  IE, you can freely go back and forth from looking at your left-pane offline music library, movies, apps, whatever.. and click on Itunes Store in the left pane and Itunes will not crash... you know, how Itunes normally works!
5.  When you're done using Itunes just make sure the last screen you use before you close Itunes is "Music" or some such.  That way, you won't have to do the "quickly hit Music" the next time you use Itunes.  It will automatically just go to the offline Music library and not try to access the Itunes Store.  Then, just repeat step 3 and you'll be "in" again. 
I really hope this workaround works for you until Apple updates/patches Itunes for those of us that are having this issue.  If it keeps working for me, I'm gonna live with it until the next Itunes version update hopefully resolves this issue. 
OH!  PS.  I'm also having the Apple Software Update issue mentioned here https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4040994?start=60&tstart=0.  I have no idea how to solve this.. wondering if it's related to the Itunes crashing issue.  I'm also getting the error message when trying to update quicktime from the help menu here https://discussions.apple.com/message/19392457#19392457. 

Answer 1

Did not get any responses - so did some digging and found the answer myself in other discussions.
Close your iTunes,
Go to command Prompt -
(Win 7/Vista) - START/ALL PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES, right mouse click "Command Prompt", choose "Run as Administrator".
(Win XP SP2 & above) - START/ALL PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/Command Prompt
In the "Command Prompt" screen, type in
netsh winsock reset
Hit "ENTER" key
Restart your computer.
If you do get a prompt after restart windows to remap LSP, just click NO.
Now launch your iTunes and see if it is working now.