ITunes reports the following on startup: "iTunes was not properly..."

Question

All of a sudden whenever I start iTunes it gives me an error message telling me that "iTunes was not properly installed. If you wish to import or burn CDs, you need to reinstall iTunes".
I've read and did everything that other threads like this have suggested without success:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2256415&tstart=0
I have uninstalled iTunes and Apple Application Support software, deleted folders, rebooted, re-installed and still get this message.
Any ideas what else might be going on? I'm running Windows XP Pro (32-bit) on an HP laptop with all the latest Windows and Apple updates.

Answer 1

Whatatrip,
First let me state that I have been in your shoes, where you're at, for more than a year with no help from anyone. I followed all the suggestions I could find, as you did, and got nowhere. So I feel your pain, my brother.
Today, I felt like I heard angels singing and saw the light of heaven (I'm a writer, forgive the embellishments) when I finally - after another three hours spent - got it working.
I have x64 Win7 now, but I've had this problem for ages, since XP, and this is what I finally did to get rid of it. I don't know whether all of it is necessary, but I do know that it worked.
1. Remove ALL Apple products - iTunes, Quicktime, Apple Software Updater, Bonjour, EVERYTHING. I used the standard "Remove programs" through windows to do this. Anything that had an Apple, Inc. tag went bye-bye. Note: I also removed everything Apple-related from my hard drive (not including movies, music, etc). This includes the "My Documents\My Music\iTunes" folder. Do a search for anything with iTunes in the folder or filename and toss it. You may not get rid of everything right away, but do it again later (see below) just to be sure.
2. Followed the instructions here (http://www.gearcdr.com/wiki/index.php?title=DRIVERS:Windows_-_Updating,_removing,_64_bit_versions,_etc#Manual_Removal_.E2.80.9332-bit) to remove all GEAR drivers from my system. I used 64-bit, but you can probably get similar results with any of the steps suggested.
3. Use CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/) to fix any lingering registry errors/problems. I had to run the registry cleaner SEVEN TIMES in a row to clear out everything. Make sure you run this more than once, until it says "No issues found."
4. Reboot.
5. Run CCleaner again. And again, and again, until it says "No issues found." Remove any trace remnants of iTunes on your HDD (misc folders, etc as above).
6. Download latest standalone install for iTunes (http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/) and GEAR Drivers (http://www.gearcdr.com/support/drivers.php).
7. Install iTunes (do NOT run when finished). Install Gear Drivers. *IMPORTANT NOTE:* When I ran the install for these drivers, it asked me whether I wanted to modify, repair or remove the drivers. I selected repair, and the install completed.
8. Reboot.
9. Run iTunes.
Lo and behold, it worked. I can burn once more. I sincerely hope this helps you, and if not, know that there are those out there who understand and can commiserate.