Unable to install iTunes on PC with XP Home

Question

I have loaded iTunes by running the CD and following the instructions it provided, accepting all defaults such as location for files, etc. After re-starting, I click on the iTunes shortcut on the desktop and get a message window stating "iTunes has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience" It gives the option to submit the error report to MS, which I have done. The error signature contained within the report is as follows. "AppName: itunes.exe, AppVer: 6.0.0.18, ModName: unknown, ModVer: 0.0.0.0, Offset: 10001040".
Reading the various information on this site 2 questions come to mind. Firstly, the installation did not prompt me at any time to connect my iPod - should it have done ? Secondly, because of other problems in setting up the PC, I have had to carry out a system restore. Might this have had any effect ?
Can anyone suggest programs / steps that might help me identify the cause of the unsuccesful install.
TIA,
John.
Dell 5150   Windows XP   XP Home ver 5.1 with SP2

Answer 1

Given it seems to be such a known recovery from these kind of errors, I'm surprised it is not covered better by a KB article or similar.
(wry smile) actually, it is covered by a KB doc ... but my policy is not to be surprised or annoyed if people don't find it, since the error message is given wrongly in the doc (so people don't find the article if they search on their error message):
iTunes 6 for Windows unexpectedly quits when opened
"The following file does not exist or is not a valid uninstallation file. c:\windows\system32\quicktime\uninstall.log".
usually this particular complication responds better to brute force rather than finesse. you can try just reinstalling a copy of the standalone QT installer "over top" of what you already have, rather than doing an uninstall first.
on the other hand, it's a bit distressing that your Add/Remove isn't working properly at the moment (it usually suggests something a little funky is happening with your registry). so if you want to try getting rid of those additional QT references showing up there, try this:
download and install the Windows Installer Cleanup utility:
Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
... and use it to remove the installation registry entries for your Quicktime. then use the complete uninstall instructions given here as a guide for a manual uninstall of your existing QT:
Troubleshooting iTunes, iPod Software, and QuickTime installation on Windows
keep us posted.
love, b
ps: happy new year Katrina! fraid it all got a bit much for me, so i bailed out for a while (Buegie tells me it was 10 days). slowly getting back into it, but i'm deliberately keeping my post count down at the moment. (y'all have been doing such a nice job here: your good self, CoJeff, Rachyl, toonz, Buegie, the new talent, whoever else i've forgotten to mention ...)