problem with accessing itunes

[bikerbob]

Hi I'm a new member here and I have a problem that I have tried to fix for a month now with no success. I've used itunes for almost a year and had no problems with it but now when I click on the itunes it starts to load the itunes store and freezes the computer so that nothing works.I cant get access to my podcasts or anything else on itunes. I go to task maneger and it states itunes not responding and zone alarm not responding. the cpu usage for itunes is 100%. Ive run antivirus scans and spyware scans regularly and nothing bad. Ive tried a few other forums and tried their suggestions but nothing has worked.Any help would really be apprieciated.Bob

[glc]

Uninstall Zone Alarm. If you are behind a router you don't need it anyway - the XP firewall is adequate.

[bikerbob]

I uninstalled zone alarm and still same problem.

[Alaron]

Do you have the latest version of iTunes? 7.01.

[pam123]

Have you uninstalled and updated iTunes?
In addition to ZoneAlarm what other security software are you running?

[bikerbob]

yes Im running the latest version of itunes.I'm running spysweeper and avg plus zone alarm

[pam123]

OK none of those should be interfering.
I'll chek out the iTunes forum, I remember seeing something like this off and on.

edit : Getting into the iTunes Music store became a general problem back in May and it may not be anything about your computer.
Who's your ISP?
The Brits have problems with Tiscali and Americans with Earthlink or Comcast have reported the same thing.

As have AOL users :

Re: Itunes WONT load the itunes music store! Posted: May 26, 2006 4:53 PM in response to: Mike12 I'm so glad I found this fourm! I haven't been on iTunes in a least a month, and I just started buying more songs for my iPod Nano. I just got $50(US Dollars) in iTunes Gift Cards. I have been able to buy songs on a wishlist I made but I can't get in to the Music Store. I live in the US and have AOL and have had the same problems. Dell Windows XP

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....44173&#2444173
http://discussions.apple.com/thread....67443&#2467443

None of the knowledge base articles cover this and Apple isn't talking.
Get on your ISP case (use the American post from the forum ) Apple will listen to them.

[bikerbob]

Hi Pam, I'm using verizon dsl. I looked at the msgs that you provided and called verizon and they said everything was alright on their end.Do you think it could be something else besides itunes or the provider. This has me stumped.Bob.

[pam123]

Not sure, I have Verizon and no problems, others have Verizon and problems.
ZA tells you when it blocks things and your other programs wouldn't be blocking iTunes without telling you as well.
You've done Ctrl-Alt-Del to see what's running and checked Event Viewer?

This is one of those occasions when I would back up the music library, repair XP and reinstall updates/drivers with internet testing.
If everythig was all right I would install Quicktime stand alone first and, if it worked, I would then install the latest iTunes.
It's too late for you to use System Restore so that looks like your best option barring a reformat.
You shouldn't have to go through this but some times it's the only thing that works.

[bikerbob]

Hi Pam--- I'm a pretty new computer user and dont know quite what I have to do to reformat my computer.I just bought a 160 gb external hard drive. what do I need to backup to this hardrive before I do the reformat. I have a hp pavilion a810 3300+ amd athlon 64 512 mb ddr 3200 xp home. Is this something I can do safely and not screw everything up? Bob

[pam123]

Preparation is all.
If you have a restore CD or a restore partition on the hard drive it will return your computer to it's 'factory' state.
That means that you will be updating drivers and all your programs again as well as doing all Windows updates.
So get everything orgnized first.
Any data you want to keep, like your iTunes music (Copy the full iTunes folder), can be copied to the external hard drive or burned to disk.
If you want to keep your browser settings and bookmarks as well as your e-mail and settings then you have to copy those files as well.
Are you using IE and Outlook or Firefox and Thunderbird?
The former works with the files and Settings transfer wizard : http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...set.mspx#ETMAC for the latter you can use mozbackup : http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/
If it's mozbackup then a copy of the program has to be saved as well.
In either case burn the results to disk or save to the external drive.
Make sure you have the information ( password, etc.) for any on-line accounts and forums.
And make sure you have the info you need to set up your dsl connection using the network wizard in XP (that's the password and ID).
The instructions are on the Verizon DSL user site or you can get them here : http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...nnects+restart
Just scroll down till you get to the part about using the new connection wizard.
Keep the XP firewall up till everything you need from Microsoft is updated and running then , off line, disable it and install ZoneAlarm and the rest of your security software but put the firewall in first.
Now install all the latest drivers for your video and sound.
Now go get the latest iTunes update and the latest Quicktime stand alone.
Install Quicktime first.
Go find a movie trailer to make sure it's running.
If that's OK then install iTunes and copy your folder, the whole thing, back into My Music.
You should be good to go.

Read through this and if there's anything you're not sure about post back before you reformat.

[bikerbob]

Thanks Pam, I'm putting the things I need to on the external drive and plan to reformat this weekend. If I have any more questions I'll post to you. I'll let you know how everything went.Thanks again---Bob---

[bikerbob]

Hi Pam--- Well I reformatted and everything went well and I have everything loaded back in the computer.that solved the problem with I-tunes as it now works fine. Thanks again for your info,it really helped as I have never done anything like that before but now I feel a little more confident on working on the computer than before.Thanks again---Bob---