DESPERATE: 'the older version of quicktime cannot be removed'

[tg]

is there anyone anywhere on the surface of this earth who can help me with this problem with quicktime? I am going insane trying to
install itunes 7 on a Windows XP SP2 machine and it will not install because it can't install quicktime, and itunes will not work
without quicktime.
I've tried installing the quicktime 7 standalone from the apple site, but all I ever get is 'the older version of quicktime cannot
be removed'. I have tried everything. I've scoured google for hours and read page after page, trying solutions that do not work.
I've cleaned 'quicktime' and 'itunes' and 'apple software' out of the registry completely, I've deleted any and every file and
folder relating to quicktime and itunes and apple software. I've tried installing older versions and uninstalling them to clean out
the remnants but I'm still getting this error over and over and over again.
The apple website support is utterly useless. How do I clean out every last remnant of qicktime? I've done the Windows install
cleanup app thing, I've done the ccleaner thing, HELP!!!!!

 

[Kelly]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93976

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Larry]

I am having exactly the same problem. I recently bought a new 2nd
generation iPod Nano and attempted to upgrade from iTunes 6 to the new
iTunes 7. I received the message "The older version of QuickTime
cannot be removed. Contact your system administrator." This is on my
personal PC at home. I am the "system administrator."

The upgrade uninstalled iTunes 6, installed iTunes 7 and then crapped
out on the QuickTime install. iTunes 7 will not run without Quicktime.
Even after removing iTunes 7, iTunes 6 will not reinstall now. It
also aborts on the QuickTime installation portion of the install with
"QuickTime installation failed. Error code: -3".

I followed all of the instructions per Apple doc #93976 to no avail. I
cleaned out every reference to QuickTime in the registry using regedit
and deleted all iTunes, iPod updaters and Quicktime folders after doing
uninstalls on everything. I even used msconfig to get a completely
clean boot. Still no go.

Then I called Apple support. After all, I had just plunked down $250
on a brand new iPod Nano and I can't do a thing with it without iTunes.
After a solid hour of dinking around with one of their tech support
people, they ran out of suggestions and told me to call Microsoft.

Of course Microsoft thought that that was pretty funny that Apple
directs its customers to Microsoft to solve problems with Apple's buggy
products. After they got done laughing, they suggested that I returned
the iPod and get an MP3 player and software that works. Preferably one
that uses a simple drag-n-drop method.

Actually, I like the iPod Nano. I'm just stuck as to how to proceed to
get iTunes to work so I can use it. And Apple has thrown in the towel
and given up. I'm left holding the bag with an Apple "case number" and
a new Nano that I can't use.

Shame on Apple.

 

[tg]

I am having exactly the same problem. ....

a new Nano that I can't use.
Shame on Apple.

I admire your restraint though in your description of the problem. Fortunately on my PC there was a previous ghost backup that I
could restore, which took my PC back in time, to a time when there was no snarlup with Quicktime.
You may have to do the format c: thing to get yours to work.

 

[Larry]

I went to an Apple Store in my area yesterday and discussed the problem
with one of the "geniuses". That is their term for themselves. I beg
to differ. The "genius" couldn't help me either.

But last night I finally figured out how to fix this problem.

Step 1: Download the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

and install it.

Step 2: Run the CleanUp utility.

Step 3: Look for the following entry

(All Users) 7.0.3

Step 4: Select it and then click on the "Remove" button. Then exit the
CleanUp utility.

Step 5: Reinstall iTunes.

-------

I knew that the root cause of the problem had to be residue from a
prior QuickTime installation. I spent HOURS removing every reference
to iTune, iPod and QuickTime from my PC including the registry to no
avail. There is absolutely nothing in the name of the rogue
installation file, "7.0.3", that made me think it was associated with
QuickTime. It was only by researching this problem on the internet and
stumbling across someone's unrelated reference to "QuickTime 7.0.3"
that I put two and two together and discovered the solution.

Hope that helps.

I hope that Apple reads this and learns from it so that they can
improve their technical support!!!

I'm going to go listen to my new iPod Nano now.

 

[davemoore99]

I just have to say THANK YOU!!!! I too searched everywhere on the
internet on the error message that the old version of Quicktime could
not be removed. Then I found your trick to remove the (All Users) 7.0.3
-- It worked like a charm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 THANK YOU this has been a big
pain in my A$$

 

[tamlong]

This worked for me too. I had been trying to solve this issue for
awhile and saw Larry's post. It only took 5 minutes (after trying
everything else for MANY hours). Thanks again for posting this
suggestion. This problem is posted on several other websites but none
of them had this solution. Thanks again.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Bumps don't exist here.

:
: I'm very sorry if bumps aren't allowed here, but I was just hoping
: someone could tell me if the solution posted above works for iTunes
: 8.0.2.20 in stead of just Quicktime?
:
:
: --
: Melleh17

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Bumps don't exist here.

He's posting to this newsgroup from vBulletin USENET gateway, one of
those web-based services that leeches mesages from newsgroups.

 

[Bob I]

Perhaps check the iTunes forum?

 

[inavlis]

Hi Melleh17,

Yeah, as stated bumps isn't allowed. Anyway, what seem to be the problem?
you can't uninstall it from the Add/Remove Program? maybe you can just try to
hard delete the whole app data.

 

[Paul]

I'm very sorry if bumps aren't allowed here, but I was just hoping
someone could tell me if the solution posted above works for iTunes
8.0.2.20 in stead of just Quicktime?

So are you installing ITunes, and Quicktime cannot be installed ?
It is unclear from your statement, whether the ITunes install
is failing or the Quicktime install is failing.

Quicktime is used as a helper for ITunes, so the two are used
together. And being an essential helper, the ITunes installer
has to be prepared for situations where the customer doesn't
have Quicktime on the computer already.

If the context and symptoms of your problem are different, you
should start a new thread, describing exactly what is going on.
Complete error messages and everything. Even if you don't understand
what is going on, the complete error messages may suggest to
someone answering your question, what is broken.

Something like:

1) I tried to install ITunes 8.0.2.20.
2) The ITunes part seemed to be going good.
3) Then it said it was going to install Quicktime.
I already have an older version of Quicktime 4.3.2.1 on my computer.
4) The Quicktime installer said "the older version of quicktime
cannot be removed" and it quit.

If you can provide some detail, you'll get better answers.

Paul

 

[R. McCarty]

Have you used the Microsoft Installer Cleanup tool ? Maybe what
you should have done is download the older iTunes package and
do a overlay install on the existing installation. That would correct
the missing installer links and allowed you to uninstall the product.

Unfortunately, iTunes is now a composite of about 5 individual apps
not just iTunes. It's actually better to extract the iTunes.msi and
just update it without all the companion products it installs for you.

 

[Terry R.]

I tried to be more specific when I edited my post but I guess... it's
not showing up?

Anyway, the problem isn't Quicktime. It's exactly the same situation as
what you just described, and the OP's situation, except the error
messages I get say "The older version of iTunes cannot be removed."

I've tried Add/Remove programs to uninstall iTunes(the version is
7.6.2.9), but when I try to remove it it says"the feature you are
trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable" and "The
installation source for this product is not available".

I've Searched for anything with iTunes in the name and browsed for each
of those locations when the error message asked me to find the correct
source, but none of them were right. So I deleted every one of those
files, but in Add Remove programs iTunes 7 is still listed. Perhaps
I've missed something to delete?
I see I still have a file called "iTunes Mobile Device.dll" and "About
iTunes"... and two prefetch files(I don't really know what those are).
I'm probably being too cautious with the delete button, I just want to
make sure I'm not deleting something vital that would make this
worse...

Should I delete all Quicktime files as well?

Removing the files doesn't uninstall the program. You've removed
uninstaller files and now Add/Remove won't work. And all the registry
entries are still there, so it's a mess.

I would reinstall your version. I found it here:
http://www.filehippo.com/download_itunes/3978/

Then install the new version again.


--
Terry R.

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[Opinicus]

: I'm very sorry if bumps aren't allowed here, but I was just hoping
He's posting to this newsgroup from vBulletin USENET gateway, one of
those web-based services that leeches mesages from newsgroups.

What's a "bump" in this context?

 

[Opinicus]

: I'm very sorry if bumps aren't allowed here, but I was just hoping
He's posting to this newsgroup from vBulletin USENET gateway, one of
those web-based services that leeches mesages from newsgroups.

What's a "bump" in this context?

 

[DL]

The Installer Clean Up utility simply removes the installer files, it doesnt
remove the programs