iTunes 8 causes Windows Vista problems

Not everyone is rocking to the new iTunes 8 released Tuesday. An informal poll on ZDNet suggests that a problem with the latest edition of the Apple media player is affecting some, but not all, users of the software on Microsoft's Windows Vista. (You can download iTunes 8 for Windows from CNET Download.com.)

Users on an Apple forum reported seeing the so-called blue screen of death (BSOD) on their desktops running Windows Vista with iTunes 8 installed. The BSOD problem occurs shortly after connecting their iPods and iPhones.

A second, more subtle effect is that their CD/DVD drives "disappear."

ZDNet's Ed Bott offers a look at the upgrades or changes in iTunes 8.

Removing other USB devices, such as Webcams and printers, appears to resolve the problem, for the moment. Users on the forum speculate that there is an incompatibility between Apple and USB products from LogicTech and HP, as well as disc-burning software from Roxio.

We will update this post with further details, as they unfold.

[RojAvon]

Serves you right for having Vista on your computer to begin with.

[t26l]

That, or serves them right for using iTunes. Either one.

You know, it's funny, I hear all of this bad talk about Vista, but I've been running it for a year now and I haven't had hardly any problems with it.

[goodspeed8701]

RojAvon i think your dad and mum did not give you good home training. the vista is even better than the leopardfrom my point of view i do alot with vista that the leopard cannot even try. meet ur mum and dad and tell them to give u good training

[Seaspray0]

Serves you right for having itunes on your computer to begin with. While your at it, you can kill the malware programs "quicktime" and "safari" that will try to reload itunes. No doubt the apple fanboi's don't look at it that way, but if microsoft office tried to load internet explorer and media player on their macs, they'd be screaming bloody murder.

[compudoc318]

try reading closer fan boy, apple is having isuues with other devices, not vista.......

[tappy727]

Why upgrade to iTunes 8? There always seems to be problems whenever Apple does it's first release. Just wait a little for the next one or two releases.

[jjesusfreak01]

The Apple USB driver is really terrible and messes with USB devices from all different vendors.

[Super2online]

Why didn't you talk about the "unauthorized" installation of additional software such as MobileMe and drivers that are not at all neccessary which was the primary thrust of Ed Bott's article.I get so tired of seeing the favoritism toward Apple all the time. in this case, you are conveniently leaving out the worst parts of what Apple is doing.and then blaming other companies!

[ittesi259]

Nothin was unauthorized....your inability to review options and uncheck them is your own fault. I guess you get all upset when you install an IM program and have tons of toolbars in your browser as a result of not unchecking boxes.

[krushyou]

WRONG!

There is no way to stop mobileme from being installed, you can remove it later if you don't mind playing around in the registry

http://asmallslice.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/remove-mobileme-preferences-from-the-control-panel/

But stop being a fanboy, for the love of god - Apple included it directly in Itunes 7.7 with no way to tell it no

[ducttape36]

wow, i didnt even know the blue screen of death still existed... i havent seen it once since i got vista. funny that an apple product is the cause of it. but im sure thats just a coincidence...

[dude7895]

Actually, 99% of the time the "blue screen of death" is caused by 3rd party software.

[Lerianis]

I've seen it. But it's usually caused by an incompatible product of some sort on the machine in question on Vista. Other than that, I have not seen a blue-screen on my Vista once outside of installing Sacred Underworld, and that is because I was using the install Sacred Gold original, then update it, then upgrade to Sacred Underworld method of installation, where the Sacred Gold disks I had installed software that was KNOWN to have problems with Vista and the game wanted to immediately start before I could wipe out that problem.

[kaibelf]

Mine works fine, so I wonder what else is going on with these systems.

[john55440]

More incompetence by Apple, in addition to the arrogance of having iTunes install unauthorized software on the user's computer.

[ittesi259]

Refer to my comment above.....pay attention to your screen and uncheck the boxes it wouldn't have installed anything. And if you don't like iTunes, get a Zune. The software for that causes just as many problems, having experienced both. If Microsoft can't write software that works with their OS, why should I expect anyone else to?

[krushyou]

Again, ittesi259 you are wrong, if you own an ipod it installs it there is no way to stop it

It can be uninstalled using a registry hack

http://asmallslice.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/remove-mobileme-preferences-from-the-control-panel/

or if you don't have an ipod at all just uninstall the mobile device

[FellowConspirator]

Well, shame on Apple for not seeing the bug, but... ***? How could something like that bring down the system kernel? Shouldn't it be sufficiently isolated from buggy applications to make that impossible? I know lots of people think Vista's a dog, but wasn't the whole of Vista to make Windows more robust? 1 demerit to Apple for releasing with more thorough testing, but two demerits to Microsoft for leaving a big whole in Vista that made the error fatal to the kernel.

[rapier1]

Well, kernel level issues with USB devices aren't limited to Vista. Both Linux and Mac's have been hit by kernel panics when shoddy kernel mods or drivers are introduced to the system. In 2006 Apple had issues with their own USB modems causing kernel panics on iBooks. If you google 'usb kernel panic' you'll see a lot of error reports. The problem is that USB devices generally require some level of direct kernel interaction in order to function. Its not something that just happens to Windows products - instead it seems to be a general problem that can impact any OS.

[krushyou]

It seems to be caused by usbaapl.sys apple mobile device driver (searching the people that are complaining this seems to be the one common denominator)

@Fellow - think of the bsod in Vista as a kernal panic (what osx and Linux do), something with the apple driver is conflicting with something in Vista.

Thing is it doesn't happen to everyone

I have Vista and the update fixed Itunes from coming up all black and the backup is faster now
no BSODS

[catch23]

2 demerits to MS because Apple is using a crappy driver? That has been known to cause system crashes?
Wow, you fan kiddies know no limit on twisting the facts to blame anyone but Apple. Any system regardless of OS can be crashed with drivers living outside of the user space.

[Super2online]

No demerits to Microsoft. The issue is in drivers that are being installed that have nothing to do with an iPod installation. They are being installed for MobileMe which is not being devuldged, and you are not given the opportunity to check you want it, or uncheck you don't.

Drivers can bring down a whole system and Apple knows it. The driver in question has been around for years and has a well documented history of crashing Windows! It almost appears that Apple is deliberately doing this to crash a competing OS so they can claim there is a problem with Microsoft's OS and then later claim after 6 months that it took a miracle to fix this problem because of Windows complexity.

[Lerianis]

Super2online... you might have a point there. I'm not usually an electronics industry 'conspiracy theory nut' but.... you might have a very good point. This might be being done by Apple to make it seem that Vista (which, in my opinion, is BETTER than OSX) has a problem with it.

[alenas]

iTunes is crap. I have Vista x64 - and it never worked properly. It can not synchronize iPhone 3G Contacts or Calendar with my Outlook 2007. [CNET editors' note: offensive material deleted.]

[sanenazok]

The Windows kernel is protected from normal applications sure. I have not had a blue screen except when installing a made in China wireless card that's now in the trash. Kinda makes you think about what's going on with iTunes. Rootkit, anyone? Some stupid driver layer anyone? Great engineering there Apple! A media player program that gently caresses your computer! Nice.

[delenn1]

I don't think the CD/DVD drives "disappearing" is a vista problem. I had the same issue on my Dell XP Pro desktop. My system has 1 controller for the 6 USB ports and everytime I connected my ipod to the desktop, the external hard drive would unmount. I fixed the problem by adding a new USB controller card and hooked all of my external devices to it.

[jaybarrow]

um, iTunes is free. Don't want it? Don't use it. Sell your iPhone and quit complaining. If you keep using something you can't get to work on your system, you can only blame yourself. Works perfect for me on my XP box and my iMac. Sounds like it could be a Vista problem to me. At least that's what my friends with Vista are complaining about.

[krushyou]

Its a good thing you don't run a business because that kind of advice would bankrupt a company...and if you do...is it time for chapter 11 yet?

Not a Vista problem its documented on Apple's support that its not.

[jaybarrow]

Tell that to all my friends with Vista. Not trying to defend Apple or Microsoft (and I use both) but regardless if it's either's fault but it comes down to this: if it doesn't work for you, don't use it. If you want to keep using it, bear down and wait for the fixes. They will eventually come. At least, that's what my business sense tells me, as well as our employees.

[Vegaman_Dan]

It is nearly impossible to not have iTunes on a system automatically installed. Want to view Quicktime movie trailers online? You get Quicktime... which auto installs iTunes, drivers, allllll that fun stuff you didn't ask for. So it really doesn't matter that you don't like iTunes- you get it regardless. The only way to really avoid it is to simply not use the internet. Are people willing to do that?

[nite41]

vegaman, bundling of softwares is a bad thing. agreed! but windows are the czars of bundled softwares! may be apple is playing their game;) haah!

[jburdine]

Vista bashing seems to be rampant, but I've not had a problem with it since purchasing my little HP pad. Then again, I don't have an IPOD or IPHONE to worry about. I just use ITUNES to download medical blogs. Still no problem with the machine I am using.

[James7777777]

The second I saw the title I knew people would be blaming Microsoft. If the next version of Microsoft Office for the mac crashed everyone's iMac's, would it be blamed on Apple?

[smilin:)]

If Office for Mac crashed OSX then YES we would be blaming Apple. Office is a "user mode" app and should be quite capable of crashing itself but not the OS as a whole. iTunes on the other hand is using a kernel mode driver which can take down an entire system.

I agree with you on where the blame lies in this case but the example you used had a slight flaw.

[manuel_v_v]

Funny that u mention that, i have a macbook and i must admit i installed office for mac 08 and it did crash my laptop couple times on the day i installed it.
In my case tho restarting the laptop (which was the first time it had crashed in 6 months of having it) solved the problem. I must admit that apple claims one app. would crash ur entire system, which in this case it did.
On the flip side tho. i'm thinking the vista counterpart is not even capable or restarting ??? i'm not sure so i wont coment on that.
My XP desktop is working just fine btw

[saffroncapital]

Apple struggles with Windows simply because it is so complex and bound with historical crud compared to Mac OSX... they don't appear to have enough experience with Vista.... mind you, they hardly have that problem on their own...

[Vegaman_Dan]

iTunes work with OS X because the OEM's are the same. This is the same reason why the Zune works so well with Windows. Your point is moot in this situation.

[Rick Cavaretti]

They don't appear to have enough experience with Vista? Either does MS.

[denmstrsn]

For those of you who insist that this is a Vista issue, that is bunk. It's poor and lazy programming on Apple's part. The temporary fix, removing all other USB devices, is bunk as well. Or are those other devices the problem as well.

[cary1]

iTunes is one of the biggest piece of bloatware on my computer. It takes forever to start and is so slow to navigate. Plus, it has updates every other day, which btw do nothing to enhance user experience.

I am just glad we have WPM

[nite41]

i'm a regular itunes user. and i do not see updates EVERY OTHER DAY! i bet no one does. it's more like once every 3-4 weeks or so. not like windows, where every time you start your pc, it shows, 'there are updates to be downloaded...'. and agreed, itunes takes some time to start, but then, so does mozilla firefox! good things take time!;) about user experience, what are your ideas on itunes 8? i think it's a generation ahead of your WMP. oh, and you spelt it wrong. it's WMP, not WPM! peace.

[goodspeed8701]

the itunes is a piece of sht i have been using vista for a year with anti virus and i have no problem with it. it works fine for me and my friends never complain. i see the mac users will always say bad cos the spend stupidly a big change to get a mac that cant perform as much as the pc can. the pc can take u to places the mac cant. and you mac users know that. u just want excuse to cover up for the money u spent. most of u are leaving in the past cant upgrade your system with a pc u can make it to your taste

[manuel_v_v]

Love the objectiveness of your comment. Seems ur bashing on fan boys BUT u should just like one

[nite41]

another frustrated windows user! ha!

[jscott418]

I love how Mac fans blame Vista for this problem. Which was not a problem until iTunes 8. So what do YOU think is causing the problem Mr. MacFan?? Yes, of course Apple and their secretive software installs.
Mac user's are too brainwashed to care and bend over backwards to make excuses for problems.
I used to have some respect for Apple, but not any more. After the whole Safari forced update in Apple updates on Windows machines. I have had little respect for Apple doing anything for its users.
They are strictly about the stack holders and Steve Jobs looking good. As if Steve Jobs has never inflated
sales figures or anything else before.

[ashwinkn]

Actually, if you were using Vista the first few months, there were serious performance problems with QuickTime and iTunes.

[The_happy_switcher]

No BSOD on my Mac. Ha ha.

[cary1]

No software either!

[Vegaman_Dan]

None on my multiple Vista laptops and desktops either. Your point?

[rapier1]

Just the occasional multi-lingual kernel panic screen and let us not forget the hypnowheel of doom.

[The_happy_switcher]

@Cary: Right....thousands of apps is NO software.
@veganman: My point: VISTA BLOWS.
@rapier: I can count the number of times I've seen the kernel panic on two fingers in 2 years on my Mac. For the previous BSOD and other mysterious WIndows crashes I would need a Cray computer to keep track of them all.

[rapier1]

And I've only had about 4 in the past 2 years. Whcih is still 2 more than I've had on my Vista box. I find the hypnowheel of doom to be a hell of a lot more frequent and annoying though.

[compudoc318]

youre the biggest fan boy out there, and dont point back at me, i have macs and vista, and xp. They all work fine for what they are made for, for video or art, its the mac, for all else, its vista and xp, you dont know how stupid you look on here pushing a product that 8% of the world agrees with you on.........and again, i like macs, but some things, ms is better and vise versa..........applerocks....but 92% dont agree, must be only 8% of the world is smart....lol.

[RainCaster]

The problem belongs to Apple. They were stupid enough to use PnP IDs belonging to other vendors. Should they have been intelligent enough to submit iTunes and their iPods for compat testing, this would have been found and fixed before all you Apple diito-heads became their unwitting beta testers.

[sting7k]

It affected me. I got my Vista laptop back in December '07. I updated iTunes the other day, seemed good enough. I then saw I had some updates for a few iPhone apps, I connect to get the updates and sync some other stuff. iPhone is recognized by Windows as normal, then as iTunes starts it's sync, BAM blue screen. This is the first time I have ever seen the blue screen on my laptop. I have both an HP printer and logitech mouse, and it is not an option to remove either.

Everyone saying its Vista's problem, no get over youself. iTunes 7.7 or whatever the last one was worked perfectly fine with no issues. It is iTunes, end of story. My drivers are all up to date and it was iTunes that caused the crash. I restored my computer back to a time the day before and all is fine again. Something is wrong with iTunes 8, its that simple.