iTunes 7.0 (#4): Persistent crashes: Delete .plist files, turn off plug-ins; fix for broken podcasts; selecting libraries; more

[See yesterday's coverage for the following topics: Artwork questions; Equalizer fix; Authorization fixes; Slow importing; game/movie transfer fixes; more and the previous day's coverage for: Authorization problems; Problems transferring movies, games on original fifth-generation iPods (with video) -- fix; AirTunes streaming broken? Store issues? Enable IPv6; Album browser confusion; Audio playback issues, fixes; Podcast problems; Incompatible plug-ins ; Downgrading to iTunes 6.0.x and more. Also see our iPod special report for solutions to some transfer/synchronization issues occurring under iTunes 7.0.]

Persistent crashes: Delete .plist files, turn off plug-ins If you are experiencing repeated crashes from iTunes 7.0 -- especially when simply switching tracks -- there are two workarounds that could prove useful.

First, delete the following files:

• com.apple.iTunesHelper.plist
• com.apple.iTunes.plist
• com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist

from ~/Library/Preferences, then quit and re-launch iTunes. Note that after deleting these files you will need to re-establish some iTunes preferences.

Failing the above, look in the following directory:

• ~/Library/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins

and remove any third-party plug-ins (including visualizers) you have previously added, then quit and re-launch iTunes.

Hold option at launch to select different libraries/create new ones iTunes 7.0 has limited support for multiple libraries. You can choose a different library for the application by holding down the option key while it is launching. You can also create a new library at the time of launch via this method.

Possible fix for broken podcasts If you are having problems listening to some podcasts after the update to iTunes 7.0, try unsubscribing then re-subscribing to them. Doing so can sometimes correct links that somehow become faulty in the update process.

Problems downgrading We previously detailed instructions for downgrading to iTunes 6.0.x from version 7.0. However, some users are running into issues when attempting to do so.

One reader writes:

"I deleted the aforementioned iTunes 7 files and have a copy of iTunes 6 disk image from OldApps, but when I click the disc image to install, it gives me a mpkg file, and before it will unstuff it says 'The destination folder iTunes 6.0.4 is on a locked volume. Please select another destination.' I try and pick 'desktop' or 'Applications' and then is says 'needed a file not a folder.' I went into my home directory and double-checked my admin permissions, it simply doesn't want to install this on my hard drive."

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

Confirmation: fix for problems importing/playing iMovie, other apps Yesterday we noted that a problem afflicting previous releases of iTunes also appears to manifest under iTunes 7.0: other capable applications, including iMovie and other iApps, are not able to access and/or playback iTunes-purchased tracks.

We also previously reported that updating to QuickTime 7.1.3 will generally resolve this issue.

Several readers have since written in to confirm this fix.

MacFixIt reader Rz writes:

"The QuickTime upgrade seems to have fixed the problem."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous coverage:

• iTunes 7.0 (#3): How iTunes 7.0 stores artwork/transfers to iPod; Equalizer not appearing, fix; Partial/failed synchronization; slow importing/conversion; more
• iTunes 7.0 (#2): Problems transferring movies, games on original fifth-generation iPods (with video); AirTunes streaming broken? Store issues? Enable IPv6; more
• Apple introduces iTunes 7.0: Movies, new navigation

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