September 18, 2006 8:10 AM PDT

iTunes 7.0 (#5): Authorization problems cont. -- fixes; Repeated crashes? Turn off Sound Enhancer; problems downgrading; more

by CNET staff

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Authorization problems cont. -- fixes We continue to report on significant issues with authorization under iTunes 7.0.

As previously noted, many users are receiving the error message:

"This computer is not authorized to play '(name of video)'.

when attempting to play purchased media. The user is then prompted to "Open iTunes" (which is, obviously, already open), after which they receive a message "Waiting for iTunes to authorize this computer to play (name of video) -- a fruitless endeavor that never results in the video being authorized and correctly playing.

Instead, users can click the play button and the timeline will track, but no audio and/or video are displayed.

One reader writes:

"I tried the tip I read about deauthorizing iTunes, then reauthorizing and quitting, then re-opening. Nothing changed. I have the same problem the previous logger had where it keeps asking me to authorize my computer, then appears to do it, then asks again. Meanwhile, I cannot actually do it, and am suddenly unable to use any of the songs I paid for in home projects, slide shows, etc."

Remove third-party plug-ins It appears that in some cases, authorization problems can be resolved by removing errant third-party plug-ins; a workaround also useful for other iTunes 7.0 issues.

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.

MacFixIt reader Paul Holmstrom writes:

"Saw a tip about throwing out plugins. Discarded my only plugin MissingSyncPalmiTunesPlugin.bundle and everything is fine (re: authorization)."

Repeated crashes? Turn off Sound Enhancer It appears that some repeated crashes in iTunes 7.0 may inexplicably be caused by use of the Sound Enhancer function.

Try turning off this option (in the "Playback" section of iTunes' preferences) then quit and re-launch iTunes and check for persistence of the crashes.

Long filenames may cause crashes Meanwhile, we've received notes from readers indicating that extremely long filenames can cause iTunes 7.0 to choke.

MacFixIt reader Dave writes:

"iTunes 7.0 kept crashing on me at a repeatable point. I tracked it to one song. I noticed the song filename was quite long, so I trimmed it down. After that, iTunes no longer crashed. So check your files for long names."

Workaround for Volume Logic incompatibility We previously reported an issue with the Volume Logic plug-in (an automatic audio adjustment tool).

A MacFixIt reader now offers a workaround that allows use of this plug-in with the aid of Audio Hijack Pro.

He writes:

"Under QuickTime 7.1.3 and iTunes 7.0 the plug-in Volume Logic (1.3) can be made to work if you load the /Library/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins/VolumeLogic.bundle as a plug-in to Audio Hijack Pro and then open this plug-in in the effects window. The main Control Window of Volume Logic opens as before and everything is back to normal. The Dry/Wet Mix must be at Wet."

Freezes, other problems during iPod transfer We continue to receive reports from readers who are experiencing various issues when attempting to transfer music to iPods under iTunes 7.0.

One reader writes:

"Just thought you might want to know in case others experience, too, iTunes crashes when I try to update my 5G iPod. It downloads perhaps 25MB and then freezes -- I have to Force Quit. I reset the iPod, I upgraded the firmware, but to no avail."

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

More problems downgrading to iTunes 6.0.5 -- fixes Readers continue to report issues with downgrading to iTunes 6.0.5, a route many are taking in order to avoid serious issues affecting their set-ups under iTunes 7.0.

If you are having issues, remember to follow this process exactly:

Delete the following files:

The iTunes 7.0 application (located in /Applications)
com.apple.iTunes.plist (from ~/Library/Preferences)
iTunes.pkg (from /Library/Receipts)
iTunesX.pkg (from /Library/Receipts)

Then use the iTunes 6.0.5 (or earlier) installer.

MacFixIt reader Fielden Lundy writes:

"I installed iTunes 7.0 and had all kinds of problems. My screen appeared fragmented with portions of windows underneath showing through and pieces of the top window scattered around the desktop. I couldn't play anything. If I tried to switch playlists, or go to the iTunes store, nothing happened, but if I quit and reopened iTunes, the new playlist I wanted to change to was now open. A pity as several of the features are very appealing. Gapless tracks, album art.

"I decided to return to iTunes 6. I read several posts on how to do it; delete the iTunes 7 application, plists and plug-ins. But I couldn't get it to work. I could download iTunes 6 but it would not install. Then I read about deleting all of the old iTunes package files from Library/Receipts. Success! And I was able to rename and reopen my old iTunes music file."

If you are still experiencing issues downgrading, and absolutely need to revert to an earlier version of iTunes, you might want to try performing an Archive and Install of Mac OS X, then re-updating to Mac OS X 10.4.7 and again running the iTunes 6.0.5 installer.

First, make a backup of your current Mac OS X installation, problematic as it may be. If there is an issue along the way, your current data will at least be intact.

Next, you'll need to perform an Archive and Install process to remove the components that are causing you to be unable to install iTunes 6.0.5, and replace them with the components of a fresh copy provided by the Mac OS X disc that shipped with your system, or a retail Mac OS X disc. Unfortunately, this means you will lose some system settings and some or all third-party system add-ons.

To begin the process, insert your Mac OS X CD or DVD. Restart your machine and hold down the "C" key to boot from the newly inserted disc. Follow the on-screen instructions, and after accepting the license agreement, click "Options." Select "Archive and Install," and check the "Preserve User and Network Settings" option if you'd like to do so.

After the installation process is complete, you will be left with an earlier Mac OS X system onto which you should be able to install iTunes 6.0.5.

Incomplete ID3 tags for converted files MacFixIt reader John Venzon reports an issue with incomplete ID3 tags that existed in iTunes 6.0.x and persists in version 7.0.

John writes:

"A problem that I've been running into starting with iTunes 6 and continues into 7 is malformed ID3 tags when iTunes converts from WAV or Lossless to MP3.

"I rip my new CDs to Lossless, then convert to MP3, saving me the time of ripping a CD twice. I was greeted with a nasty surprise when I had to restore a backup CD of MP3 files I created this way.

"If you rip a CD to Lossless, then switch to MP3 and choose 'Convert Selection to MP3' from the Advanced Menu, it will appear to work, the info will be identical to the Lossless file, but if you then try to add those MP3 files to another computer, the tagging info on the other Mac will list the name field the same as the file name, with none of the other information.

"This will also happen if you create a new empty iTunes library on the same Mac you've converted the MP3 files on. You don't notice the problem because the track info is cached from the library and XML file on the same computer.

"I have verified this on my MacBook Pro, my iMac G5 and iMac Core Duo. Up until 7, I would just highlight the converted MP3, and selected 'Convert ID3 Tags' and it would fix the problem, but with 7, if you restore the MP3 file, the album artwork disappears."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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