MasterCard MarketPlace™
April 10, 2009 9:43 AM PDT
iTunes 8.1.1 early issues roundup
Apple has released its newest update to iTunes and most early reviews are pretty good. The update has fixed several bugs and added a couple of features like importing CD tracks at iTunes Plus quality and additional sync support to the new
iPod shuffle. As with many software updates though, several people are encountering issues with their systems. Here is a look at some of the early issues reported from user forums and e-mails. Please keep in mind that these are isolated issues being experienced by some of our users and may not reflect a typical user experience when upgrading to iTunes 8.1.1.
Downloading issues
From Apple Support Discussion user "Dave P.":
From MacFixIt user "Cheryl":
From MacFixIt user "Brad M.":
From Apple Support Discussion user "hawaiiinsomniac":
From Apple Support Discussion user "Variability":
From MacFixIt user "James F." via e-mail:
Read this Apple Support Discussions forum thread about iTunes 8.1.1 issues (1).
Read this Apple Support Discussions forum thread about iTunes 8.1.1 issues (2).
Read this Apple Support Discussions forum thread about iTunes 8.1.1 issues (3).
8.1.1 Update http://www.apple.com/itune... Read this Apple Support Di... Read this Apple Support Di... Read this Apple Support Di... Let us know! More from Late-Breakers
Downloading issues
From Apple Support Discussion user "Dave P.":
"I tried several times and kept getting 'The update iTunes can't be installed. Software Update could not expand the package correctly.' 8.1.1 Update reports a similar problem. Thought it best to start a new thread with a clearer subject line, though.Syncing and purchasing issuesThe DMG at http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ installed fine for me--after I quit iTunes and Xcode. Software Update flagged neither of these conditions, but I don't see why they'd generate an error re. package "expansion."
From MacFixIt user "Cheryl":
"I installed the upgrade and could no longer download music from the iTunes store. I tried to download the free song of the week and it would ask for my password but the download would fail. Now I cannot even open iTunes at all as it says: A required iTunes component is not installed. (-42404) I've tried to downgrade but the installer quits. I tried to install 8.1.1 again and it too quits without completing."From MacFixIt user "Mark P.":
"Don't do it!!!! I upgraded to itunes 8.1.1 and now my iPhone and iPod will not sync!!!! I've never had a problem before but I get an error message: cannot read or write to hard drive!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"'Locked' access issues
From MacFixIt user "Brad M.":
"Just installed iTunes 8.1.1 and after updating, it's in a continual state of being locked up due to it looking for a new version of iconcertcal, all I can do is force quit, can't do anything in iTunes. Anyone else having this problem.."From Apple Support Discussions user "Sharon K.":
"I downloaded it this morning. It keeps locking up on me. I was trying to update my iPod and it locked up on me. When I tried to use ForceQuit to quit, it wouldn't quit. I finally had to force shut down the computer holding down the on/off button. The iPod STILL didn't disconnect, so I disconnected it. Now my iPod crashed. I'm trying to restore the iPod but nothing's happening, the progress bar is in stripes and has been that way for about half an hour now. I can't shut anything down, it is using ALL of the computer's resources so I can't open anything else, I'm completely stuck. HELP!"Incorrect playback issues
From Apple Support Discussion user "hawaiiinsomniac":
"I downloaded the new iTunes update and now my music videos play as regular songs. I have changed my settings to play my music videos "in a separate window" and still no video playing!"From MacFixIt user "Albert Lilly":
"No sound at all on videos in iTunes 8.1.1. Running 10.5.6 on a Mac G5 Dual 2.5."Boot issues
From Apple Support Discussion user "Variability":
"My PB failed to restart after installing the 8.1.1 iTunes upgrade. I yanked the battery and tried again. It came up once. I started the activity monitor, tried to switch back to the finder, it locked up and I haven't been able to get it to come up since."
From Apple Support Discussion user "matachen":
"Downloaded 8.1.1 last night, was very excited at the prospect of Apple fixing the many problems I had with the 8.1 download, but haven't been able to boot up since. When booting, I get to the blue screen but then it shuts down."CD/DVD drive issues
From MacFixIt user "James F." via e-mail:
"Since downloading and installing iTunes 8.1.1 my iMac optical drive will not accept any CD or DVD. Shortly after putting the disc in ejects it having never recognized it."Resources
Read this Apple Support Discussions forum thread about iTunes 8.1.1 issues (1).
Read this Apple Support Discussions forum thread about iTunes 8.1.1 issues (2).
Read this Apple Support Discussions forum thread about iTunes 8.1.1 issues (3).
Experiencing problems? Have feedback? Let us know!
Resources
I am convinced that many third party programs are responsible for these problems.
Did these folk check their System/Volume integrity with Disk utility or Disk Warrior before applying major updates?
Those of us who are old enough will remember well the horrific Extensions conflicts in OS 7-9. It nearly always turned out to be a third party program which was interfering with the Apple software.
Apple cannot possibly cater for every third party piece of eye candy, haxie,or utility that has been installed.
Users should be wary when a piece of non Apple software asks for your Admin Password during installing as it means that the System is going to be modified in some way.
These seemingly innocuous changes may well be responsible for future problems with Software Updates.
To test this out, I suggest they run fsck in Single User Mode, and then do a Safe Mode Boot.
If the problems disappear, almost certainly it is non Apple software causing the problem.
Safe Mode Boot is almost the same as booting with Extensions Off in OS 9 and it even uses the same key, Shift held down at Startup.
I personally run very little third party software and since moving to OSX have had almost no failures with Software Updates. I do however always download the Combo Updater for a major System Update, repair the volume and permissions and install it in Safe Mode.
Hope this helps those folk who seem to have inoperative Macs after the update.
<p>---<br>DocOnMac
What good is my computer going to do me if I don't run third party software? That is a ludicrous recommendation. Sure people shouldn't just blindly install any random piece of software they come across on the internet, but most people actually need to use a lot of third party software a lot of the time. I know I do. In fact the only Apple software I use regularly is iTunes. I very occasionally use Garageband, iMovie, or iDVD, but that's about it. If I didn't use third party software most of the time my Mac wouldn't be very useful to me except as an oversized mp3 player. I hadn't had any problems for a very long time until iTunes 8.1. I haven't installed any new software for months, and I haven't ever had any problems with iTunes 8.0.2, but as soon as I updated to 8.1 iTunes began running very slowly, and did nothing but freeze up whenever I tried to load anything onto my iPod. I reverted to 8.0.2 and once again had no problems at all with iTunes or my Mac in general. That isn't anything major on my end, it's a problem with the new iTunes update itself. I'm not even thinking about updating to 8.1.1 until I find out for sure whether they have actually fixed it or not as I could really care less about any of the new features in 8.1.
And as for one of the reasons behind the new update itself, why is "importing CDs at iTunes Plus quality" being touted as a new feature? Is it just me or wasn't this always possible by simply adjusting the import settings to 256kbps aac?
No need to get offensive.
You are entitled to your opinion and I to mine.
I was simply putting a widely held belief that a lot of third party software can interfere with the System performance.
I was not referring to widely used major reputable commercial software, of course we all run those, but to some of the more zany freeware/shareware programs out there, especially when they ask for Admin password and alter System components.
It seems the next poster after you seems to have a similar drift to mine.<p>---<br>DocOnMac
Repairing permissions after installing new software would probably solve all of the problems stated in this forum. It's really amazing to read there are so many issues regarding Mac software. Something seems very wrong and I don't think it's Apple's fault. Otherwise, I must be one of the "lucky few" who never experiences any of the problems here mentioned.
No you are not "one of the lucky few"
You, like me are in the majority who have very few problems with Apple Software updates.
I stand by my previous comments despite being described as "ludicrous"<p>---<br>DocOnMac
That said, the best solution in almost every case is to have a recent backup handy. Downgrading after a failed update is not always an easy matter. Even Time Machine can be of limited value - if you don't know all the files that were updated. A mirrored backup makes reverting a relatively simple, straightforward process. With somewhat more effort you can revert using Time Machine as well.
The excuse, "I never had this kind of trouble before", is really no excuse at all. There are only two kinds of computer users: those who have had problems and those who will have problems. I'm not blaming anyone here, just emphasizing the importance of preparation. Backing up your system is the only truly viable fail-safe. If you don't do it, you're just a disaster waiting to happen.
One way to check for the source of trouble is to create another user account with no add-ons whatsoever. If iTunes, in this instance, continues to malfunction in the new account, you know it's probably a system related issue. If it runs properly, you know something is wrong with your regular user account.
When an update to an apparently healthy system runs into problems, it's often the case that there was something wrong already that had simply not yet manifest itself. In such a case, the update is not the problem, it's just a symptom. You should run some routine maintenance on your backup before restoring the system and trying the update again. Routine maintenance can include using Disk Utility and even DiskWarrior; booting from the backup and using Cocktail or Onyx to purge caches and such. This kind of regular system maintenance is also a good way to insure that, when you do apply an update, you are installing it on a truly healthy system. The old saying, "a stitch in time saves nine" applies here [it's amazing how often the old truisms are still true].
I've also found Applejack to be very helpful when a system is misbehaving. It combines the elements of Disk Utility and Cocktail for a relatively simple system tune-up.
---
Don't anthropomorphize computers.
They hate that.
I think you are just reiterating what I said.
I too have two daily SuperDuper backups on separate drives, Time Machine on another and run DiskWarrior and Cocktail or MainMenu at least monthly and certainly before and after any major update.
Also run repair permissions after any Apple update, no point for third party as they are not included.
It is a pity people get tetchy when offered assistance from users who have often learned from their own bad experiences.
---
DocOnMac
- by bobrcno March 29, 2010 4:40 AM PDT
- ok, I've read all the comments and for the most part the only thing I understand is everyone is having a problem. Guess what, same as me, except I don't know what I'm doing. My MAC went bonkers, finally got everything back up, but now itunes keeps giving me the error 42404. If you can tell me in language I can understand on how to correct this error, it would be most appreciated, as I still have ten buck left in my account to spend.
- Like this Reply to this comment 1 person likes this comment
-
-
- by bobrcno March 31, 2010 3:15 AM PDT
- Well when I opened my MAC this morning a new iTune download plus 3 JAVA downloads were waiting. Took some time for iTunes to install, but when I went to the iTune store and tried again to buy songs, the error 42404 was gone. Go figure. I'm happy. There is a God or somebody at iTunes came up with a solution.
- Like this 1 person likes this comment
-
(11 Comments)