The last time Apple QuickTime alerted me, on my Windows 2k computer, that a new update was available for download, I noticed something new. There was an (automatically selected) option to also download and install Apple iTunes. I didn’t know much about iTunes, and I don’t condone software bundling with updates, but I figured it would be innocuous enough to try it out.I was dead wrong. What happened next was worse than any blue screen of death. It was total annihilation.
After the installation was complete, I had to trudge through that all-to-common compulsory Windows restart. After the computer shut down, it never started up again. You would think that Windows “Safe Boot” or “Boot to Last Known Good Configuration” would be able to start up even after a bad installation. You would be wrong. You would think that the Windows emergency recovery disc would save the day. You would still be wrong. In fact, the only resolution I (and many others) had found was to reinstall Windows and start over.
I did an extensive search for solutions before resorting to a full re-install. Reinstalling Windows 2000 is a major headache (a rant for another day). The most disturbing thing I found is that Apple has been cognizant of the problem for a very long time (at least since 2005) and has done nothing about it. The problem is caused by a conflict with a commonly installed Win2k CD writing software application. Apple, and Steve Jobs, should be ashamed for not resolving the problem. Or in the very least, should modify the iTunes installer to abort if the conflicting software is detected on the computer. It is irresponsible to allow a bug to remain that completely and irrecoverably (to any common user) crashes a computer, even if it only affects a portion of users.
For anyone who is experiencing this same problem, I ultimately found a way to avoid the reboot (see comments).
BrianM
MikeB
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1 comment:
After going through all that, and wasting 3 days reinstalling Win2K, I had the great idea that maybe it wasn't iTunes that was the problem. So I reinstalled it, AND MY COMPUTER CRASHED AGAIN! Big dummy.
This time, I tried one thing I hadn't tried last time. I went into my computer setup (F2 during boot) and disabled my CD-ROM drives. I was then able to boot Windows and uninstall iTunes and get everything back to normal.
For what it's worth, disabling the CD-ROM drivers from the emergency repair console doesn't work.
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