How to get iTunes to work in Windows XP x64.

Instead of a preface.

It was in the evening when, after numerous inhuman experiments, my 32-bit old WinXP finally died. I wanted to try something new (well, with an eye to the fact that soon 4Gb RAM might appear on my machine), and I decided to install a 64-bit version of WinXP, since our office has a corresponding license.
The many pros and cons of a freshly installed Windows, which is called SUDDENLY seemed insignificant when it turned out that the iTunes distribution for my freshly installed system simply does not exist ...

Diagnosis.

Apple, for all its loyalty to users of the “most popular operating system,” is not just not concerned about releasing its media processor for x64, no, the Vista version is alive and well. Nevertheless, XP x64 is considered an orphan in this regard, all versions of the iTunes installer offered on the Apple website categorically refuse to install on it. This means that my iPod and iPhone may be left without the support of a big brother. Probably, it’s not worth talking about the whole tragedy of this fact.
Of course, it makes sense for owners of regular iPods to look at alternative solutions for managing their gadgets: for example, Floola- a wonderful, functional product that deserves a separate review, having only one drawback - the lack of support for iPhone and iPod Touch. I, as the owner of the iPhone, had only one hope - the almighty Google ...
Fortunately, it turned out that I was not the first to encounter the problem of installing iTunes. There were several instructions on the Internet to overcome the mutual animosity of iTunes and WinXP x64. Unfortunately, they have 2 drawbacks: English;) and a slight obsolescence of the given solution methods. So I decided to write a separate topic on this topic, in which I combined a foreign methodology and personal experience. I specially make a reservation - I DO NOT guarantee the 100% working capacity of the proposed solution. Remember, this is an unofficial decision, so use it at your own risk.

Recipe.

So, to prepare 64-bit iTunes, we need:
1. 7-zip archiver . However, the portable version is also suitable .
2. Editor of script tables of msca packages Orca .
3. Latest version of QuickTime .
4. 64-bit version of the iTunes distribution for Windows Vista.
5. (optional) Drivers for working with CDs from GEAR Software: it is assumed that iTunes uses the 32-bit version of these drivers for grabbing / burning CDs, and installing these drivers will probably enable the functions for working with CDs in iTunes.

Procedure.

1. Install Orca and 7-zip. Using 7-zip, unpack the iTunes installer into the hotel directory:

So, what do we see inside? In addition to iTunes itself, there is also a set of additional components for its operation:

First, install the package AppleMobileDeviceSupport64.msi . During the installation process, the system will ask if we are sure that we want to install such unverified components? Of course, sure! ;) Congratulations, we just installed a set of drivers for our iPhones-iPhones :)

2. A very simple step - install QuickTime. Remember, I asked you to download it separately? The thing is that QuickTime from our unpacked archive is not installed (for absolutely unknown reasons). That is why QuickTime should be installed from a separate distribution from the Apple website. There is no point in further describing the QT installation process - everything is as usual, we read the license agreement, we agree with everything, click "next" to the end.

So, now, it seems, nothing seems to hurt us to install iTunes, with the exception of the OS version restriction introduced by Apple for some mysterious reasons. It is this limitation that does not allow the iTunes installer to run on Windows versions below Vista. Let's defeat this limitation.
3. Open the iTunes64.msi package in the Orca editor:

In foreign Internet, advisers are mainly limited to the following advice:
"... find the VersionNT64 parameter in the LaunchCondition tab and set its value instead of> = 600 to> = 501 ..."

In my case, this did not work, so I had to apply the 2nd method, a little more complicated:

• Delete the “LaunchCondition” tab completely. To do this, right-click on it and select “Drop Table”.
• Next, go to the “InstallUISequence” tab on the left, find the “LaunchConditions” parameter in it on the right. Remove the option by selecting Drop Row from the context menu.
• Select the “InstallExecuteSequence” tab on the left, also find the “LaunchConditions” parameter in it and delete it.
• Save the file and close it.

4. Now we can safely launch iTunes64.msi and install the application. The main thing is to clear the “Run the application after installation” flag and in no case start iTunes immediately after installation! There is still something to do.

5. In order to avoid a message about incorrect installation every time you start iTunes, you must install the driver from GEAR. The problem is that this package was recently updated, but the old version was not found, at the same time, one of the files that it checks for when iTunes starts was removed from the new version. The solution is the following - after installing the drivers, create the folder C: \ Windows \ Sysnative \ drivers in the c: \ windows folder (well, or where you installed it there), and create an empty file with the nameGEARAspiWDM.sys .

6. So, we have already gone most of the way. The next step is for iPhone owners.

• When you connect your iPhone for the first time, the system seems to detect our device and even gives it some of its drivers. We need the iPhone to use Apple drivers. To do this, open the Device Manager , find the iPhone in the “Imaging Devices” section (if you have Windows XP x64 with Russian MUI installed, you will not be surprised by such a mixture of languages ​​:)).
• Double-click on the “Apple iPhone” properties and select “Update Driver”.
• In the proposed dialogue, we will gradually refuse to search for a driver on the Internet, automatically search, and “search in specified places”. We need the item “Do not search. I will choose the driver I need. ”Select it and click on the“ Next ”button.
• We will be offered 2 options: “Digital Still Camera” and “Apple Mobile Device USB Driver”. Select "Apple Mobile Device USB Driver" and click "Next."
• After another scary message about the unknown origin of the installed drivers, we still click "continue" and wait for the process to finish.

On this installation of iTunes can be considered complete, run the program and enjoy all its charms!

Lastly, I’ll add - I strongly recommend that you backup contacts from the iPhone phonebook, I had problems synchronizing with Outlook, and I managed to save the phonebook thanks to the backup of Outlook databases from the old system.

PS Many thanks to foreign comrade Yukichigai for the detailed manual .

Disclaimer: when writing this topic, the author did not set out to expose any software product, company or person in a negative light. We kindly ask you not to look in this topic for reasons for Win vs Mac holivars. I just shared my experience;)