Greetings. Here are a few additional important notes regarding the brouhaha over problems in the Windows version of Apple's new iTunes/QuickTime release.

The problems are quite pervasive in particular configurations. Google is now showing significant numbers of sites discussing these. Since the release is only a couple of days old, these discussions are only now starting to appear in Google's index.

While there has been speculation that these problems were caused by interaction between "Bonjour" LAN software and particular antivirus packages, in fact the failures are also occurring on systems that are not routinely running antivirus/antispyware software (including the two systems I noted where I've personally seen this behavior).

In any case, it's worth noting that Bonjour is now included and installed (without warning, I might add) as part of the new Windows iTunes/QuickTime release package! This means that everyone trying to do the install is now also dealing with Bonjour (LAN) issues, one way or another.

A key factor may be whether or not people are running XP SP2. Some persons are reporting that backing out of SP2 allows the installations to proceed, but this is not a practical alternative for most users, since side-effects can be drastic, and SP2 has been the "standard" XP release level for quite some time.

Another factor may be the differences between XP Home and XP Pro -- the former does not include all of the latter's application services, and this may relate to the installer hang-ups and associated issues in some cases. There may be firewall-related issues as well.

A complex set of interrelated elements appears to be involved, causing a range of different negative effects.

--Lauren--