Troubleshooting issues with 3rd-party iTunes add-ons

Third-party plug-ins and scripts add features to iTunes or modify its appearance and behavior. The use of these add-ons can interfere with the normal usage of iTunes. This can be particularly true if you have recently upgraded to a newer version of iTunes as some add-ons may not be compatible. There are many ways in which an add-on can cause iTunes to act erratically such as those listed below:

• Loss of iTunes functionality, such as the Visualizer.
• Distortion or irregularity in the iTunes interface.
• Slow performance.
• iTunes won't open or quits unexpectedly

If you notice any of the above symptoms or other unusual behavior and have 3rd-party modifications installed, check the following:

1. Consult the vendor of any plug-ins you have installed to determine if they are compatible with the version if iTunes you wish to use and to check for any updates that may be available.
2. Close iTunes and try moving 3rd-party add-ons temporarily to the desktop to troubleshoot the behavior. iTunes stores 3rd-party plug-ins and scripts at the following locations:
   • Mac:
     /Users/username/Library/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins
     /Library/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins
     
   • Windows Vista:
     \\Users\\username\\App Data\\Roaming\\Apple Computer\\iTunes\\iTunes Plug-ins
   • Windows XP and Windows 2000:
     \Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\
     

Note: These folders may be invisible in Windows. Either type the path name in directly in the Address field or modify Windows Explorer so you are able to see invisible directories. To view invisible files, follow these steps:

In Windows Vista:

1. From the Start menu, click Control Panel and click Folder Options. Alternately, in Classic View of Control Panel, click Folder Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. In the Advanced settings area for Hidden files and folders ensure the "Show hidden files and folders" option is selected.
4. Click Apply and then click OK.

In Windows XP and Windows 2000:

1. On the Start menu, click My computer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. In the Advanced settings area for Hidden files and folders ensure the "Show hidden files and folders" option is selected.
5. Click Apply and then click OK.