iTunes for Windows: "Service for importing and burning CDs and DVDs has not been started" Message

Symptom

This message appears when you open iTunes:

"Warning! The iTunes service for importing and burning CDs and DVDs has not been started. Please restart the service to enable burning and importing."

Solution

Update to iTunes for Windows 4.2 or later, available from the iTunes download page.

If you're not able to update, follow these steps to have the GEARSecurity service start up automatically:

1. Quit iTunes.
   
2. Right-click My Computer. (In Windows XP, My Computer appears in the Start menu.)
   
3. From the shortcut menu that appears, choose Manage.
   
4. Expand the entry for Services and Applications by clicking the plus sign.
   
5. Click Services in the Computer Management window.
   
   
   
   
6. Right-click the GEARSecurity in the Services list.
   
7. From the shortcut menu that appears, choose Properties. This message appears: "The specified device instance handle does not correspond to a present device."
   
8. Click OK.
   
9. Make sure Automatic is chosen in the "Startup type" pop-up menu.
   
   
   
   
10. Click Start.
    
11. Click Apply. This message appears: "The specified device instance handle does not correspond to a present device."
    
12. Click OK.
    
13. Open iTunes.