Apple tells iTunes users to hold off on Vista

Apple is urging customers wait to upgrade Windows until after the next release of iTunes

Apple is urging PC users to avoid moving to Windows Vista until it can update its iTunes media player.  

"ITunes 7.0.2 may work with Vista on many typical PCs, but Apple recommends that customers wait to upgrade Windows until after the next release of iTunes which will be available in the next few weeks," the company stated.

Vista users may encounter problems when trying to run iTunes on Microsoft's new operating system. 

The issues range from slow performance of the iTunes 'cover flow' feature, to being unable to play songs previously purchased from iTunes.

There is also the risk of a software corruption on the iPod that could occur when Vista's 'safely remove hardware' feature is used.

Users with the 'enable disk use' option turned off could also find themselves unable to update or restore their iPods.

If users absolutely must use Vista, Apple recommends completely sanitising the PC of iTunes.

The process includes de-authorising all iTunes store accounts and enabling disk use mode before uninstalling the program and performing a clean install of both Vista and the latest version of iTunes.

Apple has also released a repair tool to allow Vista users to play previous iTunes purchases.

While Microsoft would not go so far as to suggest that users dump iTunes, a spokesman pointed out to vnunet.com that more than 1.5 million hardware and software devices currently work with Vista. 

The spokesman added that more than 5,000 devices have either been certified for the new operating system, or carry a 'Works with Windows Vista' logo.

"We are also committed to ensuring that all partners, including Apple, receive all the resources they need to ensure that their applications work with Windows Vista," he said.

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