iTunes help wanted: *insert vicious swearing here*

So, one of the things on my list of Things To Do is to update iTunes, the ipod touch (Tubso), and ipad (Bissonomy).

The iTunes part went fine. ( The rest, not so much )

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot? WTF has gone on here? How do I fix it? Should I just bail and move everything to a different, hopefully less f-ed up computer? (While I haven't tried moving my library yet, I have consolidated it and it is stored on an external drive, so I should be able to shift it elsewhere.)

Advice gratefully taken. That said? "You should have an Apple computer" is not actually advice, so don't go there.

ETA: I have successfully updated the ipod shuffle without any of this nonsense. It appears to be an issue between Windows/iTunes and the more complex machinery.

W!T!F! iTunes Follies Cont

This was supposed to be a simple job that took place while I did other things, not a 5-hour nanny-the-computer mess that still isn't fixed.

So, I replace iTunes. I delete the bad drivers and re-replace iTunes. I check that Apple Mobile Services is running, and then go into device management and update the driver.

Then I reattach what used to be Tubso.

Windows Hardware Wizard pops up. Apple warned me about this and told me exactly what to click to point to the apple mobile services usb driver. I go there. I click "install." I click "do not ask me again."

What does the f-ing computer do? IMMEDIATELY pop open the hardware driver wizard again.

Three times in a row. Three times I send it to the same file, the *BRAND NEW FILE* installed in the BRAND NEW ITUNES. Finally it throws its electronic hands in the air and gives up. ("This driver cannot be loaded. Code 10")

iTunes, on the other hand, is chugging along happily trying to get the Touch out of recovery mode and reinstall factory settings. You'd think "lombotomize this equipment" would be the easiest option, wouldn't you? "In recovery mode, must click restore" I click restore, then restore and update... Downloads new software. Fine. Preparing ipod for restore - the part where it power cycles the ipod touch? Not so much. Return to previous three paragraphs.

Wait a few minutes while iTunes continues to say "preparing ipod for restore"... and then Error code 1604.

Following Apple's advice, I close and reopen iTunes. It tells me that it detects an ipod in recovery mode, and to restore. I click restore, then restore and update...

Okay, this time it didn't bring up the Wizard half a dozen times. It did give me another error 1604 instead of a working Touch.

I've updated the drivers.
I've updated the software.
I've rebooted several times.
I've followed all the instructions.
I'm not using a USB hub; I'm connecting to the front ports (which are the only options and through which I was able to update the shuffle.)
I'm using the only connection cord I've got handy, although I suppose I can steal one out of my travel supplies.

I don't know what to do.

Tomorrow, after I weep in frustration, I'm going to try downloading iTunes into a netbook and see if I can finish Tubso's lombotomy there. But even if I can, there are the issues of convincing the computer that Biss isn't a camera... and frankly, although I need to update the software on the ipad too, I'm TERRIFIED to try.

I just don't know what to do.

Aside from possibly moving my itunes library onto the netbook and if the problems continue, taking the whole mess of equipment to Apple and telling the Genius bar that if they're such geniuses, they can fix it.

(no subject)

While I type this, the touch (now Tubso jr) is syncing. I had to load iTunes on a different computer to finish the reset, then returned it to original itunes on a second usb port with a different cable.

Am still terrified to get ipad anywhere near it all. Hope this is not how any other upgrades go!