XP and iTunes Servers

[MikalE]

XP is officially too old to communicate with Apple iTune servers for the iTunes Store or to check for previous purchases.

Is there any work around for this problem using XP?

When I sign in it errors out with a connection reset. It is a security issue for them I guess.

I think I read about this occurring in about 2018 or there abouts.

I transferred my entire library from one of my other T series computers to an external drive and loaded the folder to the XP machine and it works fine. But I'd like to access the store directly instead of having to purchase on one computer and transfer to the A31p.

Even Home Sharing won't work anymore because you still have to authorize the computer through the iTunes store.

[karl80038]

Windows XP lacks of any support for the TLS1.2 protocol that many sites today use. Perhaps installing the TLS 1.2 update for POSReady 2009 (located here: http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msd ... 3ef0a5.exe) might resolve this issue. Make sure you have done the registry hack that allows POSReady 2009 updates to be installed, otherwise the aforementioned update refuses to install on your system. After installing the update, enable the registry keys mentioned in the following MS KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/et-ee/hel ... in-windows to enable the TLS1.2 support. I cannot guarantee that the steps provided would resolve the problem, but it's definitely worth a try.

[karl80038]

Windows XP lacks of any support for the TLS1.2 protocol that many sites today use. Perhaps installing the TLS 1.2 update for POSReady 2009 (located here: http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msd ... 3ef0a5.exe) might resolve this issue. Make sure you have done the registry hack that allows POSReady 2009 updates to be installed, otherwise the aforementioned update refuses to install on your system. After installing the update, enable the registry keys mentioned in the following MS KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/et-ee/hel ... in-windows to enable the TLS1.2 support. I cannot guarantee that the steps provided would resolve the problem, but it's definitely worth a try.

Here's the link to the English article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... in-windows

[MikalE]

Thank you for the information.

Regardless of the proper protocols installed and working, would Apple servers be able to tell if I were using XP? Or is the server only interested in this security 'handshake' and cannot see the O/S?

[karl80038]

Thank you for the information.

Regardless of the proper protocols installed and working, would Apple servers be able to tell if I were using XP? Or is the server only interested in this security 'handshake' and cannot see the O/S?

I honestly have no idea. I doubt they'd go as far as to block the server access based on the client OS's version. Otherwise they'd have already implemented that restriction a long time ago. It may also have something to do with outdated certificates that come with the OS. Maybe the problem lies in the old iTunes version not being able to connect using the newer protocols, that are required. If you have a newer computer that's running Windows 7 SP1 or later (preferably fully up-to-date) you may be able to test that by installing an older XP-compatible version of iTunes. If iTunes connects successfully, then the problem lies within the OS itself. If you are unable to connect to the Apple servers even while running Windows 7 or higher with TLS1.2 support, then there's unfortunately nothing to do.

[MikalE]

The registry hacks are in place, but upon installation I get a message that says my version of Windows does not match what the download is for, IE, Server 2008.

I will have to research this TLS 1.2 for Windows XP and see if there is another solution. When I read the information, there was a link to the files installed on x86 Windows XP, but no link for an XP download. This is apparently only for server installation. I will have to find something for an XP client.

Thank you for the information.

[MikalE]

I was mistaken about the file I attempted to install. It was not for Windows Server 2009, but for XP POS9 Embedded. Which my version is not.

There is another registry hack to fool the TLS.1.2 program to believe it is installing to XP POS9 Embedded, but I've had enough registry hacking for awhile.

I'll just transfer anything I buy from my current system to the A31p manually.

Thank you for the suggestions though.

Incidentally, that registry hack would have allowed Windows XP security updates until 2019.