A handful of users have reported that Tunes uses 100% of CPU.
Fix:
This solution has been documented on Apple forums by several people.
Windows 7
1. Quit iTunes
2. Start an elevated command prompt (Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Right Click Command Prompt -> Run as Administrator)
3. type netsh winsock reset and then press Enter
4. reboot your machine
5. restart iTunes.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Users
Go to Microsoft support page. To reset the Winsock settings automatically, click the Fix it button or link.
Windows Vista
1.Click on Start button.
2.Type Cmd in the Start Search box.
3. right-click cmd.exe, click Run as administrator, and then press Continue.
4. Type netsh winsock reset and then press the Enter.
5. Restart the computer.
October 18, 2011 at 5:11 AM
It works also in Windows XP.
itunes 10.5 has been crashing since installed, imposible to sync the iphone, I had tried everything, unistall, etc, until this. Works perfectly.
Thanks
1.Click on Start button.
2.Type Cmd in the Start Search box.
3. right-click cmd.exe, click Run as administrator, and then press Continue.
4. Type netsh winsock reset and then press the Enter.
5. Restart the computer.
November 9, 2011 at 4:18 AM
I tried this fix tonight and it has worked very well and my system is back to normal. THANK YOU
October 26, 2011 at 4:40 AM
This WORKS.
Not sure why the update to iTunes 10.5 created the issue.
But the fix above worked like a charm.
Thanks heaps.
November 9, 2011 at 5:52 PM
This fixed it!!! yah!!! Thank you for reducing my cpu usage, and letting my phone sync in 2 minutes instead of 30!!
January 15, 2012 at 6:45 AM
It fixed my problem, and my CPU was running at 100% every time I fired up the new iTunes that I just downloaded.
January 16, 2012 at 10:56 AM
This worked, thank you!
March 31, 2012 at 4:18 AM
GREAT, did the trick , thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
April 5, 2012 at 7:48 AM
Nothing more to say than Thankyou!!!! my whole system works better now.
June 4, 2012 at 8:47 AM
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 23, 2012 at 7:17 AM
Its worked perfectly, thank you!
October 9, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Thanks worked well
December 12, 2012 at 8:59 AM
Interesting option, thanks for the insight. Havent tried it yet, but when i get 100% usage with itunes and the computer gets really slow, i just quit itunes and processor goes back to normal usage. That also happens if i restart the computer, so why the need to type netsh winsock reset?
Itunes is not very well optimised for windows it seems, and especially since itunes match, the matching process is so slow and ressource hungry! Definitly need apple to work on that, or get some sort of itunes lite
December 14, 2012 at 3:26 PM
Encountered the issue after installing iTunes 11.0.1.12 on a win7 64bit box. this fix seems to have resolved the issue for me. Thanks!!
February 21, 2013 at 12:20 PM
I did this but when I rebooted itunes it was still acting up cpu wise. This time though it may be because just prior to trying this here fix I instructed itunes to keep sound levels the same under playback preferences sound check. Now it’s doing a ‘determining audio volume’ sweep of 730 songs which I will let run for now. But make sure it isn’t actually doing that as well in the bg or something.
February 21, 2013 at 12:39 PM
May I add to what I just wrote a somewhat relevant piece of info: not only was this fix perfect, but it fixed another major problem I simply couldn’t find a solution to. My dvd drive was no longer recognized by the computer. Now I can play dvd’s again. YIPPEEEEEE!