Secure link to iTunes Store failed - help!

[StymiedMike]

The iTunes Store worked about a year ago but now cannot download music. I updated iTunes but it made no difference

I can run & open the iTunes Store, search for music & even play the samples. But I cannot download music. It keeps wanting me to sign in.

Ran the iTunes network diagnostics & it said “Secure link to iTunes Store failed”.

It does state iTunes is enabled in Windows firewall.

I ran iTunes as Administrator
Opened in Safe Mode
Ran netsh int ip reset
Ran SFC /scannow
Nothing helped

I did not reinstall iTunes yet thinking since neither the 2018 version nor the updated version worked the problem lies somewhere other than iTunes. But I don’t know. The only thing I can think of that has changed is all the Windows 7 updates that have been added over the last year or so.

Any suggestions on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[xilolee]

Re-try with the firewall disabled.

 

[StymiedMike]

I'm using Norton Security & turned off it's firewall but it made no difference.

 

[plodr]

This page gives 2 suggestions If you have problems with a secure connection to iTunes on PC
1. Make sure SSL 3.0 or TLS 1.0 is enabled in the Internet Options control panel, then try again.
2. Check your computer’s date, time, and time zone

 

[StymiedMike]

I forgot to mention that I did try checking the box for SSL 3.0 and also SSL 2.0, but it made no difference. TLS 1.0 was already checked.

The computer’s date, time, and time zone are correct.

I've also rebooted the PC, router & modem. Even removed the router from the system. None of that changed anything.

 

[plodr]

Sorry, that's about all I found relating to Win 7. Since I've never used iTunes, I can't test it on any of our Windows 7 computers.

Perhaps, it is time to try an alternative for iTunes. I found many mentioned but then I narrowed it down to lists posted in 2020.
Here is one such list
5 Best Free iTunes Alternatives for iPhone Data Transfer 2020 - EaseUS
If you don't like any on that list, I'm sure you will find other programs that work on a Windows 7 PC.

 

[StymiedMike]

I've called Apple support twice & so far have been on the phone with them about 2 hours with no definite solution. I was at the point to reinstall iTunes & that is what they ended up suggesting.

I got it to work - sort of. Uninstalled the old iTunes & downloaded & installed the newest version. Turns out this is what I already had. Still can't access the Wishlist but can download a song directly without adding it to the Wishlist. When I tried this a message came up to verify payment type & I had to grab a code from PayPal & enter it into iTunes. I actually saw that message once before after I previously updated iTunes, but it never said where to get the code from. It wasn't emailed or texted so I just kept plodding along & it never asked for a code again.

Not sure if it's worth calling Apple again since I can download songs. But it would be nice to have the program work correctly.

 

[StymiedMike]

I got the “Secure link to iTunes Store failed” message whether I was using the router or not. The modem was Not in bridge mode. Since I got the same message when just using the modem I figured the router was not affecting anything.

But then I put the modem in bridge mode & set the router accordingly and don't get that error message. However still can't access the iTunes Wishlist to download songs.

Yet I get the message if just using the modem connected directly to the PC. Why would using just the modem give an error message? Is there some modem setting that needs to be changed.