Problem Syncing with Ipod Touch... HELP!

[ragingazn628]

Every time I try to sync music and videos I always get these messages after a few seconds:

attempting to copy to the disk "Tom's Ipod" failed. The disk could not be read from or written to.

and

The iPod "Tom's Ipod" cannot be synced. The disk could not be read from or written to.

Anyone else having these problems? My firmware is 1.1.1 and my iTunes version is 7.5 I have USB 2.0 slots on my laptop and the required drivers. Anyone have solutions to this?

[rickrobb]

I'm glad I am not the only one having this problem! Ive tried every port (usb 2.0) and even reformatted my pc. It is definitely the lame itunes software causing the problem. I need a fix!

I noticed file size does not matter when it errors.

[ragingazn628]

problem solved! if you are using a laptop make sure it's on high performance! because mine was on save batteries...

[Foldarn]

Hmmm, you made me remember mine was on a laptop that I sync with. Grrr, I wish iTunes was fully compatible with Windows x64...

[rickrobb]

I'm actually running Windows xp sp2 on a desktop pc with the newest itunes and firmware. So no dice for me.

[gtrudell]

I have had "syncing" problems since I got myTouch (just 4 days ago). Believe me, I have tried all of the obvious solutions (iTunes version, USB port change, drivers, etc.). Sometimes it will say that it cannot write to disc, sometimes it will say that it isn't even connected (though the iPod shows that it is). Sometimes I get album art, sometimes I don't. I'll try syncing 700+ MP3's (and they are all MP3's) and get only 60.

I is my opinion the Apple has a software (or disc) problem that they are not publicly recognizing (or apparently fixing).

Not sure where to go next, short of returning it or sending it for repair.

[studogvetmed]

Watch the sync process for this. The #1 culprit for this error is a corrupt MP3, music, or video file. If you remove it, the sync can often continue.


This is not an apple iTunes/iPod issue. It's all about your computer software and the files you are using. It's about the communication between. There is nothing further apple can do to prevent this. Garbage in, Garbage out.

For further troubleshooting: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301267

[gtrudell]

You seem to know alot about my environment (from a distance). I use the mp3's I have in iTunes in other players, hardware, and applications and have NEVER had any problem. We are not all idiots out here and the Apple products are NOT without their problems.
Let's just say (for arguments sake) that you are right - any well designed software interface would deal with this in a much better, more user intuitive manner ("Unable to write to disk" - that sure is a definitive message). This is the typical Apple reaction to a problem- deny, deny, deny!

You see postings everywhere - didn't get my album art, didn't get all my music, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, etc. etc. etc.

I guess we are all wrong, Mr. MODERATOR.

[touchy]

What the hell kind of reply was that?? He's trying to help you out. Go look for help somewhere else.

[gtrudell]

That wasn't help - that was someone quickly jumping to a poorly thought out conclusion. How would he EVER know "This is not an apple iTunes/iPod issue. It's all about your computer software and the files you are using." and "There is nothing further apple can do to prevent this".

Constructive suggestions are welcomed - not ill-conceived conclusions.

[studogvetmed]

You seem to know alot about my environment (from a distance). I use the mp3's I have in iTunes in other players, hardware, and applications and have NEVER had any problem. We are not all idiots out here and the Apple products are NOT without their problems.
Let's just say (for arguments sake) that you are right - any well designed software interface would deal with this in a much better, more user intuitive manner ("Unable to write to disk" - that sure is a definitive message). This is the typical Apple reaction to a problem- deny, deny, deny!

You see postings everywhere - didn't get my album art, didn't get all my music, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, etc. etc. etc.

I guess we are all wrong, Mr. MODERATOR.

You know, your rudeness is almost not worth responding too.

My conclusion is not ill conceived but based off years of iPod trouble shooting experience here at the lounge. I've helped many people in my 5 years here solve this exact problem multiple times. In my experience it's almost always been a file that is the culprit. I've experienced it myself. It was a corrupt movie file. That played fine in quicktime... and even, in iTunes itself. I'm sorry that my suggestion that this is not an apples/iTunes problem and that Apple can not necessarily fix this issue offended you. The "apple can do nothing further to fix this" may have been a little extreme in afterthought. They can always do things to make their programs more compatible with files and services. But this error is a "generic" computer error, not iPod/iTunes specific. That much is true.

This is the troubleshooting guide for the original error found in this thread:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1207

Disk can not be read or written too. This is a very general computer error. I've had it between my hard drive and externals, with various files, and yes I've had it with my iPod. In my experience it has always been related to a corrupt file that Tunes didn't like. Sometimes these "corrupt" files play fine in other applications or hardware. That doesn't mean they are not corrupt in iTunes eyes. If a person wants to use iTunes, they may need to optimize or redo files to be 100% compatible.

You can take my advice or not. Someone else may come by with further advice. I always start at most common. If you take my advice seriously and find it's not the culprit, I'll even be happy to help you further, regardless of your rudeness. That's how trouble shooting get's done.

I should preface that my suggestion in this thread is specifically for the "disk can not be read or written to error" any other issues i.e in complete syncs, no album art, etc are other issues and would need to be troubelshooted elsewhere.

[gtrudell]

Your comment about rudness aside - I started with that document. I am a seasoned IT professional who understands very well the concept of troubleshooting. I would suggest that if corrupt files work in other applications - that the iPod software is not robust enough. Wouldn't a good hardware/software provider at least more clearly define an error (if that is it)? Incidentally, I have over 42,000 MP3's - all of which play very well in iTunes. It is only a problem with syncing with the iPod Touch.

[studogvetmed]

I'm sorry, but you were very rude to me. You had other options to get your opinion across than by being rude to me. That being said I am man enough to admit that I can understand how the wording of my initial post may have illicited the response I got. So we'll just move on. We will try to keep this thread on topic. The topic is "This disk can not be read or written too" error.



In my experience problem files that won't sync to the iPod can and will play fine in iTunes and other programs. This doesn't preclude them from being a problem that causes a "disk can not be read or written to" error.

gtrudell is correct, iTunes could likely be written in a way that some of this low level corruption, or whatever the issue is, didn't cause the program to choke, obviously other programs don't care. This may mean the iPod/iTunes software is less "robust" than other programs, but I would counter that a programmer who has to make multiple exceptions for a program to deal with a partially damaged file, that this opens up possibilities of other bugs and issues by allowing poorly made files to run, but that is my humble opinion.

I see you say you've been through the troubleshooting this is good. While going through this troubleshooting did you watch the sync progress of the touch in the iTunes status bar? Do you get the cannot be read or written to error consistently and at a certain point. You can watch the sync progress and sometimes identify a specific file that the sync chokes on.

If you aren't getting this particular error consistently, this may not be the right thread to help you in, and you may want to post about a more specific issue elsewhere. If you have had as many issues as you say you have, I would even more likely just return it and see if there is a chance that you just have a faulty unit.

So let's continue on with the topic. I'll remove anything from the thread that is not on topic as needed.

[gtrudell]

Thanks. Let me try some things. I think we are making progress. I'll follow your advice and repost.