valiant66

Q: iPad 2 sync error (-50) : how do I identify bad image(s)?

I have a recurring error when I try to sync my iPad 2: I get "The iPad cannot by synced. An unknown error occurred (-50)."

 

I've searched the forums and:

1. Removed the photo cache (didn't help but now only photos on iPad are the Camera Roll)

2. Restored from backup (still get an error, although the (number) might be different)

3. Reset the iPad to new and restored from backup (failed again, only now no 3rd party apps or photos except Camera Roll)

4. Reset the iPad and synced it as a new device (still get the error, only now of course even the Camera Roll is empty)

 

So what I've done now is reset the iPad and set it to only sync photos. No music, movies, contacts, calendars, apps, etc. Just photos.

 

I get the (-50) error trying to sync. So it is obvious that I have one or more corrupted images in my iPhoto library.

 

Assuming removing the bad photo(s) will solve the problem, how do I identify which one(s) it is?

 

Thanks.

 

(Mac OS 10.6.8, iTunes 10.4.1, iPhoto 8.1.2, iOS 4.3.5)

iPad 2, iOS 4.3.3

Posted on Aug 28, 2011 9:38 AM

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Q: iPad 2 sync error (-50) : how do I identify bad image(s)?

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  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Aug 28, 2011 9:57 AM in response to valiant66
    Level 10 (95,476 points)
    iPad
    Aug 28, 2011 9:57 AM in response to valiant66

    You said that you removed the photo cache. Did you try removing the iPod Photo Cache Folder? This article explains how to find and remove it.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1314

  • by valiant66,

    valiant66 valiant66 Aug 28, 2011 11:01 AM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 28, 2011 11:01 AM in response to Demo

    Yes, the whole folder. That was my first step, as suggested by multiple threads here. It didn't help, as per item 1 above. When syncing it would get a few thousand photos in then throw the error. No photos would be copied over to the iPad.

  • by valiant66,Solvedanswer

    valiant66 valiant66 Aug 29, 2011 11:28 AM in response to valiant66
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 29, 2011 11:28 AM in response to valiant66

    I'm just posting a quick resolution in case anyone else comes here. What worked for me was to delete the iPod Photo Cache (right-click on your iPhoto Library, usually found in your Pictures directory, and select Show Package Contents, then delete the whole iPod Photo Cache folder) AND to sync the iPad as a new device. I have 25,000 photos and rebuilding the iPod Photo Cache took about 5 hours. That was before syncing.

     

    Because I'm starting effectively with a wiped, fresh iPad, getting all the apps, books, music, etc. back to where I was before this all started will probably take me a few days to a week.

     

    I would have much rather been able to identify and rebuild the corrupted cache image(s) and kept my iPad as it was. This whole rigamarole represents many hours, if not days, of my time that I'll never get back.

     

    If you're in the same position, I'd try pretty much everything else before doing this, you'll save time if you solve the problem another way. But this way will get it done.

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Aug 29, 2011 11:31 AM in response to valiant66
    Level 10 (95,476 points)
    iPad
    Aug 29, 2011 11:31 AM in response to valiant66

    Apparently you did not read my post correctly. That is exactly what I told you to do, but you insisted that you had done that. It is a very common fix when you have problems syncing photos - delete the iPod Photo Cache folder.

  • by valiant66,

    valiant66 valiant66 Aug 29, 2011 1:31 PM in response to valiant66
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 29, 2011 1:31 PM in response to valiant66

    Au contraire, Demo. It was the very first thing I tried, as indicated by the number 1. in the initial post. In and of itself it did not solve the problem **in this case**. I deleted the iPod Photo Cache and rebuilt it and STILL had the -50 error with my original version. Restoring from a backup and I STILL had the -50 error. Resetting and syncing as to a new iPad and I STILL had the -50 error. It was ONLY when I deleted the iPod Photo Cache AND synced as a new iPad that the problem was solved.

     

    From what I've read this is not the case for most users, but it was the case in this instance. And the PIA factor in doing a complete rebuild and a complete restore is high if you've got 25,000 photos, had your iPad for a long time, filled it with preferred content, and gotten everything just so.

     

    But I do thank you for your suggestion. It would work for most people, I assume.

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Aug 29, 2011 1:39 PM in response to valiant66
    Level 10 (95,476 points)
    iPad
    Aug 29, 2011 1:39 PM in response to valiant66

    I stand corrected then. Your post indicated in item 1. that you removed the photo cache - not the iPod Photo Cache folder and I made an incorrect assumption.

     

    Anyway, I'm glad you got is resolved. I can well imagine that restoring 25000 photos and the rebuilding entire iPad would be a PIA!

  • by akcorcoran,

    akcorcoran akcorcoran Oct 18, 2011 9:52 AM in response to valiant66
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 18, 2011 9:52 AM in response to valiant66

    Hello - I know this is a slightly old thread but I'm trying to go through the steps because I have the same problem.  Deleted the iPod Photo Cache and it did not help the problem.  I then deleted all the photos on the iPad - none in camera roll, no album or other library there. Still not syncing - error -50

     

    The question I have - is that during the sync when I plug it in, it appears to get THROUGH the back up stage before it tries to sync and gives me the error.  Does that mean if I reset it, it would be exactly as it was?  Or is that not a true backup.  Unfortunately, it's been a while since a successful sync b/c it was taking me so long to figure this out.

     

    I'd feel ok if I knew that it was actually backed up and I could restore it if I reset it to new, but wanted to be sure.

     

    Thanks!

  • by valiant66,

    valiant66 valiant66 Oct 18, 2011 2:44 PM in response to akcorcoran
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 18, 2011 2:44 PM in response to akcorcoran

    When you reset your device it reverts to as-new, fresh out of the box, nothing on it.

     

    If it's been a long time since you've succesfully backed up, I would expect you would lose everything new since your last successful backup when you restore, including any new photos.

     

    However, I would assume with the first sync after the restore all the new photos would then sync to the iPad. Except you will start with a blank Camera Roll. Your previous iPad camera roll photos should still be in iPhoto, but they will no longer appear in the camera roll for your "new" iPad.

     

    Notice, however, the qualifiers: I don't know for sure.

     

    In my case, wiping the iPad and deleting the iPod Photo Cache and syncing as a new device did the trick. It took a few hours to get everything back "just so", but it worked.

     

    Your mileage may vary.

     

    Good luck!

  • by akcorcoran,

    akcorcoran akcorcoran Oct 19, 2011 12:15 PM in response to valiant66
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 19, 2011 12:15 PM in response to valiant66

    Hi there!  Wanted to thank you and give you an update.

     

    To be safe, I deleted the iPod Cache and the photos (after importing them all) - I have some redundancy between photos (I use an Eye Fi card and then have an iPhone where the majority of my photos live), so there weren't really any on there that I couldn't live without (on the iPad itself). 

     

    Then, I discovered that I needed to upgrade iTunes and I wonder if that wasn't it b/c I read in a bunch of places that 10.3 was problematic with iPads.

     

    ANYWAY, after both of those, it worked perfectly!  Upgraded to iOS 5 and everything was restored exactly as it was (minus the photos but that was because of my actions), then went through and saved a handful of my favorite photos back to the camera roll.

     

    Actually feel like I've got a nice clean start!

     

    Thank you for your help - I felt better about the whole backup situation after your posting and am glad I got through it!