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geoffs11

Q: Unknown error (-54) while syncing ipod

I just got a brand 30gb video ipod. I was syncing it up but I kept getting the message "Unable to sync "my ipod" an unknown error occurred (-54)."

I have searched support website but there is no mention of this error. Does anyone know why this occurred, and what I can do to fix it? Only about 2/3 of my music library has transferred over. I have attempted to both reset and restore my ipod to no avail.

Thank you!

Apple ibook, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 13, 2007 8:54 AM

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Q: Unknown error (-54) while syncing ipod

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  • by Mr Speakers,

    Mr Speakers Mr Speakers Aug 29, 2007 9:51 AM in response to Joe Eversole
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    Aug 29, 2007 9:51 AM in response to Joe Eversole
    I've taken the time to register a forum account just to echo the thanks of the other responder. Great stuff. As an aside, any ideas which component is leaving the files locked? Is it a "known bug" within either iTunes or the synching mechanism? Thanks again!
  • by aimbrogno,

    aimbrogno aimbrogno Aug 31, 2007 3:32 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2007 3:32 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    so, i am clearly not as "with it" as far as this stuff goes. I HAD an original ipod (about 4-5 years old) working perfectly until that error came up.. i actually thought it was the ipod not the computer.. so i went out and bought a new ipod . 300 dollars later, im still getting the air. Can you explain to me what exactly to do with that fancy code you posted. Im not sure where to type it in etc.

    HELP please
  • by misalou,

    misalou misalou Sep 1, 2007 6:09 AM in response to aimbrogno
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2007 6:09 AM in response to aimbrogno
    Hello!

    I am having the same issue as of recently. Plug in the Ipod and get the error message (right away even) that says it cannot sync because files or the directory are corrupt and unreadable.

    I am good with following step by step directions, but I don't understand the "Tech Speak" up there^^ that I would like to try! lol

    If some of my files are "locked"...how can I get to that list, step by step, so that I can see that? And perhaps fix the issue.

    Any directions would be most helpful and appreciated!! Thanks!
  • by Charlotte Daman Willems,

    Charlotte Daman Willems Charlotte Daman Willems Sep 1, 2007 8:25 AM in response to geoffs11
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Sep 1, 2007 8:25 AM in response to geoffs11
    If you have an apple computer, it's quite simple. Type 'Terminal' in spotlight, click on the Terminal application and simply type in the code Joe Eversole so kindly posted here. (But only post the first line of the code!)

    Thank you so much for solving this problem..!!
  • by misalou,

    misalou misalou Sep 1, 2007 8:45 AM in response to Charlotte Daman Willems
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2007 8:45 AM in response to Charlotte Daman Willems
    Oh, how I wish it would be that easy..lol But sadly, I am running Windows XP on a Dell.

    Any ideas for that?
  • by rag0094,

    rag0094 rag0094 Sep 1, 2007 2:40 PM in response to geoffs11
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2007 2:40 PM in response to geoffs11
    I was having the exact same problem trying to sync my iPod.

    After reading everyone's suggestions I decided to switch my iPod to manual file management (which I normally prefer anyway) and then created individual smart playlists under the condition "Artist Starts with (blank)" and went down the alphabet letter by letter.

    I would then drag the playlist to my iPod and let it update.

    When I got the error, I just browsed the smart playlist and dropped files onto the iPod in batches of about 50. Finally got the error message again and reduced the range to 10.

    Turns out I had one file, Kill the King by Megadeth, that was locked. One file out of nearly 10,000 songs, videos and pictures. I just apple-clicked the file, clicked "open in finder" in the drop-menu and unlocked the file. Boom.

    I was then able to sync my iPod like normal. (Actually, I just dragged my whole iTunes library to the iPod and let it upload the songs which were cut-off after the (-54) error.)

    I also had a few DRM files my brother had downloaded to my hard disk using his iTunes account. I just deleted those.

    Whole thing took about 15 minutes.
  • by Chicorico,

    Chicorico Chicorico Sep 8, 2007 6:54 PM in response to rag0094
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2007 6:54 PM in response to rag0094
    Another good tip! Start Automator and download the unlock workflow from Apple. Get files from your Musik fodlder and START. Solves the Problem in 30 seconds!

    Good Luck
  • by bgrinter,

    bgrinter bgrinter Sep 12, 2007 12:42 AM in response to tradclimber
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 12, 2007 12:42 AM in response to tradclimber
    Thank!

    Just upgraded from a PC to iMac and this problem was bugging me!

    Brian
  • by Yerny,

    Yerny Yerny Oct 6, 2007 9:21 AM in response to Joe Eversole
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 6, 2007 9:21 AM in response to Joe Eversole
    An even simpler way in terminal. cd to your library, then execute this command:

    find ./ -flags uchg -exec chflags nouchg {} \;

    if you find you don't have permission, then you can try:

    sudo find ./ -flags uchg -exec chflags nouchg {} \;

    Problem solved.
  • by new7new7,

    new7new7 new7new7 Oct 7, 2007 8:30 AM in response to PhillyPhan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2007 8:30 AM in response to PhillyPhan
    I get an error 69 Coupled with other problems like ipod will stop playing during an audio book then 15 minutes later resuming for another 3 seconds it drives me nuts
  • by new7new7,

    new7new7 new7new7 Oct 7, 2007 8:35 AM in response to tradclimber
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2007 8:35 AM in response to tradclimber
    you have a Mac don't you? The error codes are for Mac operating System
    and besides i dint even understand what the explanation for my code is
    Sincerely

    New7new7
  • by IrishWolf,

    IrishWolf IrishWolf Oct 9, 2007 8:43 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 9, 2007 8:43 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    When I follow the command line help I just get this

    "pbd1441:~ Pat$ ~/Music/Amnesia\ Records Pat$ ls -loR | grep uchg
    -bash: /Users/Pat/Music/Amnesia Records: is a directory"

    I've tried so many variations and just nothing seems to happen. Oh and I've tried locker and nothing happened and the automator from apple.com isn't downloadable.

    PLEASE, someone help, I'm desperate here.

    (oh to clarify i have a -54 error too, and I can't update. I used to just try a few times and update anyway but now I get nothing.)
  • by cmoriar,

    cmoriar cmoriar Oct 10, 2007 7:52 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2007 7:52 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    joe,

    i've never used terminal before - any chance you could explain the steps a little more clearly...for a dummie like me? like exactly what i would copy and paste?

    we have our music files on an external harddrive...
  • by Mercury013,

    Mercury013 Mercury013 Nov 25, 2007 3:21 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 25, 2007 3:21 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    You're awesome! I could not figure out what was causing this stupid error, and when I found out, I was completely oerwhelmed. I was afraid that finding the handful of locked files among all my music was going to be a terrible needle in a haystack search. Thanks so much for posting this!!!
  • by ilovemyapple,

    ilovemyapple ilovemyapple Nov 27, 2007 10:35 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 27, 2007 10:35 PM in response to Joe Eversole
    Thanks Joe!!! It just took me 10 min to get that error problem solved which was bugging me for the last 6 weeks!!!
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