Unknown error (-54) while syncing ipod

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.

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.

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.)

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...

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!!!

Why not try the restore and then resync while eating dinner or watching TV?

Have you tried running Scandisk on the drive your iTunes Library is on? And while you are at it, run it on the iPod.

Yep, I found some files that were locked. I unlocked them, and now my iPod syncs just fine.

Thanks.

Oh, how I wish it would be that easy..lol But sadly, I am running Windows XP on a Dell.

Any ideas for that?

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

Thank!

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

Brian

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

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

Thanks Joe!!! It just took me 10 min to get that error problem solved which was bugging me for the last 6 weeks!!!