The iPod "iPod" could not be restored because it is busy

I have the same problem with a 30gb photo.

I also have the same problem with a 30g Photo.

Crikey! I am noticing different threads of people with this problem all starting around the same time (late Sept 2007). Conspicuously around the time of Itunes 7.4.2 (which rolled out Iphone 1.1.1.)

Could this have affected our old ipods?

Since it seems that you will have to erase the contents of your iPod anyway (restoring it will do that), then I would hit the problem with a bit larger hammer. Connect the iPod to your computer, and if iTunes opens automatically and shows you the iPod summary page, then disable the option to open iTunes automatically when the iPod is connected. Apply the change, if necessary, then quit iTunes. Open Disk Utility (Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility) and select the iPod from the list of disks in the sidebar. Click the Erase tab, and enter a name for your iPod. Uncheck the option for installing OS 9 drivers, and choose Mac OS Extended (not journaled) as the disk format. Click the Erase button to erase the iPod. Quit Disk Utility when the process has completed successfully. The iPod should now mount on your Desktop as a generic white-colored removable disk icon.

Now, launch iTunes, and your iPod should be recognized as a new device. You should now be able to restore it and sync it with your iTunes library.

P.S. Yes, I have done this with my own iPod 🙂.

I tried that and it say input output error?

i followed the erase directions, to no avail as well. got same message, input/output error?
anyone else have suggestions?? thank you.

At what point do you get this error? What exactly is going on at the time this happens? I just performed these steps again today with my iPod, and it worked beautifully.

I click erase and then it asks me if I am sure I say yes.. then that message pops up. I have read on other forums that I have to go to repair the disk first. all of those options are blanked out on my computer?

I just went through the process of using Disk Utility to erase the iPod drive. I wanted to reformat (I inherited it from my son), and was getting the same "ipod is busy" message that other folks are getting. However once erased, the generic white icon showed up, things seem to freeze. Trying various things, I unplugged the iPod. Now Disk Utility doesn't even see it when plugged in, nor does iTunes.

Arrghh! How can I get Disk Utility to mount the iPod now?

It appears that I had to shut down and restart. However I must not have told iTunes not to automatically come up when the iPod is attached, and there appears to be a software conflict going on, because I seem to freeze. I will need to run through this again, although I can't seem to find where you tell iTunes not to automatically come up when an iPod is plugged in.

Jody Joy wrote:
I can't seem to find where you tell iTunes not to automatically come up when an iPod is plugged in.

You can only do this when the iPod is connected and iTunes is open. Only then do the various iPod preferences become available.

When there are problems with applications recognizing attached USB devices, the general advice is to launch the application first, then plug in the device. So, if you have a generic white icon for your iPod on your Desktop, drag it to the Trash to eject it, then unplug the iPod, launch iTunes and plug in the iPod.

Well somewhere along the way during these past 4 hours, I managed to do that, used Disk Utility, erased, etc. iTunes sees the iPod, I use the restore and update, but at this point, iTunes will not carry out the restore. I think it said it could not.. can't remember why. At any rate, after 5 calls to Apple, and demanding to be kicked up to 2nd tier tech support, it was acknowledged that my 4th Gen. iPod is not compatible with the latest iTunes 7.4.2.

Strategy is to delete iTunes, and I am going to download and install version 4.7.1 I am also emailing iTunes tech support to explain the issue, and have them pinpoint which version exactly I should be running for this iPod.

So, iPod users out there, your best best might be the version that worked the best when you first ran your iPod. It is distinctly Apple's fault to not warn people when the iTunes updater comes up, that if you have an older iPod, you might be better off NOT UPDATING!!

do you know where to find old itunes for mac?

Yes, if you want to download and install 7.4.1, go here:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/itunes471.html

I am in the process of creating a new library and then seeing if I can successfully restore the iPod. I will let everybody know how it goes.

I am glad you were able to get that out of apple they refused to admit to me that it was a problem with itunes.

Can you replace the current version of iTunes with the prior version without erasing the contents of your library?

I too have a 4G iPod that recently started to display the "Cannot restore because iPod is busy" message when I tried to sync it, had problems syncing and then tried to restore. My iPod screen now says "Disk Mode" and alternates between a picture of the Apple icon and a picture of something resembling a file folder with an exclamation point. This doesn't stop until the battery runs out.