FIRMWARE UPDATE FAILURE. DISKWRITE ERROR

make sure there are no programs running that aren't absolutely neccessary i know ie will stop a restore i've seen it a lot on windows though.

I got the same error. Every time I reinstalled the updater it would say it is up to date but itunes would not recognize so I would go back to restore and got the error you are experiencing. I couldn't even save a file to the ipod without getting errors. Once I got the ipod to recognize I would get disk write errors. The only thing that helped me was an older version of the updater. I am running a version from 6/05 and not 9/05 with itunes 5.01. It appears to like this older version and recognizes my ipod and lets me write a file directly to the ipod. So, if you can find an older version, install it on another pc if you can this may help you. I had to restore my ipod in a different pc then I use itunes. Makes no sense but this is my 3rd shuffle and I'm finally getting it to work. The first one worked fine just the batter stopped charging, the replacement from Apple had problems with the usb and wouldn't recognize in any pc even an Apple and this third one is problematic but at least I can get it to work. Beware those who want to buy a shuffle. Rethink your decision. I'm sure there are better products out there if you do a little research. Seem to find many disappointed shuffle users.

I'm getting the exact same error. I first was having problems getting ITunes to recognize my Shuffle, so I took it to the Apple Store, the guy plugged it into their computer and somehow got it to work. However, now when I plug it into mine it tells me I need to restore the shuffle to factory settings. So when I try to restore using the updater I get the Firmware message. I don't have any of the older versions of the updater on my computer anymore...any other suggestions?

This error means for some reason, not reported by Windows, the updater was not able to write files or format the iPod Shuffle.

It can be a driver issue on the computer (iPod or USB drivers), controller on the motherboard, USB port, USB connector on the iPod Shuffle, or the flash memory on the Shuffle.

If it works on another computer, then it is likely drivers on the computer, controller on the motherboard or USB port on the computer.

Try changing the USB port used when you run the updater. I was getting this message when I connected using the 2.0 port that I always use.

I changed to connect through a 1.1 port on the front of my PC and bingo error message didn't come up. iPod updated, and am, now happily synching through the origiinal 2.0 port

Irmware Update Failure Diskwrite error appears when restore is 1/3 done....thought it was something I did but apparently the problem is in the system. Nothing I do (and I've done almost everything suggested in these posts) helps...

Same problem here, I have tried almost everything, tomorrow I'll see if I can make it work on a friends PC and then a Mac, I've tried two different ipod software updaters (March and September) still to no avail. I wonder how could the flash disk be damaged, It was working fine on my way home, it just went bad when I connected the shuffle to this computer (which is the same one I always do). I'm really sad about this, I live in Mexico and authorized services aren't easy thing to find here, so most likely this may mean that my shuffle is dead for good if there's no way to get it working with the software updaters.

I have a similar problem - after a diskwrite failure when updating the firmware to the latest version, my iPod Shuffle doesn't play (flashes Green then Yellow) and isn't recognised by any of the USB ports on my PC or my laptop. It just keeps coming back with an IO error message.

I have tried to reset it but to no avail, and I cannot restore or reinitialise because no computer I own can write to the device.

Any suggestions please?????????????

Neal

So today I tried my friends laptop, it had already installed the latest ipod updater (september). I connect the ipod and to my surprise it worked just fine, I could see the files on it etc. I updated it to the last firmware no problem, but after stowing it away and reconnecting it the laptop wouldn't recognize it and it now has the same problem as my pc at home (wont recognize it, no restoring firmware, error showing "disk write error") know that I know that the disk is alright (as i said i could see and open the files in it) it has to be some kind of software problem, but what kind of problem?