Corrupt iPod file

Hello Bryan,

If you're interested in the cause and effects of the problem, you might like to head on over here: Da Gopha, "<INDEX> Corrupt files and chkdsk <INDEX>", 06:04am Mar 22, 2005 CDT

Kind regards,
Gopha

OK! I tried the Mac instructions and can't get the terminal to find my iPod when I follow these instructions:

Enable disk use in iTunes if it isn't already, then in Mac OS X, go to "Utilities" (shift-command-u) and open the Terminal, then type this (with the name of your iPod in place of "YOUR IPOD NAME") at the Terminal:

/Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit /Volumes/YOUR IPOD NAME/iPod_Control/Device/SysInfo

This will open the hidden text file that contains the OS software number, mines looks like this:

I go to Finder>Mac HD>Applications>Utilities>Terminal.app>then I click it open and the box says 'Terminal - bash - 80x24' across the top and in the box it says 'Welcome to Darwin'.

When I type in "/Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit /Volumes/YOUR IPOD NAME( I insert my iPod's name exactly how it's spelled 'Foto Pod'/iPod_Control/Device/SysInfo" -then I hit the return key and it returns information that stops at 'Foto' and "states not a directory".

My iPod is attached but it's not reading it and it is on disk mode and I tried it on manual mode but it hasn't helped. iTunes is opened and the iPod is in the source list also. I changed the name of the iPod to Foto_Pod & still get a 'no such file or directory'.

Q.Am I doing something wrong or typing this in the wrong place? I'm using a Mac mini w/OS X 10.4.1

Initial reports suggest that the chkdsk error has been fixed with the latest 3.1/equivalent firmware provided by iPod Updater 2005-06-26 as detailed here: Andrew Stawarz, "SUMMARY: Corrupt file requests chkdsk :REPOST" #354, 09:56am Jul 3, 2005 CDT

However, I think it's a case of fix one thing (chkdsk), break another (Smart Playlists): Da Gopha, "Updater 2005-06-26 disables iPod Smart Playlists", 12:50pm Jun 30, 2005 CDT

Kind regards,
Gopha

Honeybee1236,

Unix doesn't lke spaces in file names, because that's how it separates commands. Try escaping the space in Foto Pod with a backslash:
"Foto\ Pod/iPod_Control/Device/sysInfo"

Two handy tricks to make this easier. 1. You can replace that whole /Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit with "open -e". 2. The Terminal will finish filenames for you if you hit the tab key.

So you can do "open -e /Volumes/Fot[tab]/iPod_Control/Device/Sysinfo," and it will fill in the rest for you.

Hello everyone,

For the people looking for a previous firmware, I found an excellent site that actually has them stocked. Please do bear in mind that the site is in French, however the firmwares are ok as I did try to download the one advertised as 23.03.05 as well as an older one and it worked. I hope this will help 🙂

http://www.touslesdrivers.com/index.php?vpage=26&vcode=67

We are getting reports that the latest iPod Updater software may have fixed the chkdsk issue.

However, there is a new problem: Da Gopha, "Updater 2005-06-26 disables iPod Smart Playlists", 12:50pm Jun 30, 2005 CDT as acknowledged by Apple here: Da Gopha, "Updater 2005-06-26 disables iPod Smart Playlists" #112, 03:14pm Jul 6, 2005 CDT

We'll keep you all posted.

Kind regards,
Gopha.

Just a quick reminder that the chkdsk errors are fixed with the latest Updater, but there is a new issue that is consequently introduced: Da Gopha, "chkdsk errors are fixed by iPod Updater 2005-06-26", 10:01am Jul 20, 2005 CDT

Kind regards,
Gopha

Seems like the newest baby of the Pod family is also affected by the dreaded chkdsk issue: juno_jf, "ITunes5 "iTunes:iTunes.exe - Corrupt File "", 12:27am Sep 9, 2005 CDT

which is peculiar, because I would have thought that the latest iPod with the latest firmware would already have the 'fix'...
...unless it's all gone broke again with this latest firmware!

Let's see if anyone else with a Nano (or the latest firmware) experiences chkdsk again...

Kind regards,
Gopha.

Hello folks!

Yes yes, that's right, it's nearly time to wish our dear chkdsk error a Happy 1st Birthday!

It's almost been a whole year since chkdsk was first introduced in Updater 15-Nov-2004. Whilst the issue has pretty much been sorted for most folk using the latest iPod Updaters, we're still seeing some stubborn variations that need a bit more attention.

And in true birthday tradition, I've seen a couple of reports of chkdsk appearing on the latest iPod Nano and Gen5 Pod Video...

So it's not over for good, but I think given that we've been suffering this frequently over the past year, we have become all the wiser for dealing with it swiftly by recommending a Restore using an appropriate iPod Updater (I say 'appropriate', because not everyone is in favour of the latest Updater(s) that causes Smart Playlists to go belly-up!)...

Anyways, from me, a big thank you to everyone for a year of great discussion, support, troubleshooting, screaming and unconditional kindness...

Let's keep up the great work folks!

All together now: "Happy Birthday chkdsk..."

Kind regards,
Gopha.

Hello folks,
Furball update. Whilst speaking with Level 2 Tech Support (on the 'phone) for the Smart Playlist issue, I was also informed that the chkdsk issue has officially been closed.

US Engineering had noted on my casefile that as of 7 Sep 2005, the bug introduced in firmware causing the chkdsk issue had been eliminated, and they consider the chkdsk matter closed.

Closure was brought as of iPod Updater 2005-06-26, but introduced the Smart Playlist issue.

As we know, there are some folks experiencing chkdsk, in a variety of different flavours, so continue posting if you require further assistance.

Kind regards,
Gopha.

Some other people who have been experiencing severe versions of this chkdsk issue have found a very curious solution - changing the drive letter of the iPod, as detailed in this thread and discussion:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=258456

and in this Apple KB article:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93499

Very interesting IMHO. Might be worth a try for anyone who's at the end of their tether!

Kind regards,
Gopha

Folks,
A very novel method of dealing with severe chkdsk issues as discovered by Bruce Finn - something that I wouldn't have considered thinking of in a million years. Feel free to give it a shot if you've tried everything else. It worked nicely for Bruce... could this be the antidote to severe forms of chkdsk that we've been seeking?


Kind regards (and a Happy New Year!)
Gopha.


as detailed originally by Bruce here:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1328005&tstart=1328005



Dear Gopha (and all those afflicted with the dreaded iTunes.exe: corrupt file....problem:
I finally got it. Thanks to all for your support, emails and advice. Quite frankly, a solution presented itself that I hadn't read about, but I'm thinking that's what did the trick (for me anyway). For that, go to the bottom of this email and see the last thing I did, which made it finally work. In the meantime, as I've wasted way too much of my own time, 3 iPods later from Apple support - I fully documented what I did when I recieved my third (in a month) 60GB iPod from support. The first two did the same error message, etc. which you can read about in previous posts. As I write this, I'm listening (for the first time) to my 3rd 60GB iPod with my entire library of 4025 songs available. THIS is what iPod's are all about!
OK, here goes the documentation. (I'm writing all this for Gopha, maybe he can make heads or tails of it, but I truly believe nothing worked until I tried the last bit - which involves My Computer\(iPod drive-right click)\Properties\Hardware Policies\change from "Optimize for quick removal" to "optimize for performance".
Here's the documentation:
1. Received my 3rd iPod back from support - 60GB.
2. Checked Apple site for new updates to both iTunes and iPod software.
3. My iTunes (6.0.1.3) is up to date.
4. Downloaded iPod Updater 2005-11-17.
5. Installed above.
6. Started above - asked to plug in iPod to update it.
7. Windows reports: "found new hardware: USB mass storage. then - Apple iPOd, then - Disk drive.
8. iPod Updater reports finding iPod
NAME: IPOD
SERIAL NUMBER: JQ****** (omitted for security)
SOFTWARE VERSION: 1.0 (up to date)
CAPACITY: 57.0GB
9. Windows message: "System settings change" Windows has finished installing new devices. The software that supports your device requires that you restart your computer. You must restart your computer for the new settings to take effect. Do you want to restart your computer?"
10. I say NO to the above, because the very tempting "restore" button on the updater 2005-11-17 is illuminated, and I'm suckered into trying it first. So, I push "restore" on the updater...
11. "Are you sure you want to restore?" asks the program.
12. "No...I'm not sure, but I'm willing to risk anything at this point" is not an option...so I hit "restore"...say 10 Hail Mary's, drink a couple shots and see what happens...
13. I'm watching the progress bar hit 25%, 50%, (now I'm cheering it like a long-shot horse I've bet my rent on...)60%...70%...gets to about 75% and then...
14. FORMATTING FAILURE. DISK WRITE ERROR.
15. Now, after three iPod replacements, I'm deciding I'm just not cut out to be an Apple guy...
16. Rebooted my computer.
17. Stared updater again. Same procedure as above, except this time it got to about 20% when it errored out - same message.
18. Now I'm trying to fugure out how I'm going to break the news to my new best friend Gopha...
19.Go to "my computer" which sees iPod as a removable drive and sees 59GB free space - iPod is still in color, hasn't changed back to the monochrome (for you newbies to the iTunes: corrupt iTunes.exe file newbies when it does that, you've screwed it up all you can at home and need the tech support ambulance box via DHL to arrive...)
20. "What the **" I daringly say - as I start the dreaded iTunes 6.0 that got me here in the first place.
21. Immediately get the "iTunes: iTunes.exe corrupt file. The file or directory \iPod_control is corrupt and unreadable, Please run chkdsk utility.
22. Being no stranger to this familiar gambit - I go to bed, leaving everything on the computer on, in place, and untouched...
23. The next morning, the Apple elves had not invaded my firewall sometime overnight and fixed my problem, so I ventured forth...
24. Getting your last email, I change the drive letter for the iPod from it's current "G:" to "I:" (I have a c & d hard drives, e & f CD/DVD drives). No network - this is a home computer that is rigged to a wireless network that I have my DSL modem and sometimes my laptop on).
25. Reboot
26. Go to my computer - it sees iPod as drive I:
27. Run chkdsk on I: with autofix files system selected, and scan & attempt recovery of bad sectors selected.
28. 1 hour later - chkdsk complete
29. REBOOT
30. My computer sees iPod drive (I:)
31. Click on "I:"
32: Properties of I:
FAT 32 File system
Type: Removable Disk
Used Space: 8192KB
Free Space: 55.6GB
33: (just for fun!) Run disk defragmenter (even though it's new) - "You do not need to defragment this volume". I agree.
34. Again, go to properties on disk I: (iPod)
35. Click on "Hardware Policies:
36. This is where I go RAMBO and try something I haven't yet read in the support board....
37: What WAS selected here was the radio button that says: " Optimize for quick removal"
38. I'm thinking - iTunes and iPod usually give you a sign when they are ready to be disconnected, so why do I need the "hot-swapping option???" So, being a total rebel without a clue -I change the option to "optimize for performance."
39. Reboot
40. Computer starts up - iTunes automatically starts - it finds iPod, and uploads (3 iPods later) every one of my 4025 songs beautifully - which I'm STILL listening to as I write this.
Can't tell you how frustrating this had been - but I honestly think my solution was changing the "policy" area in properties for the iPod drive from "quick removal" to "optimize for performace".
I know this is incredibly long, but I hope Apple, Gopha and others can benefot from the documentation - good luck and let me know how it works out!

Hi folks,

Just to let you know, I have re-summarised the chkdsk issue and brought it up-to-date with the latest info here:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=356665

Feel free to take a look if you want.

Kind regards,
Gopha.

Hi folks,

Quick note just to say that the chkdsk Compendium is now available as a User Tip:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=432369

Kind regards,
Gopha