iTunes Library cannot be saved (Error -54)

thanks Annalea. I'll just google it instead.

A sub-note to Annaleas solution ... I couldn't find Disk Utility in the Applications folder itself, but the Utilities folder within that. So my path was...

Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > Repair Permissions

I guess that's because I have a later version OS? (10.8.4) But anyways, thanks Annalea!

Hi SorenWagner,

You are actually more correct than you realize. That IS where the Disk Utility application has always been "hiding." Within the Utilities folder...which is located in the Applications folder. Your post will surely help others who have struggled to find the Disk Utility application!

Good job. :-)

Mr. Luigi

This appeared to work for me as well.

Thought I'd share the following:

I just bought and connected a Griffin iMic to my Mac Mini so I could listen to my headphones via USB rather than using the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the back of the Mac Mini. For some reason this recreated the (Error -54) problem after having solved the problem using Annalea's suggestion. I've been (Error-54) free for almost a year. The error message occurred right after using the iMic so I assume it had to be the iMic. Repeating Annelea's protocol below solved the problem once again. Thanks Annelea!

I've already solved the issue, through repairing disk permissions. (Applications>Disk Utility>Repair Permissions)

Many thanks, Annalea, that fixed my problem!

Wow. I'm feeling kind of like a niche celebrity. lol I'm so glad that this little thing has helped so many other iTunes users. Thanks so much to everyone who has taken the time to post back that it worked for them, and have said thank you. What a treat!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😎

Yay Thanks Annalea - this seems to have done the trick for me too.

Ditto to what everyone says, thanks so much, Annalea, solved my problem too. Enjoy your niche celebrity status! 🙂

I saw this podcast and thought folks coming to this discussion may find it helpful. You will notice that at one point in the video there is a screen that shows options for things that can be done to address problems with iPhoto. The top option is "Repair permissions." This targets the permissions associated with your iPhoto library. I'm guessing that it may accomplish what our niche celebrity :-), Annalea, discovered. It also gives additional steps that may solve other issues.

The podcast wouldn't have attracted my attention had it not been for the power of Annalea's solution!

http://macmost.com/taming-large-iphoto-libraries.html

lol! Oh, this is getting out of hand. Heheheh. 😊

I must say, though, these accolades always seem to appear in my inbox when I most need a laugh. 😁

I'm so glad I could help. 🙂

So far, I've repaired permissions a number of times, with no luck in removing this error nor in getting iTunes to stop freezing up (beach ball spinning) after a short bit of usage.

I'm running a Mac Mini that is really doing no other job than acting as a media server for my house (with a connected drobo), and all of this started happening with the most recent update.

I've had severe issues making iTunes mostly unusable; I'd have to remote into my Mac Mini and kill and then restart iTunes if I wanted to watch anything stored locally. I haven't even been able to successfully sync movies to my iDevices, either.

Today, I decided to do a fresh install of iTunes. So far, this seems to be working--functioning as iTunes the media server, and iTunes that syncs again.

Painful to go through this; hope my pain helps someone else figure things out. Or helps others help me figure it out.

Annaleas solution worked great! Thanks!

I've already solved the issue, through repairing disk permissions. (Applications>Disk Utility>Repair Permissions)

For what it's worth.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1082953

I read in that thread about the same error. -54 is a software lock on a file. A disk utility permissions repair can fix it. However, for some individuals the problem persists. In the examples in that thread, it was one or several mp3-files that were locked. Their solution was to find those files and unlock them by marking them and choose "cmd+i" to "get info". At the bottom of the new info popup window, you see the permissions.

That is a tedious task if you hace 19000 mp3's in your library. It can probably be automated in the Terminal but don't ask me how. Also, it could probably happen to any file - book - song - video - app. Even iTunes library files themselves I guess.

Hi Annalea,

I have started getting this Error-54 message intermittently when I open iTunes 11.1.3 on my G5 iMac running ML 10.8.5.

My large iTunes library is on an external drive.

My question is what file you used to fix permissions on via Disk Utility-was it the iTunes library .xml file or another one?

TIA

Caroline