iPad very slow to start or cancel sync

When I try to sync my 16Gb iPad, it takes about 2 minutes (timed) from hitting "Apply" until sync begins. Meanwhile, the iPad is fully operational (Sync in Progress screen isn't up) and iTunes is locked up with a spinning cursor.

My first attempt ended up in a dialog that sync could not occur because there was not enough room on the iPad (though it's basically the same content I have syncing successfully with my 16Gb iPhone, but that's another investigation...).

It then took another two minutes of iTunes lockup before it would respond to a click on the OK button to release the iPad and iTunes for me to try changing my sync settings.

That's fully 4 minutes for an unsuccessful sync, which I since have repeated maybe 5 times trying to narrow down my sync'ed content enough to fit. Obviously once I get that dialed in, this won't be AS much of an issue, but my iPhone starts syncing pretty much the instant I click the button, what's with the 2 minute wait? and the 2 minute wait to acknowledge the failed sync?

Is this typical?

Just updated everything in Software Update prior to cracking the box on the iPad, so shouldn't be an issue with software versions.

16Gb WiFi

Posted on Apr 3, 2010 6:28 PM

67 replies

Apr 8, 2010 9:04 AM in response to R Allen Matsumoto

My latest result was kind of a surprise, I have been struggling with the same issues described in this discussion since delivery on Saturday.
Until last night!
I came home and was ready to do battle with iTunes once again. I connected my iPhone 3GS and then my iPad and fired up iTunes.
I selected my iPad and clicked "Sync", and began to walk away and come back in about ten minutes, anticipating another failed attempt. Before I could move away from my desk, the sync was complete. I had not performed any system maintenance or updates prior to this attempt.
The only difference was that I had connected my iPhone. All previous attempts had been made with only my iPad connected. This is really strange!

Apr 8, 2010 9:07 AM in response to R Allen Matsumoto

I FIXED IT !!!!! I FIXED IT !!!!!

I went here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1224

Followed the instructions to remove iTunes from my Mac. Now iTunes and my iPad play like they are supposed to. I also realized that I had almost 400 megs of junk stored in iTunes. It is all gone now, and I got some space back. Try this guys.

DOZERP2

Level 1

0 points

Apr 8, 2010 9:11 AM in response to R Allen Matsumoto

i had the same problem where it would take up to 3 hours to backup and sync my ipad. i had narrowed the problem to a new backup system that i installed. the backup software came with (western digital mybook "world edition" which was a network based drive.) the software was (wd anywhere backup). this package presented all kinds of problems such as my ipad popup indicated that it was a camera. when i used a u3 thumbdrive it would not boot up. everything returned to normal after i removed the western digital software.
watch out for backup software, especially if it is automatic

Apr 8, 2010 9:32 AM in response to Don Trammell

Don Trammell: that just worked for me too it seems. for the first time, i plugged the iPad in and iTunes halted for about 10 seconds, but then started syncing!! amazing... it has to transfer all of my Apps back to iTunes, but otherwise this has preserved the rest of my data (except my iPhone and iPad backups i presume). i'll post if things start going downhill, but as of now i'm seeing a HUGE improvement in the speed of syncing my iPad!

Apr 9, 2010 7:43 AM in response to Dan the Mac Doc

Seems to be slowing down again. Actually not seems to but is. I am trying to troubleshoot everything that I can think of. I do not want to uninstall everything again and reinstall. Apple needs to fix this.

Apr 9, 2010 7:28 PM in response to Wiscrebels

One thing I noticed is that checking the option to convert files to 128KB rate means that iTunes is converting the files on the fly which definitely slows down the process. You might want to uncheck that box as an experiment to see if that is the problem.

Lokkke

Level 1

8 points

Apr 10, 2010 8:38 AM in response to acousticart

I connected the iPad with the iPhone also connected and the sync worked just fine. Without the iPhone connected it is this 2 minutes delay before the sync starts..

fr8tdog

Level 1

13 points

Apr 10, 2010 9:17 AM in response to Lokkke

Connecting both? That's very interesting. I will try that and get back. As far as my sync problems, it appears that my problem occurs mainly on my older Macbook (which needs a replacement anyway).

Ryan D.

Level 4

2,935 points

Apr 10, 2010 12:08 PM in response to R Allen Matsumoto

Your mileage may very, but this is what seems to have corrected the iPad sync/iTunes unresponsive issue for me. (~ is short for your home)

Quit iTunes
Quit iTunes Helper by opening a Terminal and typing killall iTunesHelper (you can also do this in Activity Monitor)
Removed com.apple.iTunes.eq,plist, com.apple.iTunes.plist and com.apple.iTunesHelper.plist files in ~/Library/Preferences (forgot to remove them in ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost)
Removed the com.apple.iTunes folder in ~/Library/Caches

Relaunched iTunes (all of your preferences will be lost) told it not to locate music and my iPad synced right away. Prior to this itunes would exhibit the same behaviors described here. Persisted after reboot. Not sure if all of these steps are necessary or not, perhaps someone feels up to narrowing this down. I would start with the cache then the helper prefs first. Please post back if helps.

Derjani

Level 1

0 points

Apr 10, 2010 1:55 PM in response to R Allen Matsumoto

*WORKING FIX*

I followed the instructions on this page and now my iPad syncs blazing fast.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1224

Apr 10, 2010 2:16 PM in response to Derjani

You're late dude. I posted this yesterday and iTunes will continue to slow down again. It is fast for a few hours or syncs but it reverts back to being slow.

Lokkke

Level 1

8 points

Apr 10, 2010 2:34 PM in response to Ryan D.

I tried everything on this side but the only thing that works for me is to have the iPhone connected at the same time as I sync the iPad. Then it works perfect. Anyone else tried it?
I also tried with other things connected to the usb but it have to be the iPhone.

Apr 10, 2010 2:37 PM in response to R Allen Matsumoto

After reading all the posts here, it seems that the common denominator is iTunes. Either the iPad is corrupting files within iTunes or ITunes itself is doing some weird stuff.

Hope for the best guys.

Ryan D.

Level 4

2,935 points

Apr 10, 2010 4:25 PM in response to Ryan D.

Just a quick update that my fix is still working for me. Another sync with iTunes staying responsive the entire time. Will continue to post updates. Haven't tried a sync while my iPhone is connected, but I know I had the same unresponsive iTunes in the past while I had my iPhone connected at the same time.

Apr 10, 2010 4:36 PM in response to Don Trammell

So far, that is the only thing that works for me as well.

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iPad very slow to start or cancel sync