iTunes will no longer update iPod classic

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Level 1

13 points

iTunes will no longer update iPod classic

I am using iTunes 12.12.2.2 with Windows 10, 64 bit home. I have changed nothing on my PC or iTunes installation.

I have two iPod classics and iTunes recognizes them both. Until a few ago I could connect both devices to iTunes (one at a time!), and select "Sync only selected playlists, etc". Now when I try to sync either iPod it appears to be syncing, but in only syncs the 8 MP3 tracks prior to track 10. I get the following errors as shown below, and iTunes crashes. I can only close it using task manager.

I have done several factory resets on my iPod 4th gen, I have rebooted my PC, no change.

I have not reset my iPod 6th gen, instead I connected it to iTunes, again selecting Sync on selected playlists. iTunes brings up the list of what has been previously selected to sync. iPod has around 20gb of space. In iTunes if I then try to add any playlist MP3 file, iTunes tells me I am over the iPod storage capacity, by more than 52GB. If i deselect that iTunes playlist file, iPod storage returns to normal value, i.e, 20gb free space. Track 010, is no bigger than 10MB.

I am convinced the issue is with iTunes, and not a fault of either iPod.

Thanks for any advice.

Posted on Jan 13, 2022 4:42 AM

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Answer 1

BigDave_1 Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 13, 2022 8:22 AM in response to BigDave_1

Update: Formatted iPod 4th gen with Windows. Started from scratch with iTunes, which said I needed to format iPod! Now all files selected have synced, except for one. I think I will leave it at that for the time being. Re-syncing just to load one missing file is too big a risk, and I will leave my 6th gen iPod as it is also.

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Answer 2

BigDave_1 Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 14, 2022 8:06 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the info. On my 6th gen iPod I ran the check and I have...

Retracts: 58

Reallocs: 1

PowerOn Hours: 97

Start/Stops: 61

Temp: Current 28c

Temp: Min 17c

Temp: Max 45c.

I also checked the HD with Windows and no errors were found.

I had another look at my 4th gen. Without actually syncing it in iTunes, I added a file to sync and since I reformatted the iPod I no longer get the over capacity error. I will reformat the 6th gen iPod when I get around to it. Hopefully everything will be back to normal after that. It's all rather strange though. I have been using iTunes for at least 15 years (with my 4th gen), and I have not had any significant problems with it.

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

274,198 points

Jan 14, 2022 11:33 AM in response to BigDave_1

There are no pendings which is usually the key metric of an unhappy iPod. A single reallocation isn't an issue either. Do you have any anti-virus software that could potentially be blocking iTunes when it tries to write to the drive? You might test with it disabled, or enabled disk mode so the iPod gets a drive letter and then add an exclusion to the real time scanner.

tt2

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Answer 4

BigDave_1 Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 17, 2022 9:08 AM in response to turingtest2

I have added an exception to Malwarebytes Pro, but I don't think this is causing the problem, because before I did that I re-synced my iPod 6th gen, and all files loaded perfectly, including the file that would not load on to the 4th gen.

During the weekend I made at least six attempts to re-sync my 4th gen, and every time it failed to sync even after reformatting. This morning I tried to sync again after reformatting. First I ran the diagnostic on the 4th gen and I have: Retracts 8; Reallocs 2544; Power on 702 & Stop/starts 14581. I also let Windows repair the drive (there were errors). It synced OK after doing that, possibly because instead of trying to sync around 70GB in one go, I synced small amounts at a time. Anyway, both iPods are now synced with different playlists, so all is well.

Thanks for all the help, it has been interesting learning about the diagnostics.

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