Lockdown folder missing - unable to sync

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Level 1

3 points

Lockdown folder missing - unable to sync

Since getting my iPhone 3GS just a few months ago, I have never been able to connect to iTunes. I was getting a strange error code, but when I tried again today, I got this message instead, "iTunes could not connect to this iPhone. Could not allocate a resource." I have had this phone for months now, but have never connected it to iTunes, and would REALLY like to so I can back things up. Anyone know how I can fix this?! I need help! I have tried plugging into EVERY USB on the back of my iMac. The same thing happens in each one. I've also tried unlugging ALL other peripherals, and still nothing. It's getting frustrating! Oh, and FYI, the phone connects just fine to iPhoto. Go figure!

Read this in Console: "Could not create /var/db/lockdown//SystemConfiguration.plist: No such file or directory." Tried to reset the lockdown folder as described in step #6 of this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2529, but it says "The folder can't be found." So, I can't continue on with the steps. Now what?

Any ideas?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Posted on Jun 27, 2012 12:38 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Corioa

Level 1

9 points

Apr 11, 2017 7:48 PM in response to pala9801

What happens when the direction to --> Finder --> Go to Folder

"/var/db/lockdown"

says

"The folder can't be found"

What does one do then to sync up the iPhone???

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Answer 2

jxc100

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2012 3:56 PM in response to pala9801

You can create the folder using the Terminal application, if your account has administrator privelige:

sudo mkdir /var/db/lockdown

You will be prompted for your account password (and it needs to be an account with administrator privelige - see the System Preferences -> Accounts which has a checkbox "Allow user to administer this computer".) (And Terminal is in the Applications -> Utilities folder). (And I am using 10.6.8)

iTunes (or whatever process) needs read-write access to this folder. I am not sure the best setting, but this works for me:

sudo chmod go+w /var/db/lockdown

This changes the folder so that group (g) and other (o) have write access.

Restart iTunes, connect your iPhone, and you should see iTunes able to access the iPhone.

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Answer 3

pala9801 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jul 23, 2012 2:15 PM in response to jxc100

I really appreciate your help. All of those commands ran successfully, but I still can't connect. I'm getting the same "iTunes could not connect to this iPhone. Could not allocate a resource" message. I tried a complete system restart, and still nothing. Now what? Oh, and I ran those commands in Terminal. That's correct, right?

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Answer 4

Aug 8, 2013 7:58 AM in response to pala9801

I was having the same issue. The suggested fix of creating the lockdown folder and changing permissions appears to have fixed the issue for me.

Thanks!

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Answer 5

Dec 22, 2015 12:49 AM in response to pala9801

chazfromseattle's fix worked. I had deleted the lockdown file by accident (even though all notes said not to) 😝 - I changed the lockdown folder permissions and it worked! So happy! 🙂

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