Disk cannot be read from or written to

See if this helps: "-36 or "Disk cannot be read from or written to" when syncing iPod or "Firmware update failure" error when updating or restoring iPod

I am having the same problem, though with a 60 GB iPod Photo. I just got it back today from Apple Support after having issues with a Sad iPod Icon. They returned the original product saying there was nothing wrong with it. Though the Sad iPod Icon has disappeared, I am now faced with being unable to synch my music library.

I found the Apple document regarding this specific problem, and tried everything suggested. Nothing has fixed the problem.

I also occasionally get an error message that reads:

iTunes.exe - Device Timeout : The specified I/O operation on \Device\Harddisk1\DR22 was not completed before the time-out period expired.

My System Event Viewer shows messages that say:
"An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk1\D during a paging operation."
Another entry is made about every time the synch process is stopped with the iTunes error message indicating it could not read from or write to the disk.

I am running Windows XP SP2 with all current updates, the current version of iTunes, and have installed the most recent iPod software onto the iPod.

Thanks in advance.

OK, wow… don’t know how long I’ve been trying to fix this exact same problem. Whenever I would try to add songs to my iPod shuffle it said it couldn’t be “read or written to” and when I would try to restore it, it said that my iPod “couldn’t be mounted.” Believe me, I did everything the apple websites said to fix this problem like three times if not more and it did NOT help this problem at all. Finally I got help from another tech and this is how I was able to solve my problem (at least on my computer - Dell XPS)…hopefully this works for you too. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with my root hubs, but I was proven to be wrong.
Here are the steps:

1) Right-click on “My Computer” and select [Properties]
2) Click on the [Hardware] tab, then click on [Device Manager]
3) Click on the [+] besides the [Universal Serial Bus controllers]
4) Right Click every “device” listed - (Example: Intel (R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controllers, Intel (R) 82801FB/FBM USB Enhanced Host Controller or USB Root Hub) - and uninstall every device (It is ok if you have no hubs left installed)
5) You will then have to restart your computer, when the computer restarts it should automatically reinstall the USB hubs that were uninstalled.

Finally after restarting, you can plug in your iPod shuffle, it should now come up on “My Computer”. To be on the safe-side I re-formatted my iPod. You can do this by right-clicking the “iPod icon” in “My Computer” and choose [format…] and press [start]. Next, open up your iTunes and your iPod should show up soon enough. And well, that’s it. 

I am now enjoying my iPod shuffle….believe me, I felt your pain.
PS: I knew my iPod was working fine because I would plug it into my friends computer and it would work.

I tried the steps you outlined. So far so good, been pulling my hair out trying to fix "error 36" then "cannot read or write to disk." So far so good, at least I'm getting somewhere and was getting tired of listening to the same 46 songs on my shuffle.

Well formated the ipod shuffle and still get the same message. Lost my 46 songs. Giving up and buying something else besides apple.

iv had the same problem. does anyone know how to get rid of the wont mount thing without reinstalling the usb hubs????

Omg I'm having problems with updating my iPod too. Ever since the recent updater was released, everything went haywire.

I've reformatted my shuffle using the latest updater, used a different USB port and I'm positive that nothing could go wrong with my Sony as my printer (connected via USB cable) works fine.

After I reformatted my shufle, I could reload in the songs from my iTunes library into my shuffle and I could delete some I didn't want loaded. Once that was finished, the shuffle is basically dead in terms of communicating with iTunes (changing preferences, autofilling, another reformat attempt, etc; it won't update/work).

Only thing that works is the music that comes through the earphones and into your ears. xD

-Sighs- I wish I shouldn't have uninstalled my previous updaters..it might've resolved this problem.

I had the same problem too with my shuffle. My computer at the time (HP) wouldn't recognize the shuffle but would recognize my mini. Ran through the 5 R's, uninstalled and reinstalled USB firmware for my HP and still no luck (but the mini was working fine). Finally gave up and went to Futureshop (or BestBuy) with my shuffle in tow, plugged it into one of the demo MACs and restored it to factory settings. Brought it home and the HP noticed it right away and restored it to factory settings again a la windows. Has been working fine ever since with the PC.

This is the biggest pain in the butt! I'm trying the unstill USB controller part, but keep getting program not responding. Getting ready to give up and take it back.

EUREKA! - I found a solution that works for Windows XP with the iPod Shuffle (2nd Gen.) and may work with other iPod models as well -

Like all of you, I had the same problems as you're experiencing:

1. "cannot read from or write to disk"
2. "iPod settings cannot be restored"

These results were identical on 2 brand new iPod Shuffles on 2 up-to-date WinXP machines. I tried EVERYTHING to fix. The problem seems to be that the iPod is simply not a recognizable USB device (at least not on a Windows machine), only a "generic storage device." It would be nice if Apple gave us the correct drivers.

SOLUTION: GET vPod. - - vPod is a free Windows iPod transfer utility. It just works. I downloaded it, installed, read the instructions, voila. Sweet music from the previously impotent iPod. Interface not as slick as iTunes but do you care? Instructions in the Readme.txt file. Just Google "vpod", download version 0.60

Hope it works for you too - good luck!

Dell Windows XP Pro

I had this exact same problem.

I had a shuffle, worked fine, went to add songs got the error. After hours on w/ support they sent me a new shuffle. Able to plug it in and used it. But second time got the errors.

Not really sure which of the two solutions worked.

#1 - find a different PC that you can plug the shuffle it in and set it to DISK MODE.

#2 - update the CHIPSET or MOTHERBOARD drivers for your computer.

I was able to take my shuffle to work and get it set to disk mode, then when I got home I was able to update the chipset drivers. Ever since then it works perfectly.

I don't know if I still need to keep it in disk mode or not, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it.