unknown error [-50]

i did! my i pod has been useless for months then just randomly i decided to type ipod into the Windows (microsoft) help and support search engin on the ( their help button is right on my start menu the blue circle with a ? on it)i was just board! i gave up on my ipod working weeks ago after 6 faild attempt with the "R's" and there it was, descirbing the problem and solution i couldn't belive it, after spending all this time searching the web for a way to make my ipod work again it's just right there, it's probably been there all along! i trust the companys advice so i did it (what did i have to lose) of course i was skeptical because of the warning about deleting at your own risk or whatever but i followed the directions closley to my amazement it fixes everything! as far as i can tell, my ipod is running better than it ever has, with all the latest updates! (but i started with the original ipod disk then tryed to connect to version 6. It Worked! i downloaded the updates and....It still worked! and it's still working! im'm not sure how i feel about the new sync system compared to the old method but i haven't had one error message since i removed those files, weird sync problems (like skipping songs)are gone too, media just flows from my library. i'm definetly not used to the new version of itunes but, because of this fix my ipod finally works again....so, serch windows help and support youself to check my work and then give it a shot. i'm bettin once this gets around the threds we'll see a lot of people with their error -5o questions(i got this message all the time, interupting my sync) and their XP ipod Sync problems solved, ipod not appearing when you plug in, crashes, ipod appearing as unreadable unwriteable disc, nothing has popped up and ive been adding my CDs back to itunes all day, the ipod juat keeps syncing on its own without a hitch (and i had all those problems i listed)if i'm right about thist being the fix all, it seems to be, for XP users a lot of people should be very pleased...i hope you try and it works for you too, i don't think this particualr source would have a bogus fix, i just can't believe no ones tried or even considered i bet every one tried apples help and support and then just ended up here by defult...if some one finds a problem with this method let me know, but i'm pretty sure it's the "Perfect FIX" for Windows XP users, my connection /syncing problems were terrible, my ipod was virtually unuseable, sometimes just trying to sync would crash my computer. now suddenly my ipod is i seemingly just like new i've even used the apple store to download a dane cook podcast (again it worked perfectly) i still have a lot of things i want to see work for a few days straight but it seems like this is it..

I have an unkown error -208. anybody know about it? It says that I can't update the IPOD, but after I click OK, it updates the IPOD. Go figure!

Have a new IPOD Video with color= 30 GB.

Help me Lord,
Ronnie

49311ace: could you contact me on an e-mail? I can't find anywhere yours.

wizelek@gmail.com

PC Windows XP Pro

30gig Video Ipod gen-5, Windows xp- home

I have had the same exact problem as this thread. I have been getting the -50 error also. I have read through all of these threads and tried every one. Still didn't work. My itunes recognized the ipod but not in my computer , therefor it wouldn't do any updating and would freeze because the COMPUTER didn't see the ipod. I had to ctrl/alt/delete to close the itunes program.

I saw a post that said to enable the disc but I couldn't because as described above it would just freeze and give -50 error. I think anybody with this problem noticed that when the ipod was connected it did the initial update until itunes loaded than that was it.

I tried itunes 6.0, reformatting, calling apple- they said sorry- we don't know and gave the usual brush off- call your computer manufacture- ya right. reinstalling everything. unplugging usb's, tried to edit my regedit. nothing worked.

I then tried to enable the disc while it was updating when I 1st plugged in the ipod- I started Itunes let it load. I then plugged in the ipod and when it recognized it, still while it is updating I then enable disc use. I didn't let it finish updating to enable disc use. everything works as it should now with disc enabled.

I tried and unchecked the box for disc enable and it went right back to the error code and not being able to update.

conclusion is: with disc enabled you can update photo's and songs anytime. Without disc enabled you can only update songs only the 1st time connected.

hope this helps someone. and maybe give Apple a clue.

dell Windows XP

Dell Windows XP 30-gig Video Ipod 5th generation

dell Windows XP

how do i go about enabling disk use

When Itunes reconizes your ipod there will be a box next to "enable disk use" in the summary section. check it while the ipod is syncing. This will enable disk use at the same time- at least it did with me.= after that it should be ok. Also, a warning box will appear that says you need to eject your Ipod when enable disc is used. just check ok. When quitting Itunes you just need to eject the ipod 1st.

I'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY IPOD VIDEO 30GB!!! UNFORTUANTELY I WORK 2 JOBS AND HAVEN'T HAD TIME TILL NOW TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM.
THANKS FOR THE CLUE ABOUT WHERE TO LOCATED THE ENABLE DISK BOX CAUSE I HAD NO CLUE WHERE TO FIND IT.
I GET THIS ERROR MESSAGE WHEN I TRY TO UPDATE ITUNES UPDATE MY IPOD FOR LATEST VERSIONS.
WHAT REALLY ****** ME OFF IS THAT I CANNOT WATCH ANY MOVIES TV SHOWS OR VIDEOS CAUSE THE IPOD WON'T SYNC THEM...THAT'S WHEN I GET THE ERROR MESSAGE.....THE VIDEOS AND TV SHOW ARE IN ITUNES BUT WON'T TRANSFER TO THE IPOD.
PLEASE PEOPLE TELL ME WHAT I'M DOING WRONG!!!
THE MUSIC, PICS, PODCAST WORK FINE...I HAVEN'T TRIED THE GAMES YET THOUGH.
THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP...I'LL BE TRYING THESE THIS WEEKEND UNLESS SOMEONE REPLIES.

BY THE WAY DOES ANY KNOW IF ITS POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER MOVIES FROM DVD TO THE IPOD?? IF SO HOW DO YOU DO IT???
THANKS AGAIN ALL

Windows XP

Windows XP

I tried doing exactly what you said and it didn't work for me. The enable disk use box doesn't stay checked if I unplug my iPod and plug it back in. It defaults back to being unchecked. Grrrrrrrr, very frustrating. I appreciate your input. It was worth a try. On a another note, I noticed when I plugged in my iPod just now that there is an iPod software update for "bug fixes" v 1.2.1. Well, guess what? It doesn't work either! When it tries to update, at the end I get the error message "The iPod so and so cannot be updated. An unknown error occurred {1417}." This is getting too comical. Apple's fix doesn't work and is now giving yet a different error! I should've waited for a Zune! Anyone else try the new software update? I'm curious to hear what woes others are experiencing. It seems that Apple just can't get this right.

5th gen 80 gb Windows XP

It was very important to enable the disk as soon as Itunes reconizes your Ipod. When Itunes loads when it reconizes your Ipod you need to click on disk enable then a box might show up- click yes, then go to bottom of the page and click apply. Did you do that? Let me know, Doug

What the **** is going on with this itunes and ipod prob? ive searched everywhere and tried everything and still i cant get my brand new 80GB ipod to sync! i just swapped my 30GB at the store thinking it was faulty, only to find out that the prob isnt with the ipod! So when is this going to get fixed? cause at the moment i have a pretty useless Ipod and for the first time im not happy at all woth my apple products casue this just isnt very apple is it?

Doug, I tried that last night, and it didn't work. So, I tried it again this morning, and well, it sort of works. I can now load photos on my iPod vice just music and it will sync without having to manually plug/unplug the iPod. However, whenever I plug my iPod in and iTunes says the "iPod update is complete" my iPod keeps showing the "Do not disconnect" screen. It stays like that until I unmount the iPod through iTunes.

Two other things. Windows still doesn't see my iPod as a device and after enabling the disk I was able to update the v 1.2.1 software update. What it supposedly fixed, I couldn't tell you. Bottom line, I can now sync through iTunes photos not just music (haven't tried movies or other things yet). I would suggest others try this workaround. It's a functioning fix, but there's still something wrong i.e. Windows still doesn't see my iPod and the "Do not disconnect" screen on the iPod forever until I unmount it through iTunes.

Apple still needs to figure out why Windows machines are having these problems. Their v1.2.1 update didn't do the job.

I've been getting the same problem for a long time. I can't even enable my iPod for disk use without getting the error. I tried the registry thing but it won't let me delete the keys. I'm so lost...

EDIT: For the registry one, those keys aren't even there so that can't be the problem.

The ipod says "don't disconnect" because it is suppose to when you enable the disk use which is normal. You need to eject the ipod before quiting Itunes. You just right click on your ipod in Itunes and there is a box that pops up and says eject- click on that. Your Ipod will return to normal the state. It is just one step that you didn't have to do before. That is what that box said when you clicked on disk enable. Like I said before- This should give apple a clue on whats going on. hope this helped, Doug

Yeah, the "registry fix" didn't do anything for me either.

Enabling disk use DID work, but it's an annoying fix.