Q: 6th Generation Nano Mostly Won't Sync
Have just obtained a used iPod Nano 6th generation, and I'm having some trouble.
I have a 27-inch iMac, late-2009 model, running El Capitan. I have the most recent version of iTunes.
When I connect the iPod to the computer via most USB slots, it does not show up in Finder as a mounted drive. Though, it does show up in the System Information under USB 2.0 Bus --> Hub --> iPod. The system seems vaguely aware that there's an iPod plugged in, but doesn't let me do anything with it. The iPod itself claims that it is connected, and it charges successfully.
However, when I plug the iPod into one of the USB slots on my Apple wired keyboard, it does show up in Finder. Basically, out of 6 USB slots (4 on the iMac and 2 on the keyboard), it will only show up when plugged in to one of them.
Once I got it in the right USB port, iTunes was able to recognize the iPod. However, it seems mostly unwilling to sync. Usually it hangs there for several minutes while trying to sync before saying that it is unable to: "iTunes could not copy X to the iPod Y because the file could not be read or written." At this point, it usually no longer shows up in iTunes (though it stays mounted in Finder).
It will occasionally successfully sync, but 90% of the time it just hangs up. I see no pattern to when this happens. As I was writing this, I got it to accept a sync of two podcasts and one song, and then it stopped working again.
I have tried resetting the iPod, and being in and out of disk mode. I have been unable to restore it to factory default via iTunes: nothing happens for a while, then iTunes says that it cannot.
I have tried manually adding files to the iPod by dragging them over in Finder. This generally causes Finder to hang and then it needs to be restarted. In some cases, I can't even restart Finder until I pull the cord out of the iPod, as the whole system hangs.
I have used Disk Utility on the iPod, both to repair any errors (it found none) and to erase its contents.
I've wondered if this is related to the USB cable, but I guess my thought is that if the cable were faulty, wouldn't I not have made it this far? It shows up in Finder, charges, and occasionally syncs a file. But I could well be wrong. Before I go buying a new one, I thought I'd check here to see if it could be something else.
Any help is appreciated. I've been at this for about 4 hours, trying different things, reading troubleshooting guides, forum posts, etc.
iPod nano, 6th generation
Posted on Apr 29, 2016 9:11 PM