mrmunion

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

Close

Q: 6th Generation Nano Mostly Won't Sync

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Helpful

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 30, 2016 4:40 PM in response to mrmunion
    Level 8 (38,332 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 30, 2016 4:40 PM in response to mrmunion

    You Mac is old enough to have USB 2.0 ports, so your 6th gen iPod nano should work well with it.  My Mac mini is from 2011 (running latest iTunes and OS X); it works nicely with my old iPods; most of them are older than your iPod nano.  It should work on the direct USB ports on your iMac.  It's odd that it works a bit better on your keyboard's spare USB port.  Normally, I suggest using a direct USB port on the Mac when trouble-shooting.  And your USB docking cable is probably fine; I would rule out faulty cable by trying a different cable or using your current cable with another Apple device (if possible).

     

    First, you should use the procedure for Reset SMC (system management).  It serves as a general hardware reset for the Mac.  For an Intel iMac, this is basically disconnecting the iMac's power cord and reconnecting it, following a specific procedure

     

    Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support  (see Reset the SMC on Mac desktop computers)

     

    You can also do the good ol' Reset NVRAN ("PRAM") procedure, just in case...

     

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    NOW, you can try a few actual tests, to help narrow down the cause of your problem.  These are separate test. 

     

    (1) Shut down (power off) the Mac and disconnect all USB devices.  You can leave your USB keyboard/mouse connected.  Do this to Reset (restart) your iPod

     

    Learn how to reset your iPod - Apple Support

     

    Start up the Mac, run iTunes, and connect iPod to a direct USB port on the Mac, by itself.  Is there any difference?  This is to rule out a conflict between connected USB devices.

     

    (2) Start up the iMac in Safe Mode

     

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

     

    In Safe Mode, third-party system extensions (such as device drivers) are not loaded during startup.  Also, third-party background processes that auto-launch at login do not run.  This is to rule out a conflict with third-party software that may be interfering with the iPod.  Your iPod (normally) should still connect with iTunes in Safe Mode.  Try things like syncing and Restore in iTunes.

     

    (3) Create a new "Test User" account in System Preferences Users & Groups pane.  I have a user account on my Mac named Test User.  This user account can be Standard (not Administrator). Log out and log in to the new user account.  Do not use Fast User Switching.  In the new user account, run iTunes and connect the iPod.  iTunes is using a brand new iTunes library.  Add a small number of test songs to the library.  Try the things that do not work well in your usual user account.  This is to rule out a problem related to your usual user account or iTunes library. 

     

    (4) You can do one more test, if you have something like an external drive that can be erased.  Use the installer for El Capitan downloaded from Mac App Store to install a "fresh" OS X system on the external drive, after erasing it in Disk Utility.  Start up from the external drive test system.  Run iTunes, connect iPod, and do the same testing.  This is to rule out a problem with your existing El Capitan system, which can inherit problems as you apply upgrades over time.

     

    In each case, if the iPod works normally for that test, you have narrowed down the cause.  You can then focus your trouble-shooting there to find the exact cause.  Please post back with any new findings...

  • by mrmunion,

    mrmunion mrmunion Apr 30, 2016 3:43 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 30, 2016 3:43 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thanks for a thorough reply =).

     

    I forgot to mention that I had reset the SMC and NVRAM as part of this process before, without any effect. Actually, this procedure is fairly familiar due to an ongoing and possibly-related problem: ~50% of the time, when I boot up my computer, it won't recognize the keyboard, and I need to do the SMC/NVRAM trick (sometimes more than once) before it will do so. This makes me suspicious that I have something amiss in my USB ports. I've even purchased another wired Apple keyboard, but it didn't solve the problem.

     

    I've tried it with all the USB ports, when nothing else is plugged in, but no luck getting it to mount except at the one keyboard port that seems to work.

     

    I tried safe mode, but that had no effect on the problem. Still won't transfer items to the iPod. Getting into Safe Mode was actually a challenge, as holding Shift didn't do anything the first few times, because the computer stopped recognizing the keyboard again. I had to use the mouse + the keyboard viewer to go to Terminal and force it to boot up in Safe Mode (which also took 3 tries: the first time it powered off partway through, the second time it booted to a cursor and blank grey screen, and the third time it made it to a login prompt). Once in safe mode it wasn't recognizing my keyboard. But the next reset it finally came aboard and booted successfully in safe mode plus my keyboard was recognized. And then I tried to mess around with the iPod and no luck.

     

    Much of the above suggests non-iPod related issues, so I'm going to post in another forum about that right after I finish this.

     

    This morning, prior to trying anything, I took my iPod over to a friend's house and we plugged it into his MacBook. It worked perfectly (he was able to download and transfer data to the iPod to do a restore), so that's more evidence that the problem is not the iPod, but my machine.

     

    I've not tried the new iTunes user yet, but I can give that a go in the future. Given that I've got general USB wonkiness, I'm going to do some digging along that line first this evening.

     

    I don't have an external drive, alas.

     

    I appreciate your help.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Helpful

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 30, 2016 4:40 PM in response to mrmunion
    Level 8 (38,332 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 30, 2016 4:40 PM in response to mrmunion

    Trying the iPod on a different Mac is similar to (4).  If your keyboard has problems with your iMac's USB ports, that's probably also the reason your iPod is not working properly with your iMac.  Because your iMac is somewhat old, and you have a need to do the Reset NVRAM procedure often, the cause may be a weak PRAM battery.  Eventually, you may also have a problem starting up the iMac.  It's not something that is easy to "just try," but the PRAM battery is like this one

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/CR2032/

  • by mrmunion,

    mrmunion mrmunion Apr 30, 2016 4:40 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 30, 2016 4:40 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Good to know, thanks! I may take it in for service; I probably could replace the PRAM battery myself, but I think I'd rather have the professionals hassle themselves over it. I've also been thinking about getting a new iMac, so I may also just put up with this for a short while longer and take the plunge.

     

    In any case, I appreciate your taking the time to work through this with me!