ITunes 8.1.1 will not sync

Question

Since iTunes 8.1.1 I just get;
The iPod "Phillip's iPod" cannot be synced. An unknown error occurred (-48).
The only option it gives you is (OK) and to close the error window.
I'm having the exact same problem as of today with my iPod nano 3rd gen on my Windowns XP
iTunes will sync the songs up the top in the little window and the songs will appear, but then i'll get the error message. I can play the songs inside the iPod playlist but the error message will continue to pop up every now and then. when I close iTunes and open it the synced songs will be gone fro mthe ipod.
So I'm beginning to think that iTunes 8.1.1 has become more ruthless than ever against unprotected songs and the like.
iTunes updater also installed Bonjour when I specifically opted to not install it.

Answer 1

I have Windows 8.1 64. Upgraded my iphone 5 to 7.1 version.  My laptop did not recognize the iphone. After a couple of hours of tring to figure out why the laptop and iphone weren't syncing, these are the steps I followed. Most are pieced together from suggestion on various websites. Don't  know if all steps are necessary, but it's what I did and it worked.
1) I did this first: Uninstall and reinstall itunes.
2) Reboot computer and iphone (turn off the on again)
3) Go to control panel and "repair" all apple apps.
4) Go to "Device Manager" on computer (go to left bottom corner and right click, locate Device Manger from list or you can use the Search..
4a) Go to Universial Serial Bus Controllers and look for "Apple Mobile Sevice USB Driver (Before "repairing" the apple apps, this did not appear on my laptop).
4b) Right-click the Apple iPhone in Device Manager and select  Update Drive.
4c) Click "Browse my computer for driver software."
4d) Click "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer."
4e) Click the "Have Disk button"
4f) At the "Install from Disk" click Browse button.
4g) Go to the following folder: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers and Click OK.
4h) Click Next and finish the driver-installation steps.
5) You should then see the "Apple Mobile Service USB Driver in the Device Manager now.
6) Open itunes and hopefully the iphone and Windows 8.1 laptop will sync (a dialogue box will appear on the iphone 5 asking you  to "trust" the computer. Select Trust.)
7) If this doesn't work, try rebooting your computer and turning off your iphone and then turn it back on.
Good Luck. It shouldn't be this time-consuming.