Shuffle "cannot be read from or written to" error - FIXED

To fix the error that occurs when we try to update or copy music from iTunes and that returns the message error -50 and/or 1481, we have to set the "Enable Disk Use" - at iPod settings tab on iTunes - as marked.
OK, but this error occurs cause iTunes - when still running - unmount the iPod device (and I don't know why - hello Apple!); so, the time that we have to apply this setting is very shortly.
So, we have to keep the iPod device mounted putting there a file, as a Notepad file, and open it when iTunes is closed and iPod device is mounted (plug in the iPod - iTunes will open -, remove the hardware (iPod), quit iTunes, plug in iPod again and open the file on iPod disk). Now we can open iTunes and set iPod as told before.

Thanks for this thread. I kinda followed what you meant, but just in case anyone else is having any problems, here are the steps I took to 'fix' my shuffle 2nd gen:
Here's what actually happens:
Quote:
* windows recognises ipod straight away as a removable hdd
* itunes opens and reads the ipos
* seconds later, windows ejects the drive on its own.
* itunes thinks it's still there
* any attemps to update anything via itunes, fail.
Here's the fix:
Quote:
* create a new blank text file in notepad. Save it to your desktop. ctrl-c the file, ready to paste it somewhere else.
* Open my computer, so you can see a list of your drives
* plug the ipod in
* watch for the ipod drive appearing, and QUICKLY open it, and ctrl-v the blank text file.
* QUICKLY open the blank text file by double-clicking it. This will prevent windows from ejecting the ipod drive, because it's in use.
* whilst in itunes, alter the preferences for the ipod... you need to 'enable disk use', as it's disabled by default.
* save the changes, delete the text file if you wish, and exit itunes.
All fixed.

Similar Messages

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    This is a quote from another post, I'm not taking any credit for this fix. However, I spent HOURS trying to fix my Shuffle 2nd Gen. I did the 5R's, no help there, absolutely worthless. Even trying to Restore the shuffle, it would error. Basically every time I tried to communicate to the Shuffle, it would hang. Eventually I'd get the "cannot read or write" error, and sometimes that was error -50, sometimes 1418, sometime no code, just the "cannot read or write" error.
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    I'm a new iPod owner and have spent the past 3 days researching solutions to this problem. Through research and testing I came to the same conclusion. I fixed mine using a slightly different solution:
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    Thank you so much! This is greatly appreciated. SERIOUSLY, man. How long have I been searching for this? And it would be so easy to just plug it up on that that http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301267 page. Hello, apple. Please do this.
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    Click here and follow the instructions.
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  • "The disk cannot be read from or written to" or

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    bday10 wrote:
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    have you seen click this KB ?

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