Trouble syncing iPod after initial connection

We just purchased a 5th gen iPod, and we're having some trouble getting it to sync with our Mac mini Core Duo. When we connect it via the included USB cable, it will appear on the desktop, trigger iTunes to start up, and perform a sync. However, the problem arises if we try to manually sync the iPod again after that first sync. When I go into iTunes and right click on the iPod and select "Update iPod", iTunes hangs for a minute with no indication that the iPod is syncing. If I try to right click on the iPod and select "Options", I am able to choose different options, but after clicking "OK", iTunes hangs for a minute and then reports "Preferences were not safed for the iPod "xxxxxx" because it could not be found." Basically, it seems like after that first sync, the iPod disconnects and will not reconnect.
Additional notes:
* I have tried the "Five R's", although the "Reinstall" part did not work - when I tried to run the iTunes installer, it told me there was "nothing to install". Presumably because I already have the latest version of everything.
* I did put the iPod into diagnostic mode, and it passed all tests successfully.
* Even when the iPod fails to sync, it does continue to charge... so it appears that the connection is at least working somewhat.
* If I set the iPod into Disk Mode, it seems to work fine. However, to do this, I either have to use the key combination to force it into Disk Mode, or REALLY QUICKLY set up the options to do so while it is performing its initial sync after being connected. As I said before, after the initial sync happens, and the iPod disconnects, I can't save any of the options.
* When I connect my 4th Gen iPod via the 5th Gen iPod's USB cable, it exhibits the exact same symptoms as the 5th Gen iPod. That leads me to believe the problem is not in the iPod itself, but possibly in the cable, the mini's USB port, or in the software. I have tried plugging in to all four USB ports on the mini with the same results. The 4th Gen iPod works fine when plugged in via FireWire. And of course the 5th Gen doesn't support FireWire, so I can't try that.
Any suggestions?
Mac mini Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.6) 2gb RAM

You're not alone. I have the exact same problem as
you. I had a 3G iPod before and it worked perfectly.
I'm glad to hear that someone else is having this problem. I'm totally baffled as to what the issue could be. I'm going to list every place I think there could possibly be a problem, and any steps I've taken to rule it out:
1. Hardware problem inside the 5th gen iPod.
- I have run all of the self-diagnostics, and they passed with flying colors. The iPod plays back music, photos, and video just fine. Also, I have the same problem with the 4th gen iPod, when it is hooked up via USB2. The 4th gen works fine when hooked up via FireWire.
- Conclusion: not the problem.
2. Hardware problem with my USB cable.
- I took my iPod to the Apple Store and hooked it up using their USB cable, and experienced the same problem. Also, the iPod charges normally in any case, and it syncs over my USB cable just fine if it's in disk mode.
- Conclusion: not the problem.
3. Hardware problem with a USB port on my Mac mini.
- As noted in #2, I took my iPod to the Apple Store and hooked it up to one of their Mac minis, and it had the same problem. Also, I plugged the iPod into all of the ports on my Mac mini and got the same results with all of them. All of my other peripherals work fine on all of the USB ports (printer, card reader, camera, mouse, keyboard).
- Conclusion: not the problem.
4. Hardware problem on my Mac mini other than the USB port.
- As noted in #3, I had the same problem when I hooked my iPod up to the Mac mini in the Apple Store. Also, I have run the Apple Hardware Diagnostics CD on my Mac mini and it did not come up with any problems.
- Conclusion: not the problem.
5. Problem with the iTunes software on my Mac mini.
- As noted earlier, I experienced the same problem when hooking up with the Apple Store's Mac mini. Also, my 4th gen iPod works just fine when connected via FireWire.
- Conclusion: not the problem.
6. Problem with the Mac OS X software on my Mac mini.
- As noted earlier, I had the same problem on the Apple Store's mini.
- Conclusion: not the problem.
7. Problem with the Firmware on my iPod.
- I had updated my iPod to firmware 1.1.1, but even after downgrading it to 1.1, I had the same problem. And I'm having the problem on my 4th Gen iPod when it is hooked up via USB, and it has a totally different firmware.
- Conclusion: not the problem.
8. Problem with the iTunes music library on my Mac mini.
- I reset the iPod using the iPod Updater, wiping out all of its data. I then created a fresh user on Mac OS X, logged in to it, and connected the iPod. That user had no iTunes library at all, so other than the preferences, no data was being synced to the iPod, and I STILL had the same issue.
- Conclusion: not the problem.
Ok, so all of those are not the problem. So what could the problem be? Well, let's try a few theories:
Theory A. This is a problem that affects all Mac mini Core Duo users who are syncing iPods over USB2.
- If this was true, wouldn't we be hearing a lot more complaints? I suppose if most of the users had their iPods set to disk mode, then they would never notice the problem.
Theory B. Um... I don't have any other theories.
I've thought about taking the iPod back and swapping it for a new unit, but based on all of the troubleshooting I've done, I don't see how that could make any difference, since I'm experiencing the same problem with my 4th gen iPod.
Anyone want to take a stab at it?
Mac mini Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.6) 2gb RAM

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