If iTunes is giving you -69 errors when you are trying to transfer files to your iPod this is what you need to do.

Apples support page assumes its a problem with the file you are trying to copy.

In my case and likely yours.  Errors on the Ipods disk will be causing the -69 error. Itunes does not handle this gracefully ( it gives you the -69 error and cancels the copy)

My  suggested fix:

1. Quit Itunes
2. Download SharePod
3. Run Sharepod
4. Backup any music which is only on your Ipod to external media (DVD/USB drive)
5. Copy any files you want to your Ipod
6. Quit Sharepod, and start Itunes
7. Itunes will recognise all the files on the iPod. Create any playlists required and away you go.

Because you have errors on the disk:

• Some songs will not play, and will skip right past them
• Your ipod may freeze (screen freezes and buttons dont appear to work) when playing certain artists/songs. In my experience, the interface will freeze but the song will continue to play. Just leave it, it has recovered every time.

But this is still better than not having an iPod, or an iPod with only a small amount of your collection on it!

NOTE: Always keep a backup of your music collection. On an external drive or DVD’s etc.

IPOD Altitude Sickness

Disk based ipods are rated to 3000m altitude. Above this the air pressure is too low and the head of the drive starts smashing into the platter of the disk. Making a very bad sound and causing the physical errors that we are now dealing with. The same thing can happen from drops, time, bad luck…

The heads touching the surface of the disk platter will cause errors. It can even kill the Ipod if it happens to damage important sectors on the disk. If you are at altitude (3000m+), do not use your Ipod, or try and turn it off if it starts making grinding/clicking sounds.

My Ipods life history:

My 60GB Ipod got altitude sickness in India. At approximately 3300m is stopped working. A friends 30GB model stopped working at 3600m.

The Ipod would turn on, but it appeared empty. No artists or songs would show. Once I returned to a lower altitude the songs reappeared. (Do a reset if it remains blank)

Later on I was in Bolivia. I used my Ipod on the bus and we climbed in altitude. The crunching sounds started, I couldn’t get my Ipod to turn off. So I stuffed it into my pack at my feet. I could hear it grinding away for hours until the battery went flat. Not a good sound!

Hopefully you can turn the Ipod off, or you have to wait for the battery to die.

Halfway through my trip, a friend wiped my entire ipod by accident.

Luckily I had a copy of all the music on a USB harddrive.

But I couldn’t get more than 30GB back onto my Ipod due to the -69 errors.

I wish I found Sharepod a year ago! Im back to 60GB on my Ipod.