iTunes Error: "The Disc Cannot Be Read From Or Written To

[mstruve]

Hi, I have recently started getting the above error message in iTunes when trying to import music. Has anyone else had this issue?

I don't think it is a problem with the external drive I'm using, as I have copied my library to another drive and opened iTunes using the new library file, and it still comes up with the same error when I try and import music.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Partron22]

HDD's not SSD's or CD's, right?
iTunes likes to choke if you try to move too many tracks into it at once.
Try moving 10 at a time, then 20 etc, and see where the limit is for your setup.
Of course, this might not be what's causing you trouble, but I've had problems with it, and it sound similar to what you're experiencing.

 

[mstruve]

Yes it's an external USB HDD. I don't think it's to do with the number of tracks though, as it's only around 6 tracks at a time.

I would just replace the HDD with a new one, but the fact that it continued to happen when I switched to a different drive indicates that the drive itself isn't the problem...

 

[Partron22]

Right, likely not drive.
Could be library corruption.
Try making a New music library by holding down option keep when you start iTunes, and choosing "make new library".
See if you can import to that.
This won't delete your old library. When done, you can get back toit by holding down option key when starting iTunes again and picking the old one.
Of course, if the library turns out to be the problem, you'll be in for a lot of work getting all your music xfered to a good lib.

 

[mstruve]

Right, likely not drive.
Could be library corruption.
Try making a New music library by holding down option keep when you start iTunes, and choosing "make new library".
See if you can import to that.
This won't delete your old library. When done, you can get back toit by holding down option key when starting iTunes again and picking the old one.
Of course, if the library turns out to be the problem, you'll be in for a lot of work getting all your music xfered to a good lib.

Ok, this is really odd.

I tried doing as you suggested and creating a completely new iTunes library. This time I created it on the local 'Macintosh' drive, as I know that drive is fine (the Mac runs perfectly apart from this one issue).

And it came up with the same error message - drive cannot be read from or written to...

Can anyone suggest what might be going on here?

 

[Partron22]

That is odd. Sounds like iTunes or iTunes helper is the problem.
I'd try reinstalling iTunes and disabling iTunes helper.
-No guarantees...

 

[mstruve]

That is odd. Sounds like iTunes or iTunes helper is the problem.
I'd try reinstalling iTunes and disabling iTunes helper.
-No guarantees...

Thanks for the suggestion.
I tried disabling iTunes helper first, but that didn't seem to work.
I then tried uninstalling iTunes in order to reinstall, but it wouldn't allow me to delete it...
Should I be considering a clean install of OSX here or is that too drastic?

 

[Partron22]

IIRC, Terminal will let you delete it:
Type rm /Applications/iTunes.app and hit return.
Apple brought SIP online since I last deleted iTunes, so you may need admin privileges for the command now:
Type sudo rm /Applications/iTunes.app and hit return.
It'll ask for your admin password.

Once that's done, delete your iTunes prefs at /Users/YourName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist

Then download and reinstall iTunes: https://support.apple.com/downloads/

If terminal makes you nervous, do not try this.

-Heck, Sierra either just came out, or is about to.
Installing that might fix your troubles.
I'd try that First.

 

[mstruve]

IIRC, Terminal will let you delete it:
Type rm /Applications/iTunes.app and hit return.
Apple brought SIP online since I last deleted iTunes, so you may need admin privileges for the command now:
Type sudo rm /Applications/iTunes.app and hit return.
It'll ask for your admin password.

Once that's done, delete your iTunes prefs at /Users/YourName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist

Then download and reinstall iTunes: https://support.apple.com/downloads/

If terminal makes you nervous, do not try this.

-Heck, Sierra either just came out, or is about to.
Installing that might fix your troubles.
I'd try that First.

Thanks very much. I had looked around and seen that it could be done via Terminal, but also advice saying that it wasn't recommended. Presumably removing iTunes then reinstalling doesn't do anything to the library files etc, just removes the application itself?

Good call re Sierra, I'll give that a try first in any event...

 

[Partron22]

No, library and music will be safe in your music folder. You're just getting rid of the app and its music prefs.
A backup beforehand, either w terminal stuff and Sierra, would be a good idea.