Since this seems to be a known message (to anyone but Apple), I'll post my fix here.
The Error Message
iPod cannot be updated. The disk could not be read from or written to.
Behaviour
iTunes would react to the connection of the Suffle and show it. But try any update and the error message would pop up.
Windows (Explorer, Device Manager etc) would show the Shuffle for a few seconds, but it
disappeared by the next update. And sometimes it came back again for a little while.
Restoring (new firmware and formating) when well - if I was quick about it.
Your crash-test dummy
I ran through the support pages of Apple. It all sounded reasonable, but did not help. Otherwise, great support pages
Then I googled the error message. Lots of fun about the iPod Nano and photos and a few in my situation but no fixes.
Found one good page for Shuffle owners, though: http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/02/15/shuffle.html
So I finally started to think.
Who has been messing around with BIOS settings; actually done a few resettings of the BIOS due to a sligthtly cranky memory upgrade? And isn't there a few settings for USB in the BIOS?
Well, I turned off what is called "Enchanted USB Compability" for starts (the other candidate was "USB Keyboard Support"), and now iTunes is busy updating - amber light blinking, reporting "Updating iPod. Do not disconnect".
I don't know, but somehow I would not be surprised to hear that Mac users isn't really encouraged to mess with BIOS settings. Possibly that's why Apple support hasn't made a mention of this possibility.
But I am open to other suggestions - may be by the next time I restart my PC (not very often), the Shuffle won't work anymore
The Error Message
iPod cannot be updated. The disk could not be read from or written to.
Behaviour
iTunes would react to the connection of the Suffle and show it. But try any update and the error message would pop up.
Windows (Explorer, Device Manager etc) would show the Shuffle for a few seconds, but it
disappeared by the next update. And sometimes it came back again for a little while.
Restoring (new firmware and formating) when well - if I was quick about it.
Your crash-test dummy
I ran through the support pages of Apple. It all sounded reasonable, but did not help. Otherwise, great support pages
Then I googled the error message. Lots of fun about the iPod Nano and photos and a few in my situation but no fixes.
Found one good page for Shuffle owners, though: http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/02/15/shuffle.html
So I finally started to think.
Who has been messing around with BIOS settings; actually done a few resettings of the BIOS due to a sligthtly cranky memory upgrade? And isn't there a few settings for USB in the BIOS?
Well, I turned off what is called "Enchanted USB Compability" for starts (the other candidate was "USB Keyboard Support"), and now iTunes is busy updating - amber light blinking, reporting "Updating iPod. Do not disconnect".
I don't know, but somehow I would not be surprised to hear that Mac users isn't really encouraged to mess with BIOS settings. Possibly that's why Apple support hasn't made a mention of this possibility.
But I am open to other suggestions - may be by the next time I restart my PC (not very often), the Shuffle won't work anymore