How to fix an iOS sync error after upgrading to iTunes 10.1

Some users have experienced an iOS syncing error after upgrading to iTunes 10.1 recently. The error, "Unknown error 0xE800000A," causes syncing to fail, specifically with an iPad.

Mac OS X Hints user bauldrywc reports that most suggestions around the Web merely suggest rebooting the device to fix the issue, often with varied results. By checking the console logs after the error it appeared as though iTunes was having issues with a plist file located in /var/db/lockdown.

Since the file already existed with different permissions attached to it, the process failed, causing the sync to fail as well. To fix the issue bauldrywc used the following Terminal commands:

1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities)
2. Type: cd /var/db/lockdown
3. Press Enter.
4. Type: sudo rm (put the plist file name here, without parentheses)
5. Press Enter.

Close Terminal and restart your Mac. A quick search around the Internet revealed that this issue is out there, though most cases seem to relate to iPhones running iOS 3.x, some of which are connecting to Windows machines. This makes me think it may be an iOS 3.x issue, as opposed to a Mac or iPhone issue. An Apple Support Discussions forum from last year describes some solutions as well.

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