Any way to reset the iPod preferences in iTunes?

Question

For a while now I've had a problem where my iPod Shuffle is recognized as a Shuffle by the Finder, but not by the iPod updater or iTunes. They both seemed to think that the Shuffle was actually a normal iPod. Contacts and calendars would try to sync and even if I only let a couple songs get transferred, I can't hear them with the Shuffle anyway.
This problem had gone away for a couple weeks. My computer was restarted and all of a sudden iTunes was recognizing my Shuffle as a gasp Shuffle. Unfortunately, today it went back to thinking it was some other kind of iPod. So I did a software update (iTunes 6.0.3 to 6.0.4 and a security update) and allowed the computer to restart. Still having the same darn problem. In iTunes the Shuffle isn't recognized as a Shuffle but is recognized as a normal iPod.
When it shows up on the desktop, however, it has the Shuffle icon.
My Powerbook running the same OS and software versions works fine - but all my music is on my desktop. Please someone tell me how to get iTunes to work properly!

Answer 1

You could try if deleting the iPod prefs. helps.
Move 'com.apple.iPod.plist' (in ~/Users/YourUsername/Library/Preferences) to the trash.
Run iTunes. iTunes will create a new iPod prefs. file.
If this doesn't work, you might have to restore the iPod:
Restoring iPod to factory settings
Hope this helps.
M
17' iMac fp 800 MHz 768 MB RAM   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   Several ext. HD (backup and data)