Can't Restore - 4th Gen iPod

Question

I have a 4th generation iPod. I had a song start to skip one day and the next time I tried to connect to my computer iTunes did not recognize my iPod.
I've gone through all the suggested steps on the website even up to and including uninstalling/reinstalling the usb mass storage device, updating driver etc. The iPod is now listed with the usb mass storage device and I tried updating the driver but it says everything is ok or no newer driver than what I have already is available. But Itunes does not see my iPod and keeps freezing up. When I did get it to recognize an iPod it only said iPod and listed it as having a problem and suggested to Restore but when I hit restore it couldn't do it. Now it won't recognize the iPod at all. How do I wipe out the iPod and start over? I've also tried iPod Updater 2006-01-10 and 2006-03-23 and I get the message Invalid iPod Service Version and it closes. I have to put the iPod in Disk Mode to disconnect. When I hit button and menu to reset, after the apple appears I get the ! folder error message.
This is so weird I never had any problems and then I noticed a song started to skip and then it was skipped over and the next time I connected to my computer I had all these problems listed above!
Also I almost forgot there is an autoplay window that pops up sometimes with a flashlight searching for something, what I have no idea. I guess it happens when I leave the iPod plugged into the computer for awhile(I keep trying to get something to work.) and it searches for quite awhile and then disappears. No messages just pops out like it popped in.
From reading others posts I'm noticing people are having a similiar problem after they downloaded the newest version of iTunes. Could there be a problem or bug with iTunes?
So... I've uninstalled iTunes and reinstalled the older version. It actually recognized the iPod but only that an iPod was connected and it said some files maybe corrupted and suggested a restore. I tried to restore but got this error message:
There was a problem downloading the iPod software for the iPod “iPod”. The requested resource was not found.
It went back to not recognizing the iPod again.
I also did a system restore to undo changes on my computer and went back a few days. Nothings changed. I did find in case anyone reads this with a similar problem, that if you go to a mac computer and plug in I may be able to restore my iPod (which works in reverse if you have a Mac, go to someone with Windows) so when I hookup on my computer again it should install any updates I need. I won't be able to do this until Monday night. Since I'm going out of town Tuesday night and need my iPod to be working I'm hoping this will work.
Is there anyone here who can help? I use my iPod to learn music, I'm a singer, and this is really freaking me out. Even if someone says its screwed throw it out which I hope is not the case but any feedback would ease my mind.

Answer 1

Does it still turn on to the Apple logo?
If it does, turn it on and hold it up to your ear. If it's making a clicking sound, try hitting it easy a few times on the side. The idea is the hdd is "stuck" and hitting it loosens it. Just don't do it too hard to break it.