Cant restore 80GB Ipod because I dont have the Internet???

Question

So my wife bought me an 80gb Ipod and shipped it out to me (Im in Iraq). I hooked it up to my computer and it immediately started to work and sync all my music and what not onto it. I believe at the time I was using Itunes version 7.3. Well then I hooked it up to a friends computer and tried putting some music onto it and when I tried to eject it, it was taking forever! His computer was crazy slow so I got tired of waiting and just pulled the usb cord out of the computer. A few days later I tried to use it and all the music and videos were off the ipod but my photos were still on it. I tried to plug it into my computer and now im getting a message saying that itunes cannot read the contents of my ipod and that I need to go into the summary tab and restore it. So I try and restore the ipod but I CANT restore it because I dont have an active internet connection. And I will NOT be able to get an active internet connection to my laptop simply because im in Iraq!
So my question is, is there any other way I can restore the Ipod without the internet?? I downloaded and installed the new version of itunes 7.5 and it still doesnt wanna work or restore. I have no idea what to do.
We tried hooking it up to a friends computer and he said he found and fixed a virus that was on the ipod and then tried to bring it up on his computer. To our luck his computer recognized the ipod and it brought up all my music in his itunes. We tried syncing his library with my ipod, which it did! but when we ejected the Ipod. It still said no music or videos on it. But if you look at the memory space. It shows that it did infact sync his music but its labeled as "other" and not music. I then tried to hook it back up on my computer and it doesnt read it at all! I need help please!

Answer 1

Have you given the following a try?
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/classic/#
Otherwise, I'd say are you positive that iTunes on your computer and on your buddies computer were the same version? Reason I ask is my wife and I just bought iPods last weekend. She got a Nano and I got a Classic. I plugged hers in first. Got the updates and updated iTunes as well. After all that and charging a while I tried mine. Nothing. I can only assume that the almighty OS known as Winblows was confused by the whole thing and thus thought my iPod was already updated to the latest software which I think is 1.0.3. Or something like that. I eventually got mine going but differences in versions is certainly a possibility.
Also, did you buddy have a USB 2.0 connection or 1.1? I noticed my wife's Nano taking much longer to charge than it should have. That's when I realized I had my stupid USB hub plugged into a USB 1.1 port on my computer instead of 2.0. So I'm just assuming this but I would say that could also cause the iPod to go slower. Just more to possibly explain why it was moving slow on your buddies computer.
Look at your iTunes and if you iPod does show up look to see what version of software it has. Could be the culprit. Unless this really does boil down to an internet connection which would be kind of stupid if you know you've got the latest software. iTunes shouldn't force you to do that. Hope I've helped in some way anyway. If not, good luck with this.
And aside from the iPod question, thanks for your service overseas. You guys are all certainly thought of here a lot and are appreciated. Stay safe!