Connecting 5th gen Ipod to itunes/updater???

Question

I bought a 5th gen Ipod three weeks ago and haven't been able to use it yet. It apperars in windows but will not show up in itunes. I have done everything suggested on the support site and spoken to support staff twice and they tell me to send it back, i want to avoid this if poss.
The only thing I cant do is to restore it, as when I open the updater program it just asks for an ipod to be connected - even when showing on the system - therefore I can't run it.
I have all the latest itunes & updater, windows xp pro sp2, usb2 and all the recommended spec.
Has anyone else had this problem and is ther any way of fixing it. I have spent hours on this so far.

Answer 1

I am truly in a state of elation today after finally getting my 5g 30gb iPod to work. It's been three months and two pods since it all began, but here's how I did it (I really hope this helps someone - if it does pass it on, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of people out there suffering as a result of these **** devices):
1, (I'm not sure this had any relevance - I wouldn't do it unless the rest doesn't work), but I reformatted it in windows FAT 32 (Right click ipod in 'my computer' drives list, format, complete format), don't worry if ipod then goes black & white with folder icon & message www.apple/support/ipod.
2, (Again, I'm not sure if this had any relevance, but you can change this back). Change the drive letter. To do this go to: Control panel, Administrative tools, computer management. In the left window select storage, disk management and when you select that the right window splits into two. In the lower half is all of your drives, right click the ipod and there should be an option to ‘change drive letter’
3. Remove ipod via the 'Safely remove hardware' icon near the clock. Uninstall all iPod updaters & iTunes via the 'add/remove programs' section in 'control panel'.
4. Disable any Anti Virus (I have AVG freeware), Firewall or Spyware software inc, Windows Firewall (personally, I think this is the common element among us and something I didn't realise was running as I had other software with a firewall).
5. Restart. Install iPod updaters & iTunes via your original disk. Restart.
6. When completely restarted (leave a few minutes) open the iPod updater, only plug in your ipod when prompted - At this point I got a box with my serial no and other ipod details in and the option to restore, but hit the restore button and it said something I don't remember, but was an error message. Anyway, I couldn't disconnect the pod so pulled out the cable (not recommended I know) and restarted the computer again and repeated step 6 again (removing the Ipod first). This time the restore button worked - it took about 10 minutes and automatically opened itunes when done and asks you for a name for it.
7. I already had the latest iPod updater downloaded (thereby not having to go online without AV/firewall running) so installed it and updated the pod.
8. Close everything, disconnect ipod and re-activate your Anti Virus, Firewall and Spyware software inc, Windows Firewall and restart.
Hopefully the ipod will again open itunes when connected. I think the real issue is the AV/Firewall software running while installing, many are suggesting it as a cause but no one knows for definite - I read somewhere Apple are aware that their software has issues when installed with AV/Firewall software running, but no specifics or information is ever given buy so-called help staff!!!
Good luck.