How can I reformat my ipod 20gb when itunes/laptop freezes

Hi there
Last year my ipod did exactly the same thing but I was talked through how to solve the issue by a guy in support. Now they want to charge me £25 for their help, even though I was out of warranty last year!
This is what's happening. My ipod has started to show the folder icon with an exclamation mark. It's a bit sporadic (sometimes it shows, sometimes it doesn't) and will then show the menu selection. When I choose to play an album, it thinks about it for a while, makes a lot of clicking noises and then may play, or may exit back out to the main menu.
When I try to connect my ipod to itunes, it freezes itunes, so I am unable to reformat (this is what fixed it last time). How, therefore, do I reformat my ipod when itunes, or windows explorer etc freezes when the ipod is connected to my laptop? I don't believe this is a Vista issue as I was using Windows XP last time my ipod cocked up. Any ideas how I can get my ipod reformatted?
Thanks in advance.
Lucy
Message was edited by: Lulubton
Message was edited by: Lulubton

Place the iOS device in Recovery Mode and then connect to your computer and restore via iTunes. The iPod will be erased.
iOS: Wrong passcode results in red disabled screen
If recovery mode does not work try DFU mode.
How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings
For how to restore:
iTunes: Restoring iOS software
To restore from backup see:
iOS: How to back up
If you restore from iCloud backup the apps will be automatically downloaded. If you restore from iTunes backup the apps and music have to be in the iTunes library since synced media like apps and music are not included in the backup of the iOS device that iTunes makes.
You can redownload iTunes purchases by:
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