IPod Touch problems at the start of a long holiday, any ideas?

Question

Hi,
I've just begun a month-long trip around Europe, and in preparation for some long train journeys I bought an iPod touch and filled it up with my favourite tunes.
On day two, I plugged the iPod into the charger and had a nap. When I wake up four hours later (I like my naps!), the battery had charged OK but the screen is showing the "Connect to iTunes" screen (USB lead image + arrow pointing to iTunes logo).
I've tried restarting and re-setting it (holding the home and power button for ten seconds, etc). Interestingly, it still connected to the WiFi in the hotel (I could see the full WiFi bars on the 'slide to turn off' screen). I've taken it to a couple of Apple places in Berlin, but neither had any clue what they were doing.
So I did some research on here and found out about the Restore/Recovery/DFU modes. I'm not sure I understand the differences between them, however much I read!
Is there any way - any way at all! - to get the iPod working and keep my files? Surely an OS re-install shouldn't erase my data?
As you can imagine, I'm extremely annoyed that the iPod crashed at the start of my holiday, and my MacBook is 500 miles away so I can't get at the MP3s.
So is there a solution, or am I destined to travel with a shiny paperweight (or empty iPod Touch) for a whole month?
Thank you in advance,
Joe
Message was edited by: Joe Co

Answer 1

Hi Warszawa, thanks for replying.
I've tried the reset thing a dozen times already
I've plugged it into an iTunes computer, and it says that the iPod has a passcode set (which it does, and I know it) and that I need to enter it. But I can't enter it, as the iPod only shows the 'connect to iTunes' screen and the shutdown screen.
Cheers,
Joe