ITunes can't read iPod contents after Archive & Install

Hi,
I recently had to replace the hard drive in my Mac Mini, and now that it is back up and running again iTunes will no longer sync with my iPod. When I start iTunes, I get the following error message:
iTunes cannot read the contents of the iPod "Timothy
Macinta's iPod". Go to the Summary tab in iPod
preferences and click Restore to restore this iPod to
factory settings.
I would prefer to avoid restoring the iPod so that I can retain the play counts, ratings, etc. which I have changed on my iPod over the course of the last week when my computer was under the knife. It won't be a disaster if I can't do this and end up needing to restore the iPod, but I thought I would ask in case anybody had any tips.
For what it's worth, /Applications/iTunes.app is identical to what it was before the Archive & Install. So is ~/Music/iTunes/ . Are there other files or directories where iTunes keeps track of what iPods it knows about and which I could try restoring from my backup?
Thanks,
- Tim

I figured out how to fix the problem and I figured I would post a follow up in case anybody runs into the same problem. Since I originally posted, I discovered that iTunes had additional problems. Specifically, when I tried to play songs which had been downloaded from the iTunes Store, it asked me for my iTunes account and password and entering them produced an error that was something like: "A required iTunes component is not installed. (-42401)" I downloaded the latest iTunes directly from Apple:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
and then reinstalled it. Now I can play songs from the Store again and my iPod happily syncs. I don't know why it wasn't working before given that I had updated everything on the system, including iTunes, to the latest version with Software Update.
- Tim

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    I know this question has been asked before and I apologize for asking again but all the solutions provided don't seam to work for me, can anyone help me please.
    I am receving the message: "Itunes can not read the contents of the iPhone. Go to the summary tab In iPhone Preferences and click restore torestore this Iphone to factory settings".
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    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)
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    iTunes 10.5.0.142
    QuickTime not available
    FairPlay 1.13.35
    Apple Application Support 2.1.5
    iPod Updater Library 10.0d2
    CD Driver 2.2.0.1
    CD Driver DLL 2.1.1.1
    Apple Mobile Device 4.0.0.96
    Apple Mobile Device Driver 1.57.0.0
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    Gracenote SDK 1.9.3.494
    Gracenote MusicID 1.9.3.106
    Gracenote Submit 1.9.3.136
    Gracenote DSP 1.9.3.44
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