ITunes recognizes iPod but can't sync - driver missing?

Question

Here's the rundown. Several months ago, the complete content of the old XP machine where this iPod's library resided was migrated to a Windows 7 Home Premium system using LapLink PC Mover.  iTunes had never previously been installed on the Windows 7 unit.  iTunes appeared to be functional afterwards, but on the first and all subsequent instances of attempting to sync the iPod, clicking on the Sync button did and still does nothing.  I have tried connecting the iPod to multiple different motherboard-based and pcie-based USB ports, and to a USB2.0 external hub. (Sometimes the screen briefly flashes as though it was switching to the sync process monitor, but usually it's just no change.)  I've tried uninstalling all of the Apple software from the machine, rebooting, and reinstalling.  (When I say "all", that includes iTunes itself, Bonjour, Apple Software Update, Apple Mobile Device Support, and Apple Software Update, in that order.  Trying any other order produced complaints.  Quicktime is not installed on this machine; iTunes and the iPod are not used for video.)  In looking at the postings of others who have had similar issues, I found a recommendation to reinstall another driver that I have verified is not loading and is not running with the iPod hooked up:  Apple Mobile Device USB Driver.  I have tried to reinstall this driver, but it hasn't worked.  What I have come to suspect is that something in the Windows registry got borked during the transfer, and is causing the load process for the *needed* driver to fail, possibly by trying to load the old XP version.  But my registry-fu is not strong in this, so I'm looking to see if anyone else has run across this issue previously and found a solution.
Points to note:
Windows 7, installation was a port from XP via LapLink PCMover
5th gen classic iPod 80Gb with 34Gb free
iTunes version 11.4.0.18 is installed  (This was the current version when I started trying to find the problem.)
Apple Mobile Device Support software is loaded.
Apple Mobile Device USB Driver is NOT loading, either before or while the iPod is connected.
In Device Manager, the iPod appears as a Disk Drive and as a Portable Device when connected, but does not appear in the Universal Serial Bus Controllers list.
iTunes recognizes the iPod and can access it sufficiently to verify that it does not need to be updated.
iTunes can eject the iPod.
iTunes cannot sync the iPod.

Answer 1

I can now expand the information somewhat.  On my second, very similar setup (5th gen Classic connected to Win 7/32 with iTunes 11.4.0.18) I was able to successfully do the initial sync of the iPod several weeks ago, but this afternoon, when I tried to sync it to include the music I had added recently, it failed in the same manner as the other system.  I really, really, really DO NOT want to downgrade to iTunes 12 with it's horrible antinavigation interface and lack of the very useful and needed Sidebar, but it is beginning to look like 11.4.0.18 is problematic, and I don't have an installer for anything else at present.