Itunes won't recognize Ipod, shows in Windows Explorer

Question

Just got new iPod but it doesn't work. When plugged into computer via USB 2.0 port (4-slot PCI), there is pause and the following happens:
1) Ipod screen says "Do not disconnect", flashes crossout icon.
2) In the upper left of the iPod screen a twirling series of circular lines animates for a few seconds.
3) iTunes freezes for a moment and then does nothing. When examining "preferences" interface, the Ipod tab says "No Ipod connected".
4) Windows popup messages recognize "mass USB storage" device; shows up as "removable drive" in Windows file explorer.
I have done everything recommended by this document to no avail:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93716
What's next? Isn't there anyone I can call? I don't care if it costs something, I just want this to work...
Thanks to anyone that can help...
-Greg

Answer 1

Shervin,
You may be on to something with respect to the USB card. My computer has a USB 1.1 port and when I connected my iPod after loading the software and checking for updates my computer hung and I had to disconnect the iPod to restart the computer.
When I re started a Windows balloon appeared saying the device could operate faster with a USB 2.0 port. Clicking on the balloon showed that the iPod was there, but when I tried to explore or go to My Computer the computer hung.
I disconnected the iPod and re started the computer, this time starting iTunes before connecting the iPod - the application hung as soon as I connected the iPod and the ctrl/alt/del function showed that it was not responding.
Thinking this was a computer hardware problem I tried the same procedure on my laptop with the same result.
I finally fixed the problem as follows:
(1) I deleted iTunes and the Updater from my laptop;
(2) I re booted the iPod by holding the menu and select buttons for 6 seconds;
(3) I down loaded a fresh copy of iTunes and Updater and rebooted my computer;
(4)I connected the iPod and started the Updater program and clicked on "restore";
(5)The application completed the restore and idled for several minutes after which a window appeared asking me to name my iPod (I hadn't seen this window during the initial install of the software on my desktop);
(6) I checked in My Computer and found my iPod listed;
(7) I ejected the iPod and started iTunes;
(8) Under preferences, I changed the automatic update option to manual
(9) I shut down iTunes and connected the iPod and waited;
(10) The computer seemed to "hang" but I waited several minutes (3) and iTunes launched with my named iPod in the left column
My iPod is now working normally. What do I think was wrong? I don't think the initial setup went smoothly. I should have removed my iTunes and Updater installs (from before I received my iPod) and started fresh. The USB 1.0 port is slowing things down, including recognizing my iPod and communicating with it (this is why iTunes is taking so long to launch and the computer appears to be hung), so I'm going to replace it with an Apple tested USB 2.0 PCI card.
I believe that at some point the software on the iPod became corrupt (either from the factory or during the initial setup) because until I rebooted it manually, the computer couldn't "talk" to it. After the reboot, I was able to do a "restore" and then complete the installation and launch iTunes.
I should say that when I moved the iPod back to my desktop, a message came up telling me that my iPod was assigned to another computer and did I want to change. This answers my question about connecting the iPod to more than one computer - not possible - but I should have been able to anticipate that.
Sorry for the long post, but hopefully the above information will be helpful to those having difficulty getting their computer to recognize their iPod (or iTunes, for that matter).
kayjh