My iPod can charge, but it won't show up on iTunes or the Finder

Question

Okay, here's what happened: My 1.8 GB ipod nano has worked well with my Mac OS X, Version 10.2.8, with me putting music unto my iPod, which i've had for a good while...until yesterday, when I tried connecting it to my computer (which was previously not in use for a couple of weeks) and my iPod would not show on the Finder and it wouldn't open up iTunes automatically, but it would charge the iPod (which is currently fully charged), though "Do Not Disconnect" still flashes. Oddly enough, when I go to my Now, I tried resetting my iPod, using different USB cables, restarting my computer, and I have installed all current software updates, and it still hasn't worked. I don't want to reinstall iTunes 6-the lastest version-or restart my iPod or use a computer upgrade which costs big bucks, as well as lose songs i've bought and put unto both, which measure over $25.
However, when I go to Isync and Apple System Profiler, and check in the "Devices and Volumes" section (gotten to by apple symbol/about this mac/more info->Apple System Profiler/Devices and Volumes), I see they mention that the iPod nano is connected to the computer....Now, I DID hook up my iPod and the USB cable that came with it to different newer versions of iMac computers at the Apple store here in New York City at 5 avenue, to charge my iPod and to play my music on them (and it worked fine, I just couldn't play music I bought from the online iTunes music store, but, back on topic), so that may have caused the problem I have now, so, now I need a solution, so, if anyone can help my problem, I'd be very thankful, thank you.
PowerMac6,1   Mac OS X (10.2.x)   1 GHz PowerPc G4 (Mac Os X, version 10.2.8); 1.8 GB Ipod Nano

Answer 1

In order, I tried the first 3 (Reset, Retry, Restart) of the 5 steps, I don't wanna Reinstall and Restore, and risk losing my music on both, find out that still didn't help, and then having to buy it all back again, which isn't cheap, its fully charged, I use USB to connect between my iPod nano and my Mac (version 10.2.8), it isn't asleep when doing this, my computer, though it says it isn't compatible with a version 10.2.8, it used to work fine for months with no problems at all, I have the lastest version of iTunes, I have no plugged in FireWire equipment, my nano has never frozen, I doubt the USB cable I use or the computer port are faulty, as the nano can still charge and other things that use the USB ports (such as the keyboard) can still work, I'm not sure if my nano's hard disk format was damaged or not, but, I must admit, i've accidentaly dropped it a couple of times, but it still would work fine by itself or when it was connected with the computer, and I don't think my nano has a faulty port.
PowerMac6,1 Mac OS X (10.2.x) 1 GHz PowerPc G4 (Mac Os X, version 10.2.8); 1.8 GB Ipod Nano