My iPod Touch 4G cannot be turned on and is not recognized.

Question

Okay, so, this is a long story, but I registered on this forum just to share it with someone, see if anyone had a similar problem.
A month or two ago, the home button on my iPod Touch 4G broke. Okay. So I started using that assistive touch feature. The one with the home button on the screen. Well, that's the background of this story. Let's get into the real meat.
This morning, there I am, waiting to get into class, watching a documentary on my iPod Touch. I grab my two-year old charging cable, plug it up on the PC I always use in class and move it around- it's so old, it needs to be at that right spot to charge up. Well, it starts charging, but once I unplug it and plug it again... something weird happens. With the PC. It gives me a "USB Device not recognized" error.
I thought the cable had finally gone pfft. Not a problem, I had a newer, better one back home. So I go back to watching my documentary- the device is working fine- and when it comes time to class, I press the lock button and put it back on my backpack. Fast forward five-six hours. Lunch time. I pull out my iPod Touch, press the lock button and... nothing.
Black screen. Nothing happens. No sound, no video. Okay, weird. I press the lock button again and again, and still, nothing happens. Maybe I need to turn it on? I hold onto the lock button, but it doesn't turn on or off. Maybe it needs to charge? I borrow a friend's cable, plug it up to a wall charger- the one from Apple- and... nothing happens. I take that cable, plug it up to a PC, and nothing happens. Except for the "USB Device not Recognized" error.
So that's where I am. I can't go to DFU mode cause my home button's borked up. Charging, pressing the lock button, reinstalling iTunes, nothing works. It just sits there. But I know it's not bricked up, because when I plug it up, it gives me that "USB Device not recognized" error.
I'm probably taking it to technical assistance tomorrow, but I'd at least like to hear if anyone had the same problem. All my stuff's there: my Things app with my homework stuff, my TV Show Tracker app, and while I did back app data to the iCloud, I'm not sure I can just put that data on my brother's iPod Touch. Help?

Answer 1

First try the following since it appears y have a computer problem:
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
I would start with
Removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows Vista or Windows 7
or
Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP
Run this to help if it identifies the cause
iTunes for Windows: Device Sync Tests
Have you tried on another computer to help determine if you have a computer or iPod problem?
Next
- iOS: Not responding or does not turn on
When it says place the iPod in recovery mode use one of these programs
For PC
RecBoot: Easy Way to Put iPhone into Recovery Mode
If necessary:
Download QTMLClient.dll & iTunesMobileDevice.dll for RecBoot
For MAC or PC       
The Firmware Umbrella - TinyUmbrella
- If not successful and you can't fully turn the iOS device fully off, let the battery fully drain. After charging for an least an hour try the above again.
- Try on another computer          
- If still not successful that usually indicates a hardware problem and an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store is in order.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar