The Solution to all Connection issues on Windows

Question

I have had my iPod for a month and a half now, and right off the bat, I noticed it had major problems with connecting to my computer through USB. I had the whole bit, sometimes it wouldn't recognize that it was plugged in, sometimes it said that it didn't have drivers installed, sometimes Windows recognized that it was plugged in but didn't know what it was, a lot of the time my iPod would say Do Not Disconnect and it would go straight to the annoying black check mark, before even opening iTunes. It was a pain in the neck, and after searching these forums, you need to listen to the people who have experienced, and solved these problems.
What you need to do is save 40 dollars, go to your local electronics store and pick up a 20 dollar Firewire card and then go to the Apple store or the online store and pay 20 dollars for the USB/Firewire combo cord to hook up your iPod to the firewire card to upload new music, and to plug into the charger to get it charging at the same time.
Apple was cheap not to have supplied a firewire cable when it clearly does not support USB enough to be considered usable. Beg your parents, mow some lawns, take it out of your savings, whatever you can to get a Firewire card and that cord. It will save you SO much time, and loads of hassle. I have had it for easily 3 weeks, and I haven't had a single problem with it. My iPod works better than ever and I love it now. Seriously, get it if you can and it will help you out, so much.
Oh and another thing, my iPod wouldn't shut off sometimes, and you can fix that because it happens every time you try to shut if off, right as a song starts playing. Just go to the Now Playing, skip to about midway in the song, and then you can turn it off.
I hope this helps someone, and whatever you do, if you are getting USB problems, then spend the 40 dollars, it is no waste. The problems with USB do not stop, they instead get progressively worse. Spend the 40 bucks, you'll thank me later.
-Freeman out

Answer 1

I will also testify to the power of the FIREWIRE! We were having endless problems and technical issues trying to connect with the USB. We spent many hours uninstalling, reinstalling, rebooting, resetting, unplugging, replugging, trying to change drive letters, trying different USB ports, etc. etc. and NOTHING was working! My wife even took the iPod to an Apple store to have them format it thinking that would solve the problem. It didn't! Our computer still wouldn't recognize the iPod and the Updater wouldn't "mount it" or sometimes the computer would recognize it, but iTunes wouldn't. If it wasn't one thing it was another.
Yesterday, finally fed up and stressed out, we took our laptop and the iPod to an Apple store and spoke with a tech at the "Genius Bar". We told him of our problems. He then immediately pulled out a firewire cable, hooked up the iPod and BAM! It was working! Hallelujah! It's a miracle!
So yes, apparently using a firewire to connect your iPod will solve all connection problems! Now why Apple isn't telling anyone that is anyone's guess. But I still read where other people say they're encounter other problems and they're using a firewire. A perfect fix? Maybe not, but at least it's working just fine for now.