Updating iPod from iTunes sporadically causes system reboot

Question

This one is driving me slowly crazy, so help is appreciated.
I'm running version 6.0.4.2 of iTunes and iPod updater 2006-03-23 on a Windows XP Media Center PC with a 20 gig iPod Photo. Have been blissfully using iPod and iTunes for months with zero issues with regular updates when prompted.
Over the last couple of weeks, my computer is sporadically rebooting in the middle of an iPod update. This usually happens in the following sequence:
1. Open iTunes
2. Connect iPod
4. Automatic update happens
5. Make some changes in iTunes, such as downloading new podcasts
6. Update iPod manually using File, Update iPod
VOILA! Reboot.
It doesn't always happen on the manual update. Sometimes, it happens with the automatic update (although less often). Every once in a while the manual update goes through just fine.
After this started happening, I thought long and hard about any system changes and had installed a new DVD/CD burner program, so I removed it, rebooted, reset the iPod, updated both iTunes and the iPod updater. Just for good measure I ran a full virus scan and AdAware to get rid of any unknown nasties.
Well, it's still happening and I am stumped and annoyed. Any ideas on what I might be able to do here?
Thanks a lot!
Heather
Windows XP

Answer 1

hi Heather!
are you getting any sort of blue screen? if so, what numerical and text codes are you getting with it? (ie 0x[zeros/letters/numbers] CAPSANDUNDERSCORES)
here's a reference on the sorts of things i'm asking about:
Troubleshooting Windows Stop Messages
if you're not seeing a blue screen (or just a flash of one), we can use this technique to make hidden blue screens appear for us:
1) Open your system control panel (Start->Control Panels->System).
2) Select the "Advanced" tab.
3) Click the "Startup and Recover" section's "Settings" button
4) Verify that under "System Failure" the "Automatically restart" checkbox is not checked.
love, b