Error 1416, can't initialize

Hi,

My friend iPod lost all its data.
So i connected it on her PC to initialize the iPod, which was succeful, but since then everytime i try to connect the iPod to the PC, Vista crashes !!!
After having tried maybe 5 times, i try to connect it to my mac, and then i get an error 1416 when i want to initialize it...
Several trials, every time the same result. And impossible to format the hard drive with Disk Utility, i also get an input/output error.
And can't add songs anyway, i don't even have the tab...

Does anyone know what might solve the problem ?
It's an 3rd generation 20 Go U2 iPod, no so old !
I already had several iPods, and even my first generation was still working great after 5 years, so i'm surprised this one is having problems so early...
Would it be very expensive to bring to an apple center ?

Thanks for your answers !