iTunes not responding when I plug in my iPod

I've been having the same problem over the last two days. Whenever the iPod's connected and iTunes starts, for about a minute the red iPod icon flashes as it's "updating the iPod", and then it stops. The icon turns grey and nothing happens and iTunes freezes and has to be shut down from the task manager. If the iPod isn't connected, iTunes works perfectly. If anyone has a clue, PLEASE advise what's wrong.

try restarting the ipod while its attached if that doesnt work format it or whatever the eqivalant is i forget

This is also happening to me updated latest version of Itunes. Itunes works fine but doesn't show the ipod when I attach. Tried most of the hints on the web site but nothing is working. Plugged the ipod into my base station and hey presto it works fine. I have also tried top re load the ipod software on the lap top but this isn't working either it asks for the ipod to be plugged in when it is plugged in it doesn't see it. Yet in windows explorer you can see the ipod is connected. Any idea's anyone. Shall i try to install version 6.0.0 of itunes instead of the latest version ?

I've tried all sorts of things, including rebooting the ipod while connected and it makes no difference. As to whether the other suggestion of reformatting my iPod will help, I am hesitating doing this for obvious reasons, unless someone can give me a darn good reason why this will fix the problem. I'm open to suggestions, short of having to reformat and start all over again.

unless you dont have a copy of your library then its not too much of a problem to do a format it doesnt take that long to copy it all over

well, i don't have a copy of my library. so i really hope that you or someone else also knows a different solution...