iPod mini frozen, can't restore--please help!!!!
This morning, I downloaded the new iTunes version (I think 6). I then move a song to a different playlist, update the iPod, eject it (because I can't make it stop flashing "do not disconnect" even if it is set to update automatically), and head out to my car to go to class. I plug it into my car charger/tape adapter, press "Shuffle Songs," and the screen comes up showing the first song as though it's about to play...but it's stuck.
NOTHING has worked. I know I'm supposed to try resetting it, but I CAN'T. It won't respond to holding down menu + select, and it won't show up in iTunes while plugged into my computer. I've tried using iPod Updater several times, but the first time it never recognized the iPod as being connected, and all subsequent times it has simply frozen while trying to discover if an iPod is connected!!!
I obviously can't put the iPod into disk mode (as many threads suggest) because my iPod is frozen. All of the help topics I've read say that in order to fix the iPod being frozen, you need to reset or restore the iPod. I cannot reset the iPod because it is not responding at all, and I cannot restore the iPod because iPod Updater doesn't even know it is there!!! AND apparently I need to be able to put the iPod in disk mode if iPod Updater doesn't know it's there, but (like I said) I can't do this because IT'S FROZEN!!!!!!!
Someone, PLEASE help me and tell me what I'm supposed to do. This problem is just completely out of the blue; I've never had problems with my mini before, and I've had it since January. I'm sorry if there's a bunch of repitition/emphasis throughout my post, but I'm just trying to make my situation as clear as humanly possible so that someone doesn't just post up a link to another useless iPod support article. If I'm not being specific enough or you have a particular question about my problem, ask away--especially if it'll help you help me get this thing working again. My drive/walk to class is so boring without my iPod!!!
Thanks in advance for any help, and my apologies for the long post!