"One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and ...

Hello all, would really appreciate some help. Have Had my iPod since August. Was so happy with it and worked okay. Yesterday when I tried to update it everything on my computer just froze and nothing was happening...it wasn't showing up on iTunes either. So even though my baby was telling me "Do Not Disconnect" I disconnected because there was no way I could select disconnect device in iTunes because it wasn't showing up there. So then when I got home in the afternoon I though I would give it another try but I got this Windows XP error message "One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it." The iPod works fine (it recharges and plays all of my current uploads on it) it's just that it won't communicate with my computer so I can't update content.

All of my software was up to date, I have current virus protection (Norton) and my computer has been clean for years so it can't be a virus. I did...or tried all the 5Rs that Apple recommends. Even unistalled my iTunes. I tried it on a different USB, tried it on my other computer. I couldn't do the restore part of the Rs because the computer needs to be able to talk to the iPod which is just not working.

I don't know anyone with a Mac and there are no Apple stores here in Canada...please, someone help...my baby is sick and I don't know what to do.