Forgot my iPod password and cannot back it up

I los my ipod about 8 months ago and found it today. I forgot the password for it. I have the laptop I synced it before and everything necessary to be able to back it up but since it has been too long from last back up, it ask me to unlock the ipod to back up, which is something I can't. I don't want to delete everything and restore the ipod. I do not remember the last time i backed it up. I don't want to ruin my pictures.

Is there a way I could either reset my passwo