Help me use an old iPod Touch 3rd generation

Please read the entire post before responding. Thank you

I was gifted a 3rd generation iPod Touch and can not update the iOS. (Don't reply yet.)

I have tried to update using the Update selection on the iPod Touch and when I plug it into my Windows laptop, iTunes gives me an error code of -54 Cannot update iPod for unknown reasons. My iTunes is up to date with the latest version of iTunes. (Again, don't reply yet.) iTunes shows my iPod in the menu but it will not sync. I imagine the problem to be that the iPod is older than the iTunes version I am trying to use.

Since there is nothing wrong with this iPod Touch physically other than being old, is there a way to download previous iTunes versions that are compatible with the 3rd generation iPod Touch?

I am not very tech savvy so when answering, please give instructions that a 4th grader in the 80's would be able to execute 😊

Thank you