It just works my ass

If your iPod Touch does not work on your Windows XP, you can ...

A. Uninstall and reinstall everything (Hint: Don't actually try ANY of this, it doesn't work!):

Okay well I spent about an hour on the phone with Apple trying to fix this problem. The guy I talked to seemed to have delt with this problem before. He tould me that Apple was getting numerous calls about the iPod touch not connecting with iTunes. So here is the solution that worked for me.

The first thing you must do it uninstall iTunes and Quicktime using the controll pannel, add/remove hardware, on your windows computer. Once you have uninstalled both of thoes programes go ahead and look for anything else that is Apple and uninstall them as well. There should be an Apple updater or driver that is very critical to uninstall, this was the cause of iTunes not recognizing the new iPod Touch. Next make shure you have the very latest update for Windows on your computer, you can check this on Microsofts web page. Finnaly once you are shure you have UNINSTALLED EVERYTHING that says Apple, iTunes, or Quick time restart your computer and MAKE SHURE THAT YOUR IPOD IS NOT CONNECTED TO YOUR COMPUTER. Then download the newest version of iTunes and install it. Once the installation is complete go ahead and connect the iPod Touch and everything should work.

I am not shure if this will work for everyone but in my situation it worked. I hope it helps some of you out there!!

source

-OR-

* Step 1: Make sure your iPod is fully charged
* Make sure your iPod is fully charged and then toggle the Hold switch on and off

Reset
To reset your iPod:

* 1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
* 2. Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

Tip:
o If you are having difficulty resetting your iPod, set it on a flat surface. Make sure the finger pressing the Select button is not touching any part of the click wheel. Also make sure that you are pressing the Menu button toward the outside of the click wheel, and not near the center.
o If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn't set to go to sleep.

Retry
Retry your iPod with a different USB port on your computer, not a USB port on your keyboard or hub.

Restart
Restart your computer, and make sure that you have the latest software updates installed.
Note:

* To update your Windows software, select Windows Update from the Tools menu of Internet Explorer.
* To update your Mac OS software, select Software Update from the Apple menu.

Reinstall

* To update and reinstall your iPod software, first download the latest version of iTunes.
* Next, open the new version of iTunes and connect your iPod to your computer.
* Select your iPod in the source list and click "Check for Update" under the Summary tab. iTunes will check to see if your iPod needs to be updated and perform the update for you.

Restore

* Note: Because Restore erases all of the songs and files on iPod, make sure to back up any files you've saved on the iPod disk. All of your songs, videos, podcasts, audiobooks, and games can be loaded back to your iPod provided that you have them stored in your iTunes Library.
How to restore your iPod:
For Windows:

* 1. Make sure you've reinstalled the latest version of iTunes.
* 2. Open iTunes, and then connect your iPod to your computer.
* 3. After a few moments, it will appear in the source list in iTunes. If the iPod's display doesn't show "Connected" or "Do not disconnect" you may need to put the iPod into disk mode to proceed.
* 4. Select your iPod in the source list and you will see information about it appear in the Summary tab of the main iTunes windows.
* 5. Click the Restore button. You will be prompted with one or more restore options that may prompt iTunes to automatically download of the latest iPod Software. The 4 possible restore options are:
o Restore Option 1: Restore - Restores with same iPod Software version already on iPod.
o Restore Option 2: Use Same Version - Restores with same iPod Software version already on iPod even though a newer version is available.
o Restore Option 3: Use Newest Version - Restores with the latest iPod Software on your computer.
o Restore Option 4: Restore and Update - Restores with the latest iPod Software on your computer.
* 6. A progress bar will appear on the computer screen indicating that the first stage of the restore process has started. When this stage is completed, iTunes will instruct you to leave iPod connected to your computer to complete restore.
* 7. During the stage 2 of the restore process, the iPod will show an Apple logo as well as a progress bar at the bottom of the display. It is critical that the iPod remains connected to the computer or iPod Power adapter during this stage. Note: The progress bar may be difficult to see since the backlight on the iPod display may be off.
* 8. After stage 2 of the restore process is complete and the iPod is connected to the computer, the iTunes Setup Assistant window will appear asking you to name your iPod and choose your syncing preferences similar to when you connected your iPod for the first time.

For Mac:
* 1. Make sure you've reinstalled the latest version of iTunes.
* 2. Open iTunes, and then connect your iPod to your computer.
* 3. After a few moments, it will appear in the source list in iTunes. If the iPod's display doesn't show "Connected" or "Do not disconnect" you may need to put the iPod into disk mode to proceed.
* 4. Select your iPod in the source list and you will see information about it appear in the Summary tab of the main iTunes windows.
* 5. Click the Restore button. You will be prompted with one or more restore options that may prompt iTunes to automatically download of the latest iPod Software. The 4 possible restore options are:
o Restore Option 1: Restore - Restores with same iPod Software version already on iPod.
o Restore Option 2: Use Same Version - Restores with same iPod Software version already on iPod, even though a newer version is available.
o Restore Option 3: Use Newest Version - Restores with latest iPod Software version on your computer.
o Restore Option 4: Restore and Update - Restores with latest iPod Software version on your computer.
* 6. A message will appear prompting you to enter an administrator's name and password.
* 7. A progress bar will appear on the computer screen indicating that the first stage of the restore process has started. When this stage is completed, iTunes will instruct you to leave iPod connected to your computer to complete restore.
* 8. During the stage 2 of the restore process, the iPod will show an Apple logo as well as a progress bar at the bottom of the display. It is critical that the iPod remains connected to the computer or iPod Power adapter during this stage. Note: The progress bar may be difficult to see since the backlight on the iPod display may be off.
* 9. After stage 2 of the restore process is complete and the iPod is connected to the computer, the iTunes Setup Assistant window will appear asking you to name your iPod and choose your syncing preferences similar to when you connected your iPod for the first time.

source

-OR-

Use the other windows technique.

Find a window that looks like this:

And throw both the XP computer and the iPod Touch through the window. Your life will be much, much better after you do that.

(By the way, I found these two bits of useless drek on the internet while searching around to solve the aforementioned problem. The real problem for me turned out to be crappy Windows XP handling of USB connectors. The iTouch was simply not being recognized by the computer at all.)