ipod usb not working

Using iPod as a drive

   1. Connect iPod to your computer.
   2. Open iTunes if it doesn't automatically open.
   3. Select the iPod icon in the Source pane.
   4. Click the Summary tab.
   5. For most iPod models (except iPod shuffle):
      Select "Enable disk use" or "Manually manage songs and videos". Either one will allow you to use iPod as a drive. If you select "Manually manage songs and videos", iTunes won't automatically update iPod with the iTunes library. If you want iTunes to automatically update your iPod, select "Enable disk use" instead.

use this site as a reference. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1478

Iis this ipod formated to fat 32? if it is then i would make sure my library was backed up and to a full restore. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1339

It doesn't Ipod ,in Itunes or in computer browser,doesn't give even restore option

Meant Itunes or computer doesn't see the IPod, as I've said computer sometimes shows icon in browser with no connection after that so I don't know how those comments help me

I was trying to get at what the primary format was originally as a Mac formatted pod won't show up in Windows while a fat 32 one will show up in both. Then to follow up and see if it shows up on a Mac. In any case if the pod does not respond to the little switch reset and will not show up in finder/explorer then the Genuis bar people will basically this: "You are out of luck. It is not worth fixing. Go buy a new one." I brought two clickwheel 80 gb  pod into the Genius Bar recently and was told they were paperweights. Well actually, I said they were paper weights truth be told. I walked out, however, with no intention of them being down for the count as they are only not worth fixing if you have to pay for someone else to do it. The drives are available on ebay and I can always risk opening up something that is already broken.  That being said I did not buy new drives or open them up yet both are right now up and running. I did a little web searching and found the whack them in just the right way method. Read this thread and it associated links. http://supamb.com/supafine/2006/02/16/resurrecting-your-dead-ipod-whack-a-mole-theory/  I followed the whack it during bootup technique and both are now working. One slightly less well than the other as I have to rewhack it about once a month. You will know for sure that you have a good candidate for this method if you hold your pod to your ear and hear a clicking drive noise while it attempts to boot. this method works because either A you free up the sticking platter by the shock of the impact or b you shake a loose cable back into contact. good luck.

oh,man,that's a russian advice ,first time heard in America,I'll try to remember it when I get enough vodka to have my $200 ipod whacked :)))
Anyway,I'm able to restart it and it seems like pc can recognise it as usv device but doesn't see partition so I really don't see how whacking would help,looks like I need something that can doctor the bad partition ,something good and possibly free

simply - plug in the device and get iTunes t reset the device.  then configure it how you want.
please see:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/ipod_itunes/ipodresetutility103formac.html
just follow apples advice.

I just can't believe it , I followed "russian" advice and it actually worked, though NOT in a consistent manner,it worked about 10 minutes,then went to its regular,"invisible" mode once again...
and  not through regular laptop connection but through vmware virtual machine I'm able now to see my dear with purchuased artwork on it ,one that I couldn't download again. You know this Apple's rule of 1 time download only,I've spent $25 on Ultimate fighting series and the only place I had it was this 80G , I stopped using Itunes althogether when I saw their infamous 1 time download only rule. The life's back:))) . pheidius,You're getting the points, though still,man,I can't believe ,how this thing works?. I gave it pretty big smack ,it started again,but it only "lives" for 10 mins or so,then "dies" again....

And here what was:
I whacked it once again and it started spinning like crazy,then I saw I can get it out of it's case and the craziest thing happened,when it came out ther was 3 power belts coming going from disk to the screen and the usb cable, my shake must have been shake the usb cable out,I pinned it in with 2 fingers and it started spinning again .. for ab. 1/2 hour,then entirely new screen appeared ,like the old ipod ,v.2 ,not 4 ,the windows recognized it and offered restore,no choce really,still had 4 "ultimate  fighting " films on it,copied only 1 ,anyway ,hope it'll be back when restored,the case now looks really ugly .. that what "whacking " does, don't do it if You have any choice :))):((((

ok,now new error:
"ipod couldn't be restored", unknown error (1429).
Does it mean my Ipod gone?