Apple changed the iPod firmware so that the ipod has no connectivity with any firmware of itunes before version 7.3 or third-party apps (like vPod).

I have found a method of undoing this madness easliy. You see the older version of itunes and third party apps looks for a check sum number of something like that in the 'iTunesDB' file and the newer ipods and ipods infected by the spyware iTunes 7.3 puts on it will not have the same check sum and therefore not work.

To fix this you need a older 'iTunesDB' file, one can be found here (if the site crashes from bandwidth restriction then someone please mirror it or use their own post ITunes 7.3
'iTunesDB' file).

Take that file and copy it to:
#:\iPod_Control\iTunes
(Replace # with the letter of you ipod's disk drive) on you ipod, the folder may be hidden and you may need allow disk use in itunes (i'm note sure, b/c I don't use it, b/c it's evil, itunes not disk use). If you don't want to unhide the folder in windows you can use Windows Key + R (the run command) and paste the address in it and press Enter.

Now unless you have the exact same music files as me then the itunes database file you put there will not be of much use to you. So you will need to restore the database to whatever music is on it. The easyist way I know to do this is to download the application Floora (it comes in Windows, Mac, and Linux flavors) and after you download and unzip it to a temporary directory and run it.

Get rid of any error messages (you may need to unplug the ipod and plug it back in) and then go to the 'Tools' menu (Alt+T in windows) goto Advance and Repair ipod. Select yes if it asks for vefitcation and click through until it says something about making a new music database or something like that, the window should look like this:

Floora is annoying sometimes but give it a few tries and it might work, it did for me, but I think it's b/c I'm tring to use it after the job is done. vPod > Floora.
As soon as Floora is done making you a database (which will erase any track info for wave files) you can look for a better app but I'm too lazy) you are free to got Itunes or whatever app in windows or linux or whatever and enjoy you liberated iPod!! ^_^ Have fun!


Comment if you need help.

A better app then Floora that will also restore the database: Anapod