I'm having identical problems, Bluegambit. I'll let you know if I figure it out.
Thanks. I'm getting so frustrated here. Atleast someone knows im not crazy and have gone beyond making sure i un/reistalled the correct software.
More info on what I have been trying to do. When connecting the ipod, windows automatically pops up a window trying to figure out what you want to do with it. It lists the drive as drive f: . But when I actually go to the computer section to click on it like all other storage drives , the drive is not there. It shows in itunes and the in the device manager, but does not show as a device I can click on like I would a thumb drive. I have used multiple other usb divices to test all the usb ports and they are working fine. I know widows detects it because the window does pop up as soon as its pluged in makes the connection sound, but if I don't click anything it automatically goes away.
I am still getting "the required disk cannot be found" error. I found this link from other discussions:
Link Removed - Invalid URL
I ran that and now after I restore the ipod, rather than getting the disc issue i get "ipod could not be restored. an unknown error occured (1418)"
Then if I try it again it just goes back to disc cannot be found. I have tried this ipod on othere systems since I got this message and it loads just fine so I know the ipod is not bad. unfortunatly all othere systems were xp and 32 bit.
I even tried the hold the + volume button tho try and get windows to reinstall the device, but it wont. get cant find disc errrors there as well.
EDIT: WHILE the Error 1418 was still open in itunes, I could See drive F: and access it and read the bootex file. as soon as I closed that error the drive disappears again.