Question : Problem: iTunes not recognizing my iPod

I'm using iTunes on Windows XP, and my iPod is the 5th gen 80 gig.

when I plug my Ipod in and iTunes comes up I get a message saying "iTunes has detected an iPod in recovery mode. You must restore this iPod before it can be used with iTunes.
Now my iPod is fine, and so is my iTunes. All my music and stuff are there. But iTunes want's to erase my iPod before it will do anything with it.

What is this Recovery Mode, and how to I get out of it (without erasing my iPod)?

Answer : Problem: iTunes not recognizing my iPod

Easiest way to do it is to go in using Windows Explorer, copy all the music onto your computer hard drive (though this step can be done with "iPod to Computer" music copying programs, Windows does it just fine). After that's done, let iTunes wipe your iPod, then move the music from your hard drive first into your local computer iTunes library, then onto your iPod.