iPod Ipod recognized on desktop but not on itunes

[barefut]

itunes reported a corrupted file on my 80g video ipod and suggested a restore, however the restore button wasn't available. The computer froze I held the power button shut it off waited for the ipod to eject, unplugged it, it shut itself down then the apple logo appeared, followed by the language select and then the menu. No songs or videos I had on it could be viewed but the it said the memory was completely full. I plugged it back in tried to restore on itunes and it said there was some error and couldnt restore. shut down the computer tried again an system message came up that let gave me the option of erasing everything on the disc(it referred to the ipod as a disc) so I did it, then I was able to restore it. I put a few songs on before it everything froze again, I shut off the computer and the ipod erased itself. Now when I plug the ipod into the computer it shows up on the desktop but not in itunes. Also the symbol for the ipod on the desktop is not the ipod like usual but a picture of a hard drive. I've uninstalled and reinstalled itunes a few times now with no luck. Anyway to restore an ipod without itunes? Sorry for the length. any help is greatly appreciated!