Ipod 3rg with Intel Imac NOT recognized = Headache!

[felo500]

Ok here's the skiny on what's happening. My ipod is NOT being recognized (no icon on desktop) on my Imac Intel. I'm running the latest os x as well as the latest itunes. I tried restoring but duh I couldn't because it's not recognized, it DOES however allow me to charge the ipod 3rd gen BOTH on Usb and Firewire, I tried it on different ports and got the same result. I ALSO reset my rams just in case and also checked with techtool pro whether the firewire and usb ports were ok which they were. I ALSO tried resetting the ipod (menu and play/pause) and it reset but still no ipod icon on my desktop. There was one strange ocurrence and that was when I tried restoring with the ipod updater (after several "no ipod conenctde" messages) it said that there was ANOTHEWr ipod connected already and it wouldn't be able to restore. Very very strange, any ideas or help appreciated.

thanks

[Giaguara]

Would you have another cable to try it with?
Also can you see it in Disk Utility (Applications/Utilities folder)?
If so, you could try to format using that and then see if it gets recognized as iPod after.
More ideas http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60950