If you plugged your ipod in before installing the software is it a fixable prolem? If so, how?

Answer 1

What exactly went wrong?

Your iPod would not have been detectable by iTunes or even your PC or Mac.

If something has happened and it is now malfunctioning, then the safest course is to use Restore To Factory Settings.

Here's how:

http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/tutorial/ip_gettingstarted_t17.html

Once that is done, re-plug the iPod, and using the disc that came with it, do a clean install of the iPod drivers.

Check the Apple website to see if there are any firmware upgrades since then - they issue updates quite frequently.