When i connected my ipod to my windows 10 laptop the pc said you have to reset the ipod else you can't use in. I went back then and thought it all songs are deleted, but the entire software was gone. Can you restore that?
Which iPod do you have… IPod Touch… Nano… Shuffle… Which generation?
Normally, when restoring, the iOS / System is re-installed right away? If the iPod is still recognized in iTunes… Then there again just reset / restore…