I thinnk that I have a common problem

I have been trying to get my Ipod to mount properly for weeks with no success. The problem is that upon startup the Ipod appears in my computer and also the tree section of Music center 9 but after a few seconds the Ipod disappears -- thus I can not put any music in my Ipod.

computer dell 8100 laptop running windows 2000
ipod 2ng generation 10GB
music center version 91217

this is what I have done so far

1 disabled norton anti virus
2 format ipod numerous times
3 firewire diagnostics OK
4 divice manager has a yellow exclamation mark next to ipod
5 uninstalled ipod + reinstalled ipod
6 uninstalled music match software + ipod manager
7 confirm that I have ipod updater 1.2??
8 tried to mount ipod before and after laptop boot up the same

have I missed anything

thanks

ray