iTunes freezing with iPod connected

[Greboth]

Hi all

I hope someone can help me with this as it is driving me crazy as I can't update my iPod. I am running windows 7 64 bit all updates, downloaded latest iTunes so it is up to date also.

In order of what happens
Plug iPod into computer
iTunes opens automatically
iPod screen changes to "synchronizing"
iPod screen then change to "connected" (which suggests that the synchronization completed)
At this point iTunes is completely frozen and I can't do anything. I can open anything else so it isn't effecting anything else just iTunes. As soon as I unplug my iPod then iTunes carries on working like normal.

However, if I plug my iPod into my pc without having iTunes, Windows picks it up as an external hdd and I can copy things to it and from it with out any problems.

The only thing I have found from googling around is this: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3219 which I have read through and tried but I don't have an plug ins to remove.

So anyone got any ideas as I am stumped, thanks.

Edit: Something noteworthy I think is it all works fine when my iphone is connected.

 

[Greboth]

The first is already done, it is the first thing i make sure I do when I do a fresh instal of iTunes. I will try the second suggestion though to see if I get anywhere, thanks for the suggestion.

Slowly running out of software possibilities, though I can't see it's hardware either as the iPod works fine.