I seriously wouldn't consider just unplugging the ipod without warning if it can be helped. Especially in Vista, as my iPod Photo, granted is getting on a bit these days, has major corruption problems (no music listed on it, skips through songs without playback, sad ipod icon) if I just unplug it.

Although it is as I say gettign on a bit but I've noticed a whole lot more corruption problems including a lot more of the sad ipod faces or folder with exclamation marks happening since I installed vista (reason for mrdrumz to ditch vista number 142 haha!)

well you asked for idea sand suggestions. I think we posted some pretty viable ones.

You want a sure fire fix? Unplug it when you restart your computer. I know that's a bit inconveniant but it is guaranteed to work. If you have your ipod in disk mode then some applications (hard disk monitors, anti-virus) will be accessing ti like an extra hard drive. Just think of all th epossible programs that can use a hard drive in that manner.

In my experience if the ejct in itunes doesn't work then the icon at the bottom right as celtic71 said normally works.