ipod "disfunction" whaaaaa?

omigosh
i just plugged my ipod shuffle into the usb port in the back of the laptop and it "doesn't recognize" it...then a few minutes later, when it would normally be appearing in my itunes box as a little thing on the lower right, it says "device malfunctioned" , "windows doesn't recognize it" , "try again and if it still doesn't work, REPLACE the device!!!" whaaaaaa?
i've had this thing since august! I LOVE MY IPOD, as-you-all-know!

WHAT IS UP?

help!

this was a gift. thus i have no receipt. normally i buy ALL my electronics at Costco...cuz they (we) strive to make the member HAPPY and have an AWESOME return policy. bona fide problemo, you get HOOKED UP! so, this gift was bought at shopko. no deal? ugh!

yes, i've run quite over the past couple of months...mostly when i run w/ others. but still, my best runs are when i'm euphorically blasting margaret becker or petra or what-have-you...

right now, i have this book on there...that i HAVE TO GET OFF! i'm done w/ it. i have more saved in my itunes on the laptop...so i need to move on w/ it...

AND NOW THIS??? what do i do? help. i'm not good at this sorta thing.

HELP ME PLEASE!!!

eeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEk