i have a really old computer
2001 Custom Built MSI motherboard
Intel Pentium 4 Processor
1024 MB Ram
Nvidia GeForce 5200 FX video card, 128 MB Vid Ram
19.4 GB/ 111 GB internal hard drive (main)
224 GB/ 232 GB Lacie External USB Hard drive (archive/storage)
Logitech Wireless Mouse & Keyboard

Normally i have 3 things hooked up to my PC
my printer, my keyboard (usb, and mouse PS2 are joined into wireless hub ) and my External hard drive.
when i connect my Ipod First Generation 1GB shuffle, my mouse stops working along with my keyboard. at first i thought too many things were connected, so i hard REBOOTED it disconnected my Printer and waited for it to load. everything was fine, then i connect my ipod and the same thing happens.

please help i just got this ipod and ireally want to upload some songs to it
Thank youDisconnect the printer and external HDD and re-boot.
Install the iPod software.
Re-boot and hook up the iPod .
Does it SEE it now ? ?

What ver. of Windows ? ?
How much free space on that internal drive ? ?

Also the issue may be it's seeking that almost full external drive so hard it stutters at recognising another USB device.
Drives aren't built to be that stuffed...internal or external, ESPECIALLY running Windows...
Start planning some better file management/backup STRATEGIES.