Many thanks to all those who responded to my request for tech help. I fear that the solution was ever so simple: I had downloaded iTunes 6 from the disk I got with my iPod some 3/4 years ago and I don't think that it supports Vista. So when iTunes 9 was shoved on all was OK.

Next question: what is the recommended way of uploading the music I have on the iPod to my new iTunes Library - remember the old one is still languishing on the "dead" HDD?

Apologies if we've had this one before.