Why doesn't my iPod restore and repair itself after plugging it in.

I was updating my ipod via iTunes when my laptop hard drive crashed. Since then I replaced the hard drive, installed the latest version of iTunes, repaired and reset my ipod (1.5GB is a lot to download), and yet I still get the Apple icon stating I must either repair or reset my ipod! What now? What is my next step? Hard reset doesn't work either..... Please help!