iPod Help. Wont Start

I've got a 20gig iPod from my friend that won't start. I've tried resetting it with no avail. Whenever I turn it on, it has the Apple picture, and then it'll either turn off or show the connection icon thingy. It's got a picture of the plug that goes into the bottom of the iPod and an arrow. I guess it wants me to hook it up. I havent got the cable on me right now, so I can't try it. Does anyone know if this is a bad sign?

get a cable and hook it up, its probally got corruped firmware. Get the update utility off apples website, and run that

Does the hard drive spinn up when it turns on?

If it keeps freezing up hold Menu and the White Circle thing in the middle. That's how we fixed my brothers.