My PC has been running really slow lately so decided to reload the o/s. I backed everything up but forgot all about my ipod/itunes.

I have the 30gig video version and have around 15gig's worth of stuff on it. What i am worried about is that if I install itunes on my fresh o/s and plug in my ipod will it automatically start updating my Ipod (wipe it clean!!)??

I'm not bothered about copying what I have on the Ipod back into Itunes, I just want a solution where I can just add new music on manually.

Any help appreciated...

iTunes will always ask you if you want it to sync your iPod to the new iTunes library or leave it be. So its safe to plug it in.

There are various programmes that can grab your tracks from your ipod and transfer them to your PC.

Have a look here http://macs.about.com/od/ipod/a/copy_from_ipod.htm

I use this aswell as itunes , it allows you to back up your itunes to the PC, which you then could import back to itunes.
This link is a trial version.

http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/copygear.php

Good luck