I can't connect the iPod to my computer!

I just bought a used ipod shuffle and it plays on its own so the battery and the earphone plugs are fine but i can't seem to be able to connect the ipod to my computer! At first I thought it was the usb cable that was broken so I bouht a new one and this one still doesn't work. I don't think its the itunes thats the problem because my computer, and I've tried on both mac and window, won't recognize the ipod in the first place... I need help...!