iPod touch How to upgrade Touch to iOS 5.0?

Hi all,

I have a 32GB iPod Touch from a few years ago...model MC544LL with iOS 4.3.5 (8L1) installed.

I need to upgrade this to iOS 5.0 since many apps require it. The problem is, I can't figure out how because as of October 2012, iTunes 10.x is pushing iOS 6.0 instead of 5.0...and I do not want 6.0 on this device. I guess I should have upgraded to 5.0 before 6.0 was released. Also, I do NOT want to upgrade my iTunes 10.x (on Windows) to 11.x.

Here are the methods I've tried to no avail:

1)Backed up my pc
2)followed instructions to force iTunes to offer me the ability to choose a local file to upgrade to 5.0 instead of contacting the iTunes/Apple mothership and getting 6.0
3)#2 fails even though it is the right file and iTunes is definitely new enough to know about 5.0...all my other iOS devices are on 5.0


The only other method I can think of is to:
1)somehow nuke the Touch (I don't know what those steps are...likely some combination of the Home key and power button)
2)somehow get iTunes 10.x to install iOS 5.0 on it...even if it is a new iTunes 10.x install on a 2nd pc.
3)after successful 5.0 installation, plug the Touch into my original iTunes machine which should tell me it is synced to another iTunes and do I want to wipe it and sync it with the original iTunes...AND KEEP iOS 5.0.


If you have any suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it...and the more details you have, that would be great. It truly is a shame that Apple forces me to get their newest iOS **AND** their newest iTunes just for me to get most apps working on a 1.5 year old Touch.

Thanks, burgundyyears. I'm wondering if there is a way to put iOS 6.x on it but NOT upgrade my iTunes 10.5.2.11. Think I can do the upgrade on a different pc, then bring it back to my original iTunes 10.5.2.11 pc and re-set it up? Or do you think iTunes 10.5.2.11 is going to complain that it has not idea what iOS 6.0 is when I plug in my Touch?

I have so many devices that I just don't want to muck around with new iTunes versions...not only paranoia of something breaking, but just the outright disgust for Apple always forcing me to upgrade iTunes to get some update for 1 device out of 7.

Thanks again.