Ahh there's no way it'd just automatically format it. Don't install Itunes or whatever the program is you generally use to copy files to it and plug it in via (is it usb?) and see if you can simply access it's hard drive.
But I suppose if you think that's going to erase everything then......hmmm I don't know...I've never had an Ipod myself so really the only thing you can do at this point is trial and error.... =/
unless someone else comes and chimes in here with some useful info