You must restore this device before using???

I just purchased this device. Once I connected it to iTunes on my Win11 laptop, I received the following notice:

"iTunes has detected a Macintosh formatted iPod. You must restore this iPod before you can use it on Windows"

First, I cannot restore it since I do not have an Apple computer.

Second, why can't I just format the iPod instead of restoring it? I'd think I just need to know what Windows formatting Apple wants me to use.

Mark