If you are running iOS 5 or later, make sure you are logged on with your Apple ID on your iPhone and also log on with that same ID on your laptop. This means making sure your laptop is one of your five iTunes-authorized computers. If Apple ID's sync up, your phone should be recognized on your laptop (or at least not rejected).
You can sync music to it with any linux application. Ubuntu is free to download, and you can install it right alongside your current OS. If you are running Mac OS X, then i don't know if you can do that. If you are trying to sync apps without iTunes, try libmobiledevice on Ubuntu (just google it).
Re-install OS using the Install CD bundled with the laptop.
You can't. You need a Mac.
Using the usb cable it comes with you connect it to your computer and open iTunes. From there click "Update" and it will download and install the newest iPhone OS version for you.
how to install
well i never tried it but what you may have to do is write the OS on an other computer by linking the harddrive of the laptop to a computer with a CD ROM drive. afteer you write the OS on the harddrive you place it back on the laptop with no drives.
yes but it's illegal and very hard
Yes you can, but you will need to install andriod os for pc first
iPhone OS. No seriously it's actually called iPhone OS.
The OS 8 is for the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 is a really popular phone.
This shouldn't be a problem normally, since you paid for a copy of that OS. The operating system should have drivers for the desktop, and it should install onto the desktop without any problems
The iPhone, along with the iPod Touch and iPad, run iOS, previously called iPhone OS.