i downloaded the windows installer and installed to my ipod.
Do you mean you downloaded ipodpatcher, ran it, and selected the "i" for install option? If so, did ipodpatcher give any error messages or did it say "succcesful" ?
rebooted it but nothing. any ideas? or am i just being an idiot 
What exactly is shown on your screen when you reboot your ipod?
Did you also download the rockbox.zip for your ipod and extract the contents to your ipod? The manual has step by step instructions.