Why is my iPod touch taking so long to update?

I've been trying to update my software since around twelve a.m. I'ts been over twelve hours. It's still in the process of backing up my iPod with only one bar in the loading bar. I've never updated my software before. I deleted all my music off so that I have 4.9 GB of fee space. It's a second generation that I got for Christmas from my parents in '09. Can someone please explain why this is taking so long and give some advice on how to quicken this process. How long will this continue to take?