I have a desktop and a laptop; an iPod and a portable harddrive.

All of them used to work very well since one day (don't know when) they all screwed up.

My laptop: doesn't recognise my iPod nor the portable hardrive.
My desktop: only recognise my iPod and portable harddrive sometimes (sometimes means not more than a min) - the harddrive appears in the explorer on and off like crazy, every 10 seconds on and then off and comes back on again.

I asked the IT guy who works in my office, he taught me to set everything Manual/Auto in Adminstrative Tools > Computer Management > Services and Applications > Servies. Obviously it doesn't work.

I use them with my work computer (Windows 2000), they act totally fine. I plug them in my friend's computer (Windows XP) them are fine as well. Except mine.

If I can't fix this problem I will have to sell my harddrive I am afraid.

I beg for all your generous advices.

Ju

choplogik

First I would leave any related services on Auto. If you have an optional power cord for this drive have you tried running it With this? Does this happen on every USB port? I would start with opening msconfig through the Run command, and uncheck startup items to eliminate problems that may occur there.

Dotmess

I have.

I have tried one and both cord. it reacts no difference.

The front USB ports not really work (it says they are not hi-speed port sth like that)

It takes time to try, I mean to keep my computer works stably as well.

Can you estimate what problem I have?

the portable HDD?
motherboard (USB port)?
setting?

Many thanks!!

Ju