[Dotmess]

I have a desktop and a laptop; an iPod and a portable hard drive.

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 hard drive sometimes (sometimes means not more than a min) - the hard drive 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 Administrative 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 hard drive 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]

First I would leave any related services on Auto.

I have.

If you have an optional power cord for this drive have you tried running it With this?

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

Does this happen on every USB port?

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

I would start with opening msconfig through the Run command, and uncheck startup items to eliminate problems that may occur there.

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