I apologize if this is in the wrong section.

I am attempting to connect an external hard drive to one of 4 usb ports on my desktop. I have tried connecting it with my computer on and off and I have rearranged the plugs many times. Each time I plug in the external hard drive my keyboard and my mouse no longer function. I can't do anything to see if it even reads the drive or open any folders. My computer is on its last legs and I am trying to back up everything I have and I can't seem to get it to read my external hard drive without shutting down my other USB ports. My cd drive broke today so this is all I have left to try. Unless you have other ideas. Please help.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP!

Is it an older computer

Check this,

Start, settings, control panel, system, hardware tab, device mgr

-now go down to Universal Serial Bus devices and click + sign
Is anything listed there as Standard Enhanced USB Contollers
Or just standard controllers with nothing saying Enhanced

Listed I have (2) root usb hub
(2) intel universal host controllers
(1) generic usb

Nothing saying enhanced

Ok, this would indicate you do not have USB 2.0 drivers yet the drive you are trying to use needs 2.0 drivers


Downloading VIA USB 2.0 Driver 2.7 to improve network security

Download should start, if not for down till you see, try clicking here to download.

Disconnect your ext. drive

Download and install then check device mgr again to see if Enhanced Controller is there

If not, restart machine and hook up drive to see what happens

Post back, hope this is it


If this does not help, post Your Motherboard Mfg if you know

That link downloaded files, but they didn't do anything the files were to go with a disk.. Of course I don't have that disk.

I do not know the manufacturer of my mother board.

Download HWiNFO - you can use this for 14 days for free

Download and run and you will be able to find out the mfg and model of your motherboard so that will be able to search for USB 2.0 drivers for your computer
HWiNFO Download

Also check the POWER draw

Winkey+pause

Hardware

Device manager

Expand: univ serial bus

Iterate through root hub, power tab

Hi in my opinion the best route of action is when you purchase your new desktop computer also purchase an external hard drive casing then when you have set up the new computer take the old hard drive from the old desktop and run it in the external casing through the new computer, you can then get all your info from the old computer save it and use the old hard drive as storage.I did this for a friend of mine he thought hed lost all his pictures but now he has them and I have a nice external hard drive for storage. Hope this is of help

First you need to check your USB prots, and update your USB ports driver. Suppose your USB is working fine it means all the ports should work, if not then check your device another usb ports device.