Computer not recognizing external hard drive

[pairodocs]

Hi,

I recently moved a bunch of pictures, movies, documents, etc., from my laptop to an external hard drive. However, today when I tried to connect the hard drive to my laptop, I got an error message that reads: "One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it."

--I'm running Windows XP.
--I'm not using a USB hub; I'm plugging it straight into my computer.
--I've tried turning the device on and off.
--I've tried shutting down my computer.
--I have tried plugging the hard drive into each of my USB ports but get the same error every time.
--I have also tried plugging the device into each of the USB ports of a different laptop, and get the same error each time.
--I tried using a different USB cord, but got the same error.

If anyone has any solutions or suggestions, please, please, please let me know. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

[photolady]

What's the brand name on the external drive?

[pairodocs]

It's SimpleTech

[Midknyte]

Make and model of hardware would help.

If you tried the external on two different systems, then the drive is the problem. Did you remove the hard drive from the enclosure and try connecting it directly to the motherboard?

[pairodocs]

The hard drive is SimpleTech.

I have not yet tried connecting it directly to the motherboard--I'll give it a shot.

Thank you!

[Midknyte]

Make and model of hardware would help.

Just saying Simpletech doesn't help much. They have several different models of drives. It's like saying you have a "Ford". We don't know if you have a F-150 or a Focus.