External Hard Drive Problems! (Keeps "resetting")

[Summiner]

I bought a 160 WD external Hard Drive and hooked it up fine though my USB 2.0. Everything works great except that the hard drive will sometimes pause, like it turns off and back on very fast so it is not noticible unless you are downloading, transfering, or playing a game, in which it will stop the download or transfer and pause the game. I have tried switching the USB ports, reinstalling the software and restting the hard drive many times but none of these seem to work. Any helpful hints would be great.

 

[Cerb]

Welcome to AT, and to enclosure problems.

1. Do you know what bridge chipset the HDD uses?
2. What is your USB controller?

And up front: if either answer is ULi/ALi, the best solution is to throw away and get a new one.

 

[Summiner]

Thanks! Looks like my chipset is some cheep ALi

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815201206

My hard drive is

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144383

So if anyone has suggestions for a new USB chipset it would appreiacted.

 

[Cerb]

For USB, try NEC. I think Newegg has a Syba one for under $15 shipped (or at least they did a week or two ago).

NEC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815124008
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Fee...tratingReview.asp?item=N82E16815124008
It's all-caps, unfortunately, but the second review is exactly why I warned of ALi. Others have come in the price range, but a year or so ago, all the well-priced enclosures and cards were ALi-based. I then managed to find more problems largely w/ ALi over at CDFreaks.

VIA: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815124007
I'd think the NEC would work better, but VIA should be alright, too.

Good luck. Half the time this will work flawlessly, and other half make you want to pull your hair out . WD does not appear to have any recommended USB cards, either.