external usb HD problems

[xyyz]

i have an atacom 160 usb 2 HD. this drive is giving nothing but problems with two systems at home.

the drive works about 10% of the time. it requires me to do some elaborate song-and-dance routine, where i need to disconnect the drive, reconnect it, power it on and pray that it functions. it takes me up to 7 runs to get it working. when it does work, it does work w/o any issue, until i turn the machine on the next day.

is there any setting, or anything else i need to be aware of for a USB device that doesn't draw it's power from the system?

most of the time, the system does see the device when it's connected, but it doesn't recognize it as a working device.

any ideas what i can do to solve the problem?

 

[Jiggz]

Is this the only USB device in the system? If it is, it could be the sequence of powering the unit. Have you tried turning it on first before plugging it in? I had same problem with my laptop and to solve the problem, I just uninstall the device and then have it detected again in the Device Manager. Most of the time it solves the problem.

 

[xyyz]

no there are many devices connected to the systems. i've tried turning it on before, and turning off before, i still get the same issue.

 

[Jiggz]

Check this out if this will help, USB

 

[xyyz]

atacom got back to me. the tech stays i looks like a logic board or something similar issue. they've told me they need to RMA it. good to know i guess.