USB external HDD kills USB wireless adapter connection

[dez93]

Tried to look around the web for this but it's one of those that's hard to write a good query for, y'know?

So I've finally twigged that when I plug my external hard drive into my front USB port, my net connection drops. I connect via usb to a WG121 netgear wireless adapter, which varies between solid as adamantium-covered rock, and wobbly as Douglas Bader drunk on ice-skates carrying an uneven stack of plates. Can anyone think what would cause one to knock out another? Some kind of USB host conflict? (I'm kindof making up reasonable-sounding things here)

Thanks in advance.

 

[corkyg]

Just one question - how is your external USB HDD powered?

 

[dez93]

mains plug

 

[dez93]

also - xHDD is plugged into the front ports, wireless adapter into the back. don't know if that's important.

 

[corkyg]

OK - can you try the xHDD in a rear port? Also, try the wireless adapter in front. That can isolate the fault to a possible short in the front port connections, something in the xHDD. A possible fix to consider is a powered USB hub attached to a rear port, and then connect everything to the hub.

 

[dez93]

hmm. i *have* a powered usb port, with room on it.... i'll give that a go. cheers!