Ultranothing

Hi again! I've got a Maxtor 3200 USB2.0 external HD hooked up to a Dell Dimension 8200 with 2gb ram, 3.2P4HT, GEForce8500 (and any other info one might need from me can be requested).

Fun times we're having, indeed! I'll try to cover what I can remember since there are such a multitude of issues and causes to effects and reactions to actions and...yeah...

So, with the Maxtor USB drive plugged into any of the rear USB slots, the computer will take anywhere from one hour to ∞ to boot. With it unplugged completely, or plugged into one of the two front USB ports, the system loads at a very reasonable speed.

In the process of trying to figure out what was causing such horrible boot times, and taking note of the issues I've been experiencing with the USBHD, I tested for any evidence of a link between the two situations by booting the computer with the device attached, waiting for random periods of time, and then unplugging the device while the system was hanging. Wouldn't you know, the computer coughed-up the hairball and proceeded to boot right after the USB plug was detached?

In the event that the computer DOES boot with the USB drive attached, we don't stay afloat for very long. I'll begin to get the message "Delayed write failed" or something to that effect. Other times I will receive a message which tells of an error with the I/O device. Sometimes I receive both messages concurrently. In any case, it eventually causes the USBHD to disappear from my radar completely.

When this happens, I've tried to unplug - replug which only seems to work with one certain method. Unplugging the USB "data cable" from either the tower or the unit will produce that audible device location or removal sound byte, but nothing further will happen. ONLY by unplugging the "power cord" from the unit and plugging IT back in will cause the entire re-acquiring process to complete.

And then we get the messages and the disappearances, and start the entire cycle anew.

I have tried nearly everything I can think of to try to remedy the situation. I've completely updated all of the firmware and drivers for the USB as well as every other device on my machine. I've searched for drivers for the Maxtor 3200 and discovered that there are none; WinXP sees it as a generic Harddrive and therefore no additional software is needed (according to about a half a dozen sources, correct me and them if we/they/I is/are wrong).

I've gone into the Bios and set boot devices, disabled USB support. I've tried to ask it nicely, I began to yell...I threw the phone at it...

I just don't know what to do to fix this. Can someone help me try to get to the bottom of it?