Ok heres the deal:

I have an Western Digital 7200 RPM Caviar drive (from Woot). I've had it for almost a year with no problems. I have it hooked up with an IDE to USB cable that I purchased from geeks, which has its own separate AC power connector. Here's the issue - on boot-up windows does not register the drive - I need to unplug and replug the USB everytime I reboot in order for windows to find it.

How can I subvert this nuisance? I'd either A) Like a simple way to ping the USB from my desk (the PC is on the other side of the room) or B) Remove this problem completely. Googleing the issue resolved nothing other than I know there exist people with identical problems.
Thanks.

edit: fixed the word 'external' for those who didnt read the ide usb cable part.