Here's the deal:

I have an external HD that I am hooking up to my laptop. I plug it in through the USB, can see it in the device manager as USB Mass Storage Device, properties says it is functioning...then it changes after 5-10 seconds and says the device is not connected. I cannot see the HD at all when I plug in the USB. Any ideas? I uninstalled the driver, plugged in the HD and it automatically reinstalled driver...same problems.

HD spins and works, for sho. I've had it hooked up to my desktop. Had this problem intermittently on the desktop, but usually unplugging/replugging fixed the problem. Now the desktop will not recognize it either.

 

I have had this problem with a WD Mybook. The problem was with the USB connection on the actual drive. had to wiggle it around, and tape it so it worked all the time.

 

No matter how I hold the USB cable into the hard drive case, it loses connection. I took the top part of the case off to have a look...nothing seems to be wrong. Maybe I just need a new case?

 

Can you swap out the cable for another one?

 

is it externally powered?

some drives have a power problem with laptops, sometimes they provide a y cable from 2 usb to 1 to power them

For starters try another port on another side of the machine

 

I'll have to see if I can find one...I doubt I have another. It connects at the beginning, but it doesn't recognize the HD and loses connection somehow.

Externally powered, tried multiple USB ports.

 

I'd restart and try with another cable if you have one. Your digital camera come with the same cable?

Edit: Is it an older case? I remember the HD jumpers having to be set at Master to function properly.

 

maybe the drive died.... was it clicking at all?

 

It was the cable. I found one in my brother's room from the printer he's not using...plugged it in, recognized the drive, autoplayed to scan files...works.

 

I had something similar happen with one of my external drives. Same problem you had except mine wouldnt work with my front usb ports but with my back one. I tried a different cable and it worked for the front.