USB Devices used to work, but now they don't

[UFRanger]

I recently reinstalled win xp pro w/ sp2, back on my laptop, now my 500 GB external HD, Camball, will cause the system to freeze when i plug either of them in. everythingI would plug in to it before the reinstall would work perfectly, now it seems these two dont work right anymore.
I used the Operating System CD, and recently the Application & Driver Recovery DVD to make sure I had the right Drivers, i checked the services.msc to make sure all the USB stuff was on auto, reboot the system and I still can't get those two devices to work. I pluged in my new digital camera, and it set it up just fine.
Can anyone help me to find what I'm leaving out to get my laptop working like it used to. Thanks

* ok, i just plugged in my camball in, and now it works fine. so now it's the ext HD thats bein funky

 

[Ididmyc600]

Hi

make sure you use the safe removal method when removing any USB device or it may lead to unit failure.

 

[UFRanger]

I do. I always set my usb devices to be removed that way unless they do not require it

 

[LookinAround]

Try this post for [post=727106]How to use the DriveCleanupTool[/post]