windows default driver usb hdd problem

hey i have been searching the net for 2 days now for a solution to my problem and i started reading some stuff on this board, u sound intelligent so ill give u a bash and see if u can help me!!

i got a usb 2.0 external hdd case and have put in a 20Gb maxtor drive but windows xp pro on my laptop does not recognise it! sometimes when i change my usb port it blips and says device found only to say it failed to install the windows basic driver?????
i tryed it on my home pc xp home and it worked fine anyone help i have tried everything bar touching the bios :unch: !

any help will save me from baldness as i havent stopped pulling hair out for days

thanks neon :grinthumb

Hey Neon. I really don't have a specific answer for you, but I have a question. Have you looked in Device manager to make sure the USB controller was working, and or that the enhanced USB controller (for 2.0) was installed? Also do you have any other USB goodies you can plug into the laptop to make sure you don't have a bad USB port? What kind of laptop is it?

Does it have an external power supply? If not, the USB port may not be giving it enough power.

yes the usb ports are working im using other devices in them.
its powered by a plug!
any ideas

I have to tell you that I got some problems with my external hard disk too, which was inside a USB 2.0 enclosure. The disk spontaneously turned off and on and windows xp tried to recognise it every time (ruining every job I did at that moment). I tried everything to no effect, I changed performance settings and drivers, I rearranged the drive-enclosure connection and cables, but nothing seemed to work.
Happily, after some thinking, I found the solution and now everything is going OK for a long time.
The problem was due to my USB cable. The one I used was an 1.1 cable. But Hi-speed USB devices need another type of cable, which is identical to 1.1 but has extra shielding. The 1.1 cables are subject to interference. Try to find a 2.0 cable and I am sure many of your problems will vanish automatically...