PC Freezes with External HD

I have an external HD that I use to store videos on. Mainly I use it so I dont have to worry which computer I have a video on, and have to go turning each one on to figure out whats what. Lately, when I connect the HD to any computer, it locks up the computer when I try to open the HD, or go into My Computer. The second I disconnect it from the USB port, the PC will unlock.

Ive never had this problem before, and tried using several different external cases thinking that it may have been a connector in the case I was using. The HD that Im having problems with is the Western Digital WD Scorpio 60gb IDE HD, S/N: WXE206347706.

My question is, why does this happen, and is there a way to fix the HD without losing what I have stored on it? At this point, Im willing to write off the videos I have on it, just so long as I can use it again. Any help would be appreciated!