USB devices are randomly restarting

Hi everyone -
Some of my USB devices (particularly iPod and WD external hard drive) seem to be "resetting" themselves. Without any input from me, I will hear the windows sounds for "device connect" then "reconnect", then autoplay will scan through the files contained on that drive. It's a very minor inconvenience, but it's starting to really tan my hide. Any suggestions? Thanks

Steve

 

Have you trodden on the cables or the cat bitten through them?
Check all connections as a start.
If it persists, see if it still occurs with one, then two... etc....usb devices connected, you may be overloading the ports supply capacity.
Also test this with any other usb outlets you have on the pc.

 

actually, the cables are all fine, and I only have 3 things plugged into my USB ports: Hard drive (which is the problem), ipod connector, and optical mouse. I don't think overload is the problem. I honestly can't diagnose the problem and hope someone knows the deal! Thanks!

Steve

 

Is the external hard drive powered by an AC adapter, or simply by the USB port?

Have you done this:

 

When ever I run my paper shreadder, which is below my computer, my HDD will run it's autoplay. It might be simple intererence....

 

It is powered by AC adapter.

I also tried another port. The same thing still happened.