"Windows - No Disk" message

Hi guys

Not sure if this is a hardware or malware problem ... desktop computer has been problem free for ages, plugged my camera into my USB 2.0 hi-speed hub to download some photos and the camera wouldn't do it's usual start up procedure, just blank - thought it was a problem with my camera so turned it on while plugged in to the USB hub and then got the message below ... now same things happens when I turn on my back-up external hard drive, although the drive works I end up with a message saying:

Windows - No Disk
There is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into drive \Devices\Harddisk0\DRO.
With option to cancel/retry/continue

None of those options appear to work and the computer freezes.

When I restart however everything works just fine, only get the message when I try using another drive. Have also tried plugging the camera into my notebook and it won't start up in that either - is this a problem with the camera that has 'upset' the computer because I tried turning it on while plugged into the hub? (my notebook is fine as I didn't try turning the camera on while plugged in).

I have Windows XP Home, Version 5.1, SP3

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Kia ora. Looks like you're a neighbour a long way from home!

USBs sometimes give trouble, and USB hubs sometimes give trouble.
Have you tried plugging the camera (and other drives) straight into a USB port on the computer, rather than into the hub - just to test (the hub should work... is it a powered hub)?
Although, since the camera behaves the same way on your laptop, there would appear to be an issue with the camera (assuming it is not one of those that has to be turned on when uploading).
You should also take a look at your Device Manager and make sure all your USB drivers are OK. It might pay to uninstall and reinstall them (which you can do by uninstalling them in Device Manager and rebooting).
Before doing that though, just try turning the PC off, remove all USB devices, including the hub, then turn the PC off at the wall. Press the ON button for a few seconds, then reboot. See if things work properly after that.
As for the camera, I don't know a lot about them, but maybe take the battery out as a means of resetting any problem area.