Cannot install USB HDD

[liamjoint]

Can anyone help,

I have a desktop PC and a laptop, both were pretty screwed with viruses etc so I decided to format both and reinstall windows. I used the same Windows XP disk and same settings on both computers and have all the original files backed up on my External USB 2.0 Gericom 160GB HDD from both computers

However after installing everything back to standard and installing every other device without a problem, the desktop PC just wont install the driver for the external HDD?! It works absolutely fine with the laptop, just plug n play as always-no need to even go through the add new hardware wizard and the PC DID recognize it before the format and it worked fine.

I have tried allsorts, I cant find any drivers suitable on the internet and the add new hardware wizard finds nothing on the C:\, Windows xp disk or internet either, Gericom do not provide support for any older products (the harddrive is afew yrs old now-but still works on my laptop + other computers) The device manager just states a "USB 2.0 Mass Storage Device" Also its not the cable and I have tried all the USB ports and switching everything off many frustrating times so this is my last resort...

[jaclaz]

WARNING!

This can be a long and troublesome troubleshooting.

First thing it would be necessary to understand which controller chip the USB HD uses.

If you can physically open the case, just post whatever you can read on the chips, together with EXACT model of your Hard Disk.

Additionally, get this program and run it on both the working laptop and the failing desktop, posting results, the interesting part is the Vid and Pid:

http://www.pretec.com/WebRoot/Store/Shops/.../UsbIDCheck.zip

jaclaz