This is not a USB problem, but I'll try to help.

First off, IBM's recent IDE drive record stinks. I have had to return all 3 IBM drives (60GXP and 75GXP) that I've bought vs. no Western Digitals, Seagates or Maxtors. I have 9 hard drives of various makes humming here right now.

I'm thinking that the Maxtor is not really dead. If the drive is not being detected, don't assume that it's dead. It may be the motherboard or interference.
I recently had a problem where a rogue CD drive was causing mischief on the IDE controller. Try disconnecting all CD drives and redetecting the Maxtor. Try clearing CMOS on the motherboard too. Check all power connections for shorts - sometimes a loose Molex connector pin will short out a drive.

If a drive seems to be failed and is not making noise, double-check. Most failed drives make very sick noises.

Bill

: Please help, i have an AbitVP6, i am running windows 2000 and use the computer for video editing. I have( had) 2 IBM 75 Gig hard drives, and they worked okay for the last year or so. All of a sudden, the two hard drives have failed without hope. I put in a Maxtor 80 Gig drive to replace one of the 75 gig ones, and that has crashed as well.
: I need to know, could the motherboard, be responsible for these crashes? Is the video work not suitable for the drives/ board? please someone help,