OK, so I was trying to do the right thing and bought a 300 gig backup USB hard drive, separate power source plug in. Clearing photos and music off main family computer, MOVING them to clear up some space and improve performance. Have not moved more than 70 gigs. Now I can't get it to be recognized by either my laptop or the main computer. I get this message: E:\ is not accessible. The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error."

Could someone translate? Advise?

Is it in Windows that the error shows up?
During the computer post (the very beginning black and white screen where the RAM counts up) does the hard drive ID as devices are being loaded?

Windows XP.

Restarted both computers, moved it, still won't show.

Lots of lost photos if i can't restore it!

Sounds like a connection issue. One of your cables either connecting the USB HD to the computer or inside the USB case seems to be loose. Me being and adventurious type would open the USB case and check the wires inside and if possible remove the HD from the case and attach the HD to the computer to see if it's recognizeed that way.

I have a few USB HD's but I purchased and external case and installed the HD myself. I have a few HD's just sitting around.

This is also why I have two back HD's as well as making sure everything is also on a DVD back up.

I did have a scythe external case crap out on me, no matter what HD I put in it the computer wouldn't recognize it. The company had me send it in for exchange in April, I haven't heard nor received anything back yet.