WD1200 keeps disconnecting HELP!

I have a WD1200 hooked into my lap top for back up purposes.  Before I can use it, I usually need to pull the USB plug out of the laptop and then reinsert it so the lap top recognizes the drive.  This lasts for a bit and then when I go to use it again it has disconnected.  I am using Windows 7.  Sometimes it connects and sometimes  I get a message saying that the USB has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it.  If I put it in a different USB I get asked what I want to do with the drive.  But it disconnects from both USB drives.  The first USB does recognize other devices plugged into it.

I thought the drive might be turning itself off but I don’t see a power management tab associated with the drive when I go into Hardware.

Hello,

Please try it on another computer just for testing purposes, also you may try replacing the USB cable.

In Windows go into Control Panel and select Power Options and find your way to advanced power settings I believe there is a selective suspend setting for USB. See if that helps.

Joe